We acknowledge the unceded lands of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge their sovereignty and their songlines. We pay respect to their elders and their children. We embrace and celebrate the oldest culture in the world.
WELCOME
Welcome to ECHO: Every Cold-Hearted Oxygen at Malthouse.
It is my pleasure to welcome you to an entirely singular piece of theatre. This unrepeatable play holds a special place in our 2025 season, just as its writer, Nassim Soleimanpour, holds a special place in Malthouse’s history since his work White Rabbit, Red Rabbitfound a home here back in 2013.
ECHOis a remarkable meditation on the idea of home, exploring what we carry with us, what we must leave behind, and what we can hope to find on the other side of displacement.
It’s a subject that feels especially urgent right now, at a time when so many across the globe have been forced to move, rebuild and reimagine a new sense of belonging. For me, what drew me to this work was the sense of hope embedded in the experience of immigration – the courage and possibility in starting again.
This is also a piece that embodies everything we love about contemporary theatre: it is alive, surprising and different every night. At its heart is a performer encountering the script for the first time – a shared journey between artist and audience in real time. No two performances are the same, yet every single one is deeply human.
ECHO is the perfect fusion of design, technology and storytelling. It is theatre for our age, crafted with intelligence, compassion, and an openness that feels both rare and necessary.
We are proud to share this work with you – and we hope it moves you, challenges you, and stays with you long after you head home... whatever that means to you.
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
OMAR ELERIAN
This production is a journey into the unknown, both for the performer and the audience. Each night, a new actor steps onto the stage with a script they've never seen before, embarking on a journey of discovery and adaptation. This approach mirrors the experience of migration: stepping into a new world, unprepared and uncertain, yet driven by the hope of finding belonging.
The play tells the story of an Iranian man who has left his homeland and now lives in Germany. He grapples with feelings of loss, remorse, and longing, while also confronting the reality that his future must be written elsewhere. Through this narrative, we explore the tension between the past and the future, between memory and imagination, and the constant flux that defines the migrant experience.
Directing a cold-read play is both exhilarating and challenging. The unpredictability of each performance keeps the process alive and vibrant. As a director, I don't have the luxury of rehearsals for ECHO. Instead, my direction is written into the script and the instructions the performers receive in their earpieces, as well as threaded through the dramaturgy of the piece. This spontaneity is not just a theatrical device but a reflection of the migrant's reality – constantly adapting, learning, and evolving.
Cast & Creatives
Photo of MICHELLE BRASIER
MICHELLE BRASIER
SHE/HER
CAST
Photo of DAVID CAMPBELL
DAVID CAMPBELL
HE/HIM
CAST
Photo of JAN FRAN
JAN FRAN
SHE/HER
CAST
Photo of NADINE GARNER
NADINE GARNER
SHE/HER
CAST
Photo of STAN GRANT
STAN GRANT
HE/HIM
CAST
Photo of BEN LAWSON
BEN LAWSON
HE/HIM
CAST
Photo of PIA MIRANDA
PIA MIRANDA
SHE/HER
CAST
Photo of NASSIM SOLEIMANPOUR
NASSIM SOLEIMANPOUR
HE/HIM
WRITER
Photo of OMAR ELERIAN
OMAR ELERIAN
HE/HIM
DIRECTOR
Photo of DEREK RICHARDS
DEREK RICHARDS
CREATIVE TECHNOLOGIST, VIDEO & PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Photo of JACKIE SHEMESH
JACKIE SHEMESH
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Photo of ANNA CLOCK
ANNA CLOCK
They/them
COMPOSER & SOUND DESIGNER
Photo of IMMANUEL BARTZ
IMMANUEL BARTZ
DRAMATURGY & CREATIVE PRODUCER
Photo of KIRSTY HOUSLEY
KIRSTY HOUSLEY
SHE/HER
DRAMATURGY
"Directing a cold-read play is both exhilarating and challenging."
OMAR ELERIAN
Malthouse Theatre would like to thank:
NASSIM SOLEIMANPOUR PRODUCTIONS CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE LIZ SMITH, CLAIRE STONE & LISA BILLS FROM CENTURY ARTISTS HELEN TOWNSHEND & OLIVIA PUGLIA FROM CREATIVE REPRESENTATION TARA WYNNE FROM CURTIN BROWN (AUS) PTY LTD SARAH NATHAN, ALEX CULLIVER & BEC WALLACE FROM NATHAN CULLIVER MANAGEMENT MICHELLE VAN RAAY & JOANNA HAGEN FROM PROFILE TALENT MANAGEMENT AIMEE RAVEK & EMILY JOHNSON FROM RGM ARTISTS NATASHA HARRISON & SARAH WOOD FROM UNITED MANAGEMENT GEORGIA FOX FROM COMMON STATE NATHALIE AND THE TEAM AT QUEST SOUTHBANK
CONTENT WARNING
This production uses haze, smoke, and fast-moving images. A live camera feed is used during the production, and audience members may be featured in the footage for that performance only.
This production contains references to protest, violence, oppression under a regime.
If this production raises concerns for you or someone you know, there is support available. Contact Beyond Blue(1300 224 636). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can contact 13 Yarn(13 92 76) or Yarning Safe’n’Strong(1800 959 563). Refugees and those seeking asylum can access support through ASRC - Asylum Seeker Resource Centre(03 9326 6066).
DURATION
The running time for this production is approximately 90 minutes, with no interval.
Malthouse Theatre, in association with Canberra Theatre Centre & Nassim Soleimanpour Productions present the Australian premiere of
ECHO: EVERY COLD-HEARTED OXYGEN BYNASSIM SOLEIMANPOUR
CAST A new unrehearsed performer every show, including Michelle Brasier David Campbell Jan Fran Nadine Garner Stan Grant Ben Lawson Pia Miranda
CREATIVES Director Omar Elerian Creative Technologist, Video & Production DesignerDerek Richards Lighting Designer Jackie Shemesh Composer & Sound DesignerAnna Clock DramaturgyKirsty Housley, Immanuel Bartz Script EditorStewart Pringle Creative ProducerImmanuel Bartz Company Stage Manager (NSP)Rike Berg Stage Manager Jess Keepence Production Manager (NSP)Ethan Hudson AV Technician / Operator Peter Adams
Director of PhotographyKatja Rivas Pinzon Location RecordistsAxel Lischke, Lotta Sahlstedt Set FittingJorge Andres Rivas Pinzon GafferFlorian Geyer Dress Rehearsal ActorPhoebe Grainer Key Campaign Image byMajid Kashani
An NSP production, co-produced by LIFT (London) / The Royal Court Theatre (London), Staatstheater Mainz, Riksteatern (Sweden), Why Not Theatre (Toronto), Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles (Brussels) / Le Lieu Unique, scène nationale de Nantes, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Canberra Theatre Centre / Malthouse Theatre (Melbourne). In association with The Shed (New York City), a LIFT Concept Touring Commission, and supported by the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
ECHO is generously supported by the Maria Björnson Memorial Fund and the Goethe-Institut London.
VALERIE JOHNSTONE CRAIG REEVES SUZANNE KIRKHAM GIRGENSOHN FOUNDATION
CLIO ($10,000)
ANONYMOUS LIZ & CHRIS SCHELL JANINE TAI RICHARD LEONARD & GERLINDE SCHOLZ CANNY QUINE FOUNDATION JENNIFER DARBYSHIRE & DAVID WALKER CARRILLO GANTNER AC & ZIYIN GANTNER DASHIELL GANTNER & ANNA FOLEY
THALIA ($5,000)
JOHN & LORRAINE BATES MICHELE LEVINE ANN KEMENY & GRAHAM JOHNSON PETER & MARY-RUTH MCLENNAN ANONYMOUS CHRISTOPHER REED JORDANA HUNTER & JACOB VARGHESE ANDREW DOMASEVICIUS & AIDA TUCIUTE
MELPOMENE ($2,500)
J COWEN ROSEMARY FORBES & IAN HOCKING ANONYMOUS MICHAEL KINGSTON ALISON PYE ROSEMARY WALLS LEONARD VARY AND DR MATT COLLINS AM KC PETER TEMPLETON TOM SMYTH AMY & PAUL JASPER JON WEBSTER AM SUE PRESTNEY & PAUL GLEN MIKE & JANE RIKARD-BELL SUSANNE DAHN APS FOUNDATION
EUTERPE ($1,000)
ROGER DONAZZAN ANITA & GRAHAM ANDERSON MIN LI CHONG JASON CRAIG SUE DONNELLY NAN BROWN ANONYMOUS SALLY BROWNE FUND GRAEME JOHNSON OAM BEETON FAMILY FUND EDWINA SAHHAR MACKEN ANONYMOUS CARMAN'S KITCHEN JULIE & MICHAEL LANDVOGT NANNETTE HUNTER TOM & RUTH O'DEA ROS CASEY MARK DUCKWORTH PSM & LAUREN MOSSO ROD FULLER THE BRISCOE FAMILY DR TIM SMYTH MICHAEL RIORDAN & GEOFFREY BUSH GEORGE KOKKINOS & MELISSA TONKIN PETER & SHIRLEY WATSON ANITA & RICHARD DAMMERY MONICA & SAM ABRAHAMS EVELYN FIRSTENBERG & GRAHAM BLASHKI SCOTT WHITE & MARTINE LA FONTAINE BEN & NATALIE GILBERTSON SHERWOOD FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST ROGER HATTEN
TERPSICHORE ($500)
ANONYMOUS JANE ALLAN ELISE CALLANDER LINDA NORMAN CHARLIE POWLES JEAN ROSS JAN WILLIAMS ANN MCLAREN IAN MANNING & DR ALICE DE JONGE ROBERT & HENRY HOSKIN ANONYMOUS KAYLENE O'NEILL PENNY WARD FIONA MAHONY ANONYMOUS BRONWEN EVANS ANDREA MEDWIN PROF MICHAEL JEFFORD CAMERON LEWIS MARY DYER ABBEY-PINKERTON FAMILY PROF ROBERT NORDLINGER PETER BERRY & AMANDA QUIRK MARY-ANNE THOMAS ROSS LYONS ANONYMOUS ALAN WONG & LICHIN LIM STEPHANIE JONES DR LINDY HUME JAN BEGG STEVEN RICHARDSON
ERATO ($250)
ANNE O'DONOVAN AO JO WHYTE ALJIN ABELLA SIMONABRAHAMS LYNDY CLARKE JOHN DURIE JOANNEGRIFFITHS SHERYLBRYCE NICOLEBEYER ANONYMOUS ELIZABETH HUNT PETRA KALIVE & TIM STITZ GERARD POWELL ANITA ROBERTS ELIZABETH SPENCE TIM STITZ ANONYMOUS PAMELA MCLURE BARBARA YUNCKEN MARK LARSEN SUSAN MCLEAN JAMES RALSTON MARGOTMCDONALD ANONYMOUS CHRIS TEH JUSTINE CHARLES JUDY MORTON CHRISTINA COSTIGAN ANONYMOUS PATRICK CONWAY GEOFF LAYTON ABIGAIL KING PETER CASH MICHELLE MASON ANONYMOUS RUSSELL HOOPER DR ROB BROWN MICHAEL CIESIELSKI CHARLES & STASIA ZIKA ANONYMOUS EMILY KLUG LUCY BEST ANONYMOUS TONI SAN DIEGO ANONYMOUS LEIGH JOHNS OAM MONIQUE HODGKINSON MARITADUNBAR DR ROGERIO PEREIRA HELEN CHAMPION ANONYMOUS DIANNE TEMBY PAULA FERNON COLIN DYER JANE JURICIC STEVIE LANSDELL GLENN MUNARI & MARIA O'SHANNESSY ANONYMOUS DAVID JOHNSTON-BELL MANDY BATTAINI LINDEN & MICHAEL GOLDING MARGARET & BARRY VIEIRA PETER & LESLEY THOMAS ELAINE CHIA DAVID LIH BEVERLEY PHILLIPS LYNN NORMAN DYLAN COLE
EXECUTIVE TEAM
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER & CEO Vivia Hickman
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jacob Varghese (Chair) Jada Alberts Jennifer Darbyshire Lindy Hume AM PhD Dr Anna Foley Alison Whyte Alan Wong
ARTISTIC & PROGRAMMING
SENIOR PRODUCER Annie Bourke PRODUCER Erica Browne CASTING DIRECTOR Rhys Velasquez, CGA NEW WORK ASSOCIATE – ARTIST DEVELOPMENT Jessica Arthur NEW WORK ASSOCIATE – SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT Keziah Warner
Paul Buckley Perri Cummings Annabelle Davy Claire Duncan Mellita Ilich Julia Landberg Joshua Lim Sam McDonald Christine Pearsall Claire Tredinnick
EDUCATION
EDUCATION COORDINATOR Lyall Brooks
PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION MANAGER Blair Hart TECHNICAL MANAGER Baird McKenna OPERATIONS MANAGER Dexter Varley HEAD TECHNICIAN (LIGHTING) Rob Ballingall HEAD TECHNICIAN (SOUND) Edwin Cheah
HEAD OF WARDROBE Delia Spicer WORKSHOP MANAGER Goffredo Mameli SET BUILDERS Elizabeth Whitton, Lennon Fowler
PRODUCTION STAFF
Declan Acton Tait Adams Ash Basham Rylan Beckinsale Andrew Boswell Connor Brown Eden Burke Taarani Charrett-Dunlop Brandon Duncan Max Evans Justin Gardham Finnian Gleeson Stephen Hawker Patrick Hay Jodi Hope Kara Jaeger-Pound Brendan Jellie Khisraw Jones-Shukoor Josh Mackenzie Eugene Mackinnon Sofie McClure William Palazzo Micah Patson Chris Payne Darren Peet Rhys Pottinger Arielle Roberts Jacob Shears Natalya Shield Gareth Sole Nathaniel Sy Darren Thao Em Van Dyk Sasha Vulling Dan Walkeden
VENUE MANAGEMENT
FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER Dani Goder
FRONT OF HOUSE ATTENDANTS
Alice Fittock Aljin Abella Barney Spicer Chiara Gabrieli Fiker Gebrehana George Jefford Hayden Mumby Hayley Wolters Kate Washington Kenny Waite Lauren Walmsley Louisa Carpinteri Lucy Grant Lucy Seale Mitch Brotz Molly Wilson-McKenna Ponie Curtis Sara Norman Sophie McCrae Texas Nixon-Kain Tom Gannon Victoria Barlow Zoë Hadler
Key campaign image by Majid Kashani Cast images by Tim Carrafa
