Megan Wilding has been lighting up stages in Sydney for years, casually stealing reviews with her brilliant comedic timing. We’ve been trying to get her on our stages for a while now, but never guessed it would be in a thrilling play she penned herself.
Meg has created a world we’ve never seen onstage before, a funny, dark, revenge thriller about dealing with your past, a play that abhors violence but acknowledges that sometimes it’s the only way to get someone to listen. It is a play about deeply serious things and yet is witty and playful in how it takes the audience on this journey.
Meg dives into the complexities of being a woman in the world today and claims her space in a way that makes her kin to Michaela Coel and Emerald Fennell, other artists who embrace the darker power of feminism. We are blessed to have Meg guided to her mainstage writing debut by her friend, our own directing dynamo Jessica Arthur, and partnered in this doubles match with the oh-so-charming Rick Davies. Enjoy what we think will be a game for the ages.
WRITER'S NOTE
MEGAN WILDING
I don’t know where to start. The beginning is too simple, the middle is very confusing, and the ending is yet to exist. GAME. SET. MATCH. has been a long time coming. Nine years. But this story has been with me for much longer. 35 years. 65,000. It goes deeper. It always does.
The songline to this has been a big old journey.
Belvoir. Griffin. And finally, Malthouse.
Many versions. Many tears. Many laughs. Lotta love.
This is one of the hardest things I have ever done. I don’t think I will get it all right, but I’m going to try. Yarrai has taught me that.
Jess Arthur, is a lighthouse on a stormy night. This play has grown so much because of her. Everything feels safe in her hands. Thank you so much.
This play would not exist if I didn’t have the most loving people around me. Lala, Chef, and Lu. Thank you. Thank you from the depths of my soul. Thank you for letting me feel it all. I know it’s been a lot. I love you and I’ll never forget it. Thank you.
Thank you so much to everyone that has brought this play to life. It’s a solid community that’s going to save this world. Thank you for being brave enough to have the conversation. Because that’s what it all starts with… two people fearless enough to have the yarn. Thank you.
And lastly, I’d like to thank my mum, Valerie Wilding. I see you in every sunrise. Thank you for loving me.
GAME. SET. MATCH. is written as a challenge to face the truth. Mine and yours. I’m ready. Are you?
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
JESSICA ARTHUR
GAME. SET. MATCH. is Megan Wilding’s incredible mainstage writing debut. Meg’s vision and writing are a gift for creatives and audiences. Her piece is a call to challenge the patterns and structures that uphold violence inflicted on land, people, the body and self. How can we move towards the future if we haven’t reckoned with the past? How do we acknowledge truths long enough for healing? Meg explores these provocations through humour, subverting expectations, and offering a path towards reclamation.
Truth has been our compass in the process. Both in terms of character motivation and the way we turn up and work in the room. Meg’s determination and bravery have fuelled the creation of the work. It has been an honour watching her sculpt the script while bringing the character of Yarrai to life. The character of Joshua required an actor who is generous, gracious and up for a technical challenge – we found this in the wonderful Rick Davies. The creatives and staff at Malthouse have passionately supported us in our endeavours to bring this show to life, everyone contributing in their own detailed and skilful ways.
Lastly, I want to thank Meg, her ancestors and her best friends for having such a presence in the formation of GAME. SET. MATCH. She has repeatedly reflected on their huge part in the making of the work.
Cast & Creatives
Photo of MEGAN WILDING
MEGAN WILDING
SHE/THEY
SHE/RAY & WRITER
Photo of RICK DAVIES
RICK DAVIES
HE/HIM
HE/JOSHUA
Photo of JESSICA ARTHUR
JESSICA ARTHUR
SHE/HER
DIRECTOR
Photo of ISLA SHAW
ISLA SHAW
SHE/HER
SET & COSTUME
Photo of AMELIA LEVER-DAVIDSON
AMELIA LEVER-DAVIDSON
SHE/HER
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Photo of RAINBOW CHAN
RAINBOW CHAN
SHE/HER
COMPOSER & SOUND DESIGNER
Photo of KEZIAH WARNER
KEZIAH WARNER
SHE/HER
DRAMATURG
Photo of AMY CATER
AMY CATER
ALL PRONOUNS
INTIMACY COORDINATOR
Photo of HARRY DOWLING
HARRY DOWLING
HE/HIM
STAGE MANAGER
"GAME. SET. MATCH. is written as a challenge to face the truth. Mine and yours. I’m ready. Are you?"
MEGAN WILDING
Justine Goss, Darcy Pointon & Olivia Mortimer-Eade – Aurora Artist’ Management Natalie Stewart& Bella Greenlees– HLA Management Mags Stewart – Mercury Management Lee-Anne Higgins,Sarah Wood & Padma Fixter – United Management; Alice Dunne & Grace Malloch – United Agents (UK) Dalara Williams Bessie Holland Hamish Michael West Brunswick Tennis Club Antipodes Theatre Company
CONTENT WARNING
This productioncontainsexplicitdescriptions of sexual assault, graphic violence, discussion of racism and racial slurs, strong coarselanguageand simulated use of drugs.
For more detailed information on the production’s content, pleaseclick here.
CRAIG REEVES LIZ & CHRIS SCHELL RICHARD LEONARD & GERLINDE SCHOLZ JENNIFER DARBYSHIRE & DAVID WALKER CARRILLO GANTNER AC & ZIYIN GANTNER JANINE TAI ANONYMOUS CANNY QUINE FOUNDATION ANNA FOLEY & DASHIELL GANTNER
THALIA ($5,000)
JOHN & LORRAINE BATES ROSEMARY FORBES & IAN HOCKING MARY-RUTH & PETER MCLENNAN JORDANA HUNTER & JACOB VARGHESE ANDREW DOMASEVICIUS & AIDA TUCIUTE MICHELE LEVINE ANN KEMENY & GRAHAM JOHNSON AMY & PAUL JASPER ANONYMOUS CHRISTOPHER REED
MELPOMENE ($2,500)
ANONYMOUS MICHAEL KINGSTON JANE KUNSTLER ALLISON PYE ROSEMARY WALLS LEONARD VARY AM AND DR MATT COLLINS AM KC PETER TEMPLETON JON WEBSTER AM SUE PRESTNEY & PAUL GLEN J COWEN SUSANNE DAHN
EUTERPE ($1,000)
ROGER DONAZZAN SALLY BROWNE FUND ANONYMOUS JAN WILLIAMS MARK DUCKWORTH PSM & LAUREN MOSSO ROD FULLER ANITA & GRAHAM ANDERSON MIN LI CHONG JASON CRAIG NAN BROWN JOAN & GRAME JOHNSON OAM EDWINA MACKEN CARMAN'S KITCHEN JULIE & MICHAEL LANDVOGT NANNETTE HUNTER TOM & RUTH O'DEA ROS CASEY THE BRISCOE FAMILY MICHAEL RIORDAN & GEOFFREY BUSH GEORGE KOKKINOS & MELISSA TONKIN PETER & SHIRLEY WATSON DAMMERY FAMILY FOUNDATION MONICA & SAM ABRAHAMS EVELYN & GRAHAM FIRSTENBERG BEN & NATALIE GILBERTSON SHERWOOD FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST ROGER HATTEN
TERPSICHORE ($500)
JEAN ROSS ANN MCLAREN MARY DYER SUSAN MCLEAN FIONA MAHONY JANE ALLAN ELISE CALLANDER LINDA & TIM NORMAN CHARLIE POWLES ROBERT & HENRY HOSKIN IRENE KEARSEY & M J RIDLEY KAYLENE O'NEILL PENNY WARD BRONWEN EVANS ANDREA MEDWIN CAMERON LEWIS ABBEY-PINKERTON FAMILY PROF ROBERT NORDLINGER PETER BERRY & AMANDA QUIRK MARY-ANNE THOMAS ROSS LYONS DAVID HAMILTON EMMA LINCOLN ALAN WONG & LICHIN LI STEPHANIE JONES LINDY HUME AM JAN BEGG AILIE FREELAND CARMODY PROF MICHAEL JEFFORD ANONYMOUS ANONYMOUS ANONYMOUS
ERATO ($250)
JO WHYTE ANITA ROBERTS & BRUCE ROBERTS CHRISTINA COSTIGAN CHARLES & STASIA ZIKA TONI SAN DIEGO HELEN CHAMPION ANTHONY & MANDY BATTAINI STEVEN RICHARDSON ANNE O'DONOVAN AO SIMON ABRAHAMS LYNDY CLARKE JOHN DURIE GERARD & JULIE POWELL BARBARA YUNCKEN JOY BURMAN MARK LARSEN & DARREN BEALE KEVIN PYLE CHRIS THE JUSTINE CHARLES JUDY MORTON GEOFF LAYTON ABIGAIL KING PETER CASH & BARBARA HOGARTH MICHELLE MASON DR ROB BROWN MICHAEL CIESIELSKI DR ROSS COLLER EMILY KLUG LUCY BEST LEIGH JOHNS OAM MONIQUE HODGKINSON MARITA DUNBAR ROGERIO PEREIRA DIANNE TEMBY COLIN DYER JANE JURICIC GLENN MUNARI & MARIA O'SHANNESSY DAVID JOHNSTON-BELL LINDEN GOLDING & MICHAEL GOLDING MARGARET & BARRY VIEIRA PETER & LESLEY THOMAS PETER CROCKETT LYNN NORMAN ALICE AMES DYLAN COLE MARGARET ASTBURY JANETTE HIBBERD SHERYL BRYCE ANONYMOUS ANONYMOUS ANONYMOUS ANONYMOUS ANONYMOUS ANONYMOUS ANONYMOUS ANONYMOUS ANONYMOUS ANONYMOUS
EXECUTIVE TEAM
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER & CO-CEO Vivia Hickman
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CO-CEO Dean Bryant
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jacob Varghese (Chair) Jada Alberts Jennifer Darbyshire 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
PRODUCTION MANAGER Blair Hart TECHNICAL MANAGER Baird McKenna OPERATIONS MANAGER Dexter Varley HEAD MECHANIST Michael Carr HEAD ELECTRICIAN Rhys Pottinger HEAD TECHNICIAN (SOUND) Edwin Cheah
HEAD OF WARDROBE Delia Spicer WORKSHOP MANAGER Goffredo Mameli SET BUILDERS Elizabeth Whitton, Lennon Fowler
PRODUCTION STAFF
Andrew Boswell Aiden Brennan Eden Burke Taarani Charrett-Dunlop Harry Dowling Finnian Gleeson Luke Grana Jodi Hope Claudia Howarth Kara Jaeger-Pound Marcus Lew Joshua Mackenzie Eugene Mackinnon Mahi Modouris Micah Patson Darren Peet Thomas Roach Arielle Roberts Sarah Ryan Jacob Shears Gareth Sole Nathaniel Sy Nofar Szumer Menashe Darren Thao Eden Trickett Jamie Turner Em Van Dyk Lior Yaron
VENUE MANAGEMENT
FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER Locky Ellis
FRONT OF HOUSE ATTENDANTS
Adam Charlton Alice Fittock
Aljin Abella
Barney Spicer
Claire Ferguson Darcy Crawford
Hayley Wolters
James Fitzgerald
Janine Kwok
Kenny Waite
Lauren Walmsley
Louisa Carpinteri Mia Beame
Mitch Brotz
Molly Wilson-McKenna
Sara Norman
Sophie McCrae
Texas Nixon-Kain
Victoria Barlow
Zoë Hadler
Campaign image by Giulia McGauran Rehearsal photography by Gianna Rizzo
