We’re pleased to bring you this mainstage debut from Pony Cam – a fresh, young theatre-making collective that Malthouse is proud to support.
Pony Cam has forged a reputation for bold experimentation: they blend spectacle, community and theatre into one electrifying package. Their work subverts form, embracing unexpected spaces and theatrical devices to deliver what audiences never quite see coming. Now, for the first time, we welcome them to our program as part of season 2025.
This adaptation of Chekhov’s last play, The Cherry Orchard, is nothing short of a riotous reimagining. Wood will be chopped, cheap champagne will be poured and indecision will run rampant.
Pony Cam has already attracted critical acclaim and a cult following, from Melbourne Fringe to Rising and beyond. This work marks a milestone for the collective, their first mainstage commission, and a bold signal of what contemporary theatre can be.
If you thought you knew how Chekhov should feel and sound, think again. We hope you enjoy this tearing down and rebuilding of a classic.
CREATORS' NOTE
FROM PONY CAM
Nearly three years ago, we were asked: could we adapt a classic text?
Our practice has always been built around making new work – creating our own worlds while borrowing shamelessly and stealing lovingly from the shows and artists that came before us. But adaptation – the act of reshaping an existing body, innovating within the scaffold of tradition – was unfamiliar terrain.
We came to Chekhov’s final play with equal parts love and irritation. The Cherry Orchard provoked us. There was discussion. There was argument. There was silence. And then, eventually, agreement.
After some focus groups, and lengthy consultation with branding experts, we cut "Cherry" from the title. Cleaner. Less prescriptive. More room to breathe. What kind of orchard are we standing in right now?
The work of adapting this text has been an interrogation of necessity. For us, relevance can’t be found in nostalgic reverie alone.
Asking ourselves what our orchard is – and what it protects – has been unsettling. It has forced us to question the places we’ve sought safety in: the places that hold our histories, our hopes. And it’s forced us to reckon with how precarious those comforts really are.
We’d like to thank Malthouse for their unwavering support. For collaborating with us to design a process that could hold our collective-led ethos, and for letting us stay in the building late into the night.
We'd also like to thank the community that has gathered around this work since day one – the artists, mentors, friends and family who have continually renewed our curiosity and concern – thank you.
Cast & Creatives
Photo of CLAIRE BIRD
CLAIRE BIRD
SHE/THEY
CO-CREATOR & PERFORMER
Photo of AVA CAMPBELL
AVA CAMPBELL
SHE/HER
CO-CREATOR & PERFORMER
Photo of WILLIAM STROM
WILLIAM STROM
HE/HIM
CO-CREATOR & PERFORMER
Photo of DOMINIC WEINTRAUB
DOMINIC WEINTRAUB
HE/HIM
CO-CREATOR & PERFORMER
Photo of HUGO WILLIAMS
HUGO WILLIAMS
HE/THEY
CO-CREATOR & PERFORMER
Photo of SOPHIE WOODWARD
SOPHIE WOODWARD
SHE/HER
SET & COSTUME DESIGNER
Photo of HARRIE HOGAN
HARRIE HOGAN
SHE/HER
LIGHTING DESIGNER
"The work of adapting this text has been an interrogation of necessity."
Pony Cam
Malthouse Theatre and Pony Cam would like to thank:
HANNAH STROUT AND AUSPICIOUS ARTS PROJECTS INC LA MAMA UMBRIA INTERNATIONAL DANS MAREE SHEEHAN MARCO CHER-GIBARD BLAKE HOHENHAUS MORGAN ROSE JANICE MULLER JOHN BOLTON SPECIAL THANKS TO CHRIS MEAD AND LAURA ALDOUS FOR THEIR FOCUSED SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS
CONTENT WARNING
This production contains loud and dynamic sound, smoke effects, and flashing lights. It also contains adult themes, coarse language, partial nudity and simulated alcohol consumption. While we do our best to inform audiences in advance about what to expect, the improvisational nature of The Orchardmeans we cannot guarantee the exact content of each performance.
If you have specific questions or concerns about potential content, please contact our Box Office.
DURATION
The running time for this production is approximately 75 minutes, with no interval.
Malthouse Theatre presents THE ORCHARD BY PONY CAM
CO-CREATORS & CAST
Pony Cam Claire Bird Ava Campbell William Strom Dominic Weintraub Hugo Williams
CREATIVES
Set & Costume Designer Sophie Woodward Lighting Designer Harrie Hogan
Producer (Pony Cam) Dans Maree Sheehan
The Orchardwas commissioned and developed by Malthouse Theatre.
Pony Cam thanks La Mama Umbria International for generously supporting an artistic residency and development period in Italy, where valuable insights into The Orchard were gained and future collaborators were discovered.
ANONYMOUS LIZ & CHRIS SCHELL JANINE TAI RICHARD LEONARD & GERLINDE SCHOLZ CANNY QUINE FOUNDATION JENNIFER DARBYSHIRE & DAVID WALKER CARRILLO GANTNER AC & ZIYIN GANTNER DASHIELL GANTNER & DR 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 AM 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
EUTERPE ($1,000)
ROGER DONAZZAN ANITA & GRAHAM ANDERSON MIN LI CHONG JASON CRAIG SUE DONNELLY NAN BROWN ANONYMOUS GRAEME JOHNSON OAM 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 JAN WILLIAMS LYNNE BURGESS SALLY BROWNE FUND
TERPSICHORE ($500)
STEVEN RICHARDSON ANONYMOUS ELISE CALLANDER LINDA NORMAN CHARLIE POWLES JEAN ROSS ANN MCLAREN SUSAN MCLEAN 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 ALAN WONG & LICHIN LIM STEPHANIE JONES DR LINDY HUME JAN BEGG
ERATO ($250)
ANNE O'DONOVAN AO JO WHYTE ALJIN ABELLA SIMONABRAHAMS LYNDY CLARKE JOHN DURIE JOANNEGRIFFITHS SHERYLBRYCE NICOLEBEYER ANONYMOUS PETRA KALIVE & TIM STITZ GERARD POWELL ANITA ROBERTS ELIZABETH SPENCE LIZ WHITE PAMELA MCLURE BARBARA YUNCKEN MARK LARSEN JAMES RALSTON MARGOTMCDONALD ANONYMOUS CHRIS TEH JUSTINE CHARLES JUDY MORTON CHRISTINA COSTIGAN ANONYMOUS PATRICK CONWAY GEOFF LAYTON ABIGAIL KING PETER CASH & BARBARA HOGARTH 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 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 Kristian Gehradte Rehearsal images by Nicole Cleary
