• Emilia 2022

    Essential Theatre in partnership with Arts Centre Melbourne & Geelong Arts Centre Presents

    EMILIA
    By Morgan Lloyd Malcolm

     

    Fierce and provocative, Emilia is the perfect mix of laughter and fury – a rollicking ride that takes its audiences on an exuberant and moving journey though love, loss, identity, ambition, power, rebellion and what it is to be a woman in a man’s world.

    Who was Emilia? Was she the “Dark Lady” of Shakespeare’s sonnets? 

     With a cast of 13 incredible women who collectively embody diversity rarely seen on our stages – Emilia is a riotous ride that leaves audiences breathless.

    First commissioned by Shakespeare’s Globe, Emilia then transferred to the West End, becoming the hottest ticket in London. Hailed by British Theatre as “an extraordinary, era defining play” this powerful story promises to be the theatrical event of 2022. 

    Playhouse Theatre Arts Centre Melbourne November 11th to 27th 

    Canberra Theatre Centre Dec 1st to 4th 

    Buy Tickets – Melbourne Buy Tickets – Canberra

    Emilia Supporters

     

     

  • As You Like It 2022

    Directed by Sharon Davis & Designed by Zoe Rouse

    Photography by Theresa Harrison

    Performed by Emma Choy, Louis Corbett, Grant Foulkes, Helen Hopkins, Mia Landgren, Cameron Moore, Joshua Monaghan & Freya Pragt

    Our 20th anniversary production of As You Like It previewed in the Williamstown Botanic Gardens and then toured to Deviation Road, Seppeltsfield Wines, Fowles Wines, Delatite Wines, Sevenhill Cellars, Coriole Vineyards, Glenelg Shire, Leura Park Estate, Bayside Council, Byramine Homestead, Baw Baw Shire Council, Eurobodalla Botanic Gardens, Winehouse Hunter Valley & Gapsted Wines.

     

     

     

  • The Dream Laboratory

    The Dream Laboratory – an immersive theatrical experience inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream January 5th – 23rd 2022 at the rear of 96 Little Malop St Geelong 

    Original concept – Alexandra Aldrich, Dann Barber, Amanda LaBonte, Sophie Lampel & Mark Wilson

    Directed by Alister Smith & Mark Wilson, Designed by Alexandra Aldrich & Dann Barber, Sound Design by Daniella Esposito, Lighting Design by Lisa Mibus

    Cast – Iopu Auva’a, Briony Farrell, Lachlan martin, Tim Paige, Amanda LaBonte, Sophie Lampel & Cecilia Low

    Part narrative, part roaming, part “choose your own adventure”, The Dream Laboratory provided a unique interactive live experience like nothing Geelong had seen before. 

  • Romeo & Juliet 2021

    Directed & Designed by Alister Smith

    Photography by Theresa Harrison

    Performed by Alexandra Aldrich, Rashidi Edward, Helen Hopkins, Mia Landgren, Lachlan Martin, Joshua Monaghan, Madeleine Nunn & Eddie Orton

    Romeo & Juliet Previewed at the Williamstown Botanic Gardens and then toured to Crittenden Estate, Sevenhill Cellars, Glenelg Shire, Leura Park Estate, Bayside Council, Delatite Wines, Fowles Wines, Byramine Homestead, Deviation Road, Seppeltsfield Wines, Greenstone Vineyards, Baw Baw Shire Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council & Winehouse Hunter Valley.

    Download Program

  • Macbeth 2020

    Directed by Alister Smith

    Designed by Chloe Greaves

    Photography by Jack Dixon Gunn

    Performed by Alexandra Aldrich, Jason Cavanagh, Brianagh Curran, Sharon Davis, Briony Farrell, Owen Little, Christian Taylor and Matthew Whitty.

    Macbeth Previewed at The Batesford Hotel and Williamstown Botanic Gardens and then toured to Voyager Estate, St Aidan Wines, Sutton Grange, Crittenden Estate, Delatite Wines, Deviation Road, Seppeltsfield Wines, Sevenhill Cellars, Coriole Vineyards, Leura Park Estate, Brighton Town Hall Gardens, Calais Estate, Ku-rin-gai Wildflower Garden, Fowles Wines and Civic Park Warragul.

  • Twelfth Night 2018

    Directed by Amanda LaBonte

    Designed by Amaya Vecellio

    Photography by Sarah Walker

    Cast – Grant Foulkes, Sharon Davis, Jack Dixon Gunn, Jean Goodwin, Tom Heath, Helen Hopkins Drew Tingwell, Cariad Wallace.

    Twelfth Night previewed at the Williamstown Botanic Gardens and Batesford Hotel and toured to Voyager Estate Margaret River, St Aidan Wines Ferguson Valley, Rowanston on the Track Glenhope, Deviation Road Adelaide Hills, Seppeltsfield Wines Barossa Valley, Coriole Vineyards McLaren Vale, Leura Park Estate Bellarine Peninsula, Sutton Grange Bendigo, Sevenhill Cellars Clare Valley, Apex Park Koondrook, Byramine Homestead Moira Shire, Calais Estate Hunter Valley, Ku-rin-gai Wild Flower Garden St Ives, Palmerston Northern Territory & The Otway Fly.

  • Much Ado About Nothing 2017

    Directed by Amanda LaBonte

    Designed by Amaya Vecellio

    Photography by Drew Tingwell

    Performed by Grant Foulkes, Sharon Davis, Mia Langdren, Don Bridges, Cameron Moore, Tim Paige, Libby Brockman, Lachlan Martin

    Much Ado About Nothing previewed at the Williamstown Botanic Gardens and toured to Voyager Estate Margaret River, St Aidan Wines Ferguson Valley, Coombe The Melba Estate Yarra Valley, Rownston on the Track Glenhope, Deviation Road Adelaide HIlls, Seppeltsfield Wines Barossa Valley, Coriole Vineyards McLaren Vale, Leura Park Estate Bellarine Peninsula, Sevenhill Cellars Clare Valley, Swan Hill Pinoeer Settlement, Byramine Homestead Moira Shire, Calais Estate Hunter Valley and Gooree Park Estate Mudgee.

  • Julius Caesar 2016/ 2017

    Directed by Fleur Kilpatrick

    Designed by Alexandra Aldrich

    Photography by Sarah Walker

    Performed by Alexandra Aldrich, Leah Filley, Helen Hopkins, Devon Lang Wilton, Amanda LaBonte and Sophie Lampel

    Julius Caesar performed at Melbourne Fringe Festival 2016, Holden Street Theatres Adelaide Fringe Festival 2017 and The Space UK as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2017.

  • Enter Ophelia 2018/2019

    Enter Ophelia – a brilliantly dark and entertaining examination of Shakespeare’s Ophelia – a black comedy about secrets madness and mansplaining.

    This production premiered at La Mama Theatre in early 2018 with a sell out season and toured in 2019 to National Gallery ACT, GPAC, Stratford Courthouse Theatre, Little Theatre City of Latrobe & Horsham Town Hall.

    Written by Candace Miles, Madelaine Nunn and Anna Rodway

    Directed by John Kachoyan Designed by Laura Jean Hawkins Sound Design Russell Goldsmith Lighting Steve Hendy

    Performed by Alexandra Aldrich, Amanda LaBonte, Sophie Lampel, Candace Miles, Madelaine Nunn and Anna Rodway

    Hero image by Amanda Carr Production images by Theresa Harrison

  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2019

    Directed by Mark Wilson

    Designed by Laura Hawkins

    Photography by Jack Dixon Gunn

    Performed by Brianagh Curran, Sharon Davis, Sophie Lampel, George Lingard, Lachlan Martin, Benjamin Nichol, Alex Roe & Cariad Wallace.

    A Midsummer Night’s Dream previewed at The Williamstown Botanic Gardens and Batesford Hotel then toured to Voyager Estate, St Aidan Wines, Lake Meran Gannawarra Shire, Sutton Grange, Jervis Bay Maritime Museum, Crittenden Estate, Deviation Road, Seppeltsfield Wines, Kellybrook Wines, Gapsted Wines, Byramine Homestead, Sevenhill Cellars, Coriole Vineyards, Leura Park Estate, Baw Civic Park Baw Baw Shire, Calais Estate, Ku-rin-gai Wildflower Garden, Fowles Wines, Santuary Lakes City Of Palmerston & Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre Katherine.

     

  • Romeo and Juliet 2016

    Directed by Mark Wilson

    Designed by Chloe Greaves

    Photography by Sarah Walker

    Performed by Alexandra Aldrich, Roderick Cairns, Dave Lamb, Sophie Lampel, Natascha Flowers, George Lingard, Luke Mulquiney, Don Bridges.

    Romeo and Juliet previewed at the Batesford Hotel and toured to Voyager Estate Margaret River, St Aidan Wines Ferguson Valley, Coombe The Melba Estate Yarra Valley, Rowanston on the Track Glenhope, Deviation Road Adelaide Hills, Seppeltsfield Wines Barossa Valley, Coriole Vineyards McLaren Vale, Leura Park Estate Bellarine Peninsula, Sevenhill Cellars Clare Valley, Apex Park Koondrook, Murray River Cobram, Calais Estate Hunter Valley, Gooree Park Estate Mudgee and Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden St Ives.

  • Macbeth 2015

    Directed by Mark Wilson
    Designed by Chloe Greaves

    Performed by Martin Blum, Amanda LaBonte, Mia Langdren, Sophie Lampel, Olivia Monticcolo, Michael Wahr, Tim Paige, Karlis Zaid

    Romeo and Juliet previewed at the Batesford Hotel and toured to Voyager Estate Margaret River, St Aidan Wines Ferguson Valley, Coombe The Melba Estate Yarra Valley, Rowanston on the Track Glenhope, Deviation Road Adelaide HIlls, Seppeltsfield Wines Barossa Valley, Coriole Vineyards McLaren Vale, Leura Park Estate Bellarine Peninsula, Sevenhill Cellars Clare Valley, Apex Park Koondrook, Calais Estate Hunter Valley