Anthem
ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE AND PERFORMING LINES | AUSTRALIA
WORLD PREMIERE SEASON
15–19 JANUARY Roslyn Packer Theatre Walsh Bay $50–$79 + BF 150 MINS
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EVENT INFO
VENUE
WHEN
  • Wed 15 Jan at 7.00pm (preview)
    Thu 16 Jan at 7.00pm
    Fri 17 Jan at 7.00pm*
    Sat 18 Jan at 1.00pm
    Sat 18 Jan at 7.00pm
    Sun 19 Jan at 5.00pm**

    * Followed by Q&A
    ** Audio Described & AUSLAN Interpreted w/ Tactile Tour at 4.00pm

TICKETS & PRICING
  • Premium Full Price – $79
    A Reserve Full Price – $69
    A Reserve Concession – $62
    B Reserve Full Price – $50
    B Reserve Concession – $45
    B Reserve Under 30* (Tue–Thu) – $39
    + booking fee

    * Offer only available through Sydney Festival
PAST EVENT
Anthem
ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE AND PERFORMING LINES | AUSTRALIA
WORLD PREMIERE SEASON

Twenty-one years ago, four playwrights and a composer came together to create Who's Afraid of the Working Class?, a powerful, critically-acclaimed portrait of Australia in the Howard era.

While Who’s Afraid of the Working Class? gave voice to characters and individuals clinging to existence in the margins of society, after a series of decades where the Australian populace radically transitioned from mostly working class to mostly middle-class, Anthem casts its net wider, looking at what divides and unites us as a country in 2020, and whether we truly do “sing with one voice”. The answer, resoundingly, is no – we do not.

Over four interwoven vignettes, the writers take us inside four stories of characters you could encounter on any public transport journey: an overworked, minimum wage, gig-economy couple planning a Bonnie and Clyde style rampage of revenge against neoliberal capitalism; a sophisticated Louis Vuitton and Chanel toting woman who has been reduced to homelessness by divorce, gender and a lack of financial independence; and Christos Tsiolkas’s contribution, which explores sibling tensions when a successful brother returns from overseas to try and “better” the lives of his family.

The Guardian called it “tough, funny theatre with an urgency to its purpose and no comfortable answers. It can’t say everything about modern Australia, but what it does say rings true.”

Want to read the script? Visit Australian Plays to read the script during January.


By Andrew Bovell, Patricia Cornelius, Melissa Reeves, Christos Tsiolkas and Irine Vela.

Directed by Susie Dee. Produced by Performing Lines in association with Arts Centre Melbourne.

READ THE SHOW PROGRAM HERE


READ THE SHOW PROGRAM AS AN ACCESSIBLE WORD DOC HERE



Accessibility
Important Info

Warning - this performance contains strong language, smoke & haze effects and simulated violence

Recommended for ages 15+

Run time includes a 20 minute interval

Cast and Credits
Writers
Andrew Bovell
Patricia Cornelius
Melissa Reeves
Christos Tsiolkas
Irine Vela

Director Susie Dee
Designer Marg Horwell
Lighting Designer Paul Jackson
Composer, Music Director and Sound Designer Irine Vela
Movement Consultant Natalie Cursio
Assistant Director Sapidah Kian
Aboriginal Cultural Consultant Bryan Andy
Creative Producer (2016-March 2019) Daniel Clarke

Cast
Maude Davey
Reef Ireland
Ruci Kaisila
Thuso Lekwape
Amanda Ma
Maria Mercedes
Tony Nikolakopoulos
Eryn Jean Norvill
Sahil Saluja
Osamah Sami
Eva Seymour
Carly Sheppard
Jenny M. Thomas
Dan Witton

This project was initiated by Arts Centre Melbourne. Produced by Performing Lines in association with Arts Centre Melbourne.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Major Festivals Initiative, managed by the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc., commissioned by Melbourne International Arts Festival, Arts Centre Melbourne, Sydney Festival and Perth Festival. 

Script commissioned by Arts Centre Melbourne and generously supported by Linda Herd Mr Derek Young AM and Mrs Caroline Young.

Photos: Pier Carthew
Videos

15–19 JANUARY
$50–$79 + BF
150 MINS
★★★★ "Tough, funny theatre with an urgency to its purpose and no comfortable answers"
The Guardian
Australia Council for the Arts Major Festivals Initiative Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation
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