Because The Night
An immersive theatre adventure by Malthouse Theatre
23 MAR – 26 SEP
The Malthouse
An immersive theatre adventure by Malthouse Theatre
Remaining performances of Because The Night have been cancelled due to the extended lockdown. Affected ticket holders have been contacted.
We are incredibly proud of the work we've created this year and thank everyone that has supported the production.
Something is unfolding here in Elsinore. For weeks the strikes have been intensifying—but there’s a new mood tonight as Carnival approaches. There’s a vivid sense of an era ending—a new age opening up. The timber workers feel it… and the royals too. Inside the palace there are whispers… the King’s death, the grinning Queen, the agitated Prince… And the ancient forest is wild again, groaning—restless... It seems to me that everything is part of a broader picture—that no matter where you look, it will tell the whole wicked story.
In a landmark production of unmissable storytelling, Malthouse Theatre launches an immersive theatre work on a scale never seen before in Australia. An entire world has been constructed for you to explore: follow the royals through the palace, roam the length of a town on the cusp of the digital age, or sift through the drawers of a single desk. Whatever you choose, a story will play out around you of a regime on the edge of collapse. You are a silent witness in the halls of power on a pivotal night in history. Move, venture deeper, listen closely, because the night will soon be lost—and all its secrets with it.
WHAT IS AN IMMERSIVE PERFORMANCE?
Because The Night is an immersive theatre show. The performance is experienced by moving through the sprawling world of Elsinore as the story plays out around you.
The actors cannot 'see' you, and will never touch you. You are a silent witness to their stories.
Enter Elsinore from one of three entrance rooms: the Bedroom, the Gymnasium, or the Royal Office*. The story commences with different characters' perspectives before you are invited to explore the expanse that awaits you.
Follow the characters as their stories intersect and the adventure unfolds, or go off the beaten track to discover the secrets of the town. Every choice you make is the right choice, for whatever path you take will uncover the mysteries of Because The Night.
If you are experiencing Because The Night as a group, it is recommended you start at different entrances. Whether you choose to explore together, or split up to discover the world alone, your journey is yours to take as you wish.
* Please note starting from the Royal Office requires entering the room by ascending and descending two flights of stairs. This entrance is not wheelchair accessible.
RULES OF ENTRY
- Audience members must wear a mask and cloak to experience the performance. These garments will be managed in a COVID-Safe way and will be provided to audience members upon entry and collected on exit.
- No touching other audience members or performers during the show.
- No bags or items larger than what can be carried in a pocket are permitted in the performance. All bags and large items must be cloaked prior to the performance in the cloaking facilities provided.
- The use of phones is strictly prohibited during the performance. Phones must be cloaked and/or must be turned off (not just on silent or airplane mode). Trust us, you won’t need them.
- Photography (including using a smartphone) is prohibited during the performance.
COVID-19 SAFETY
Because The Night is performed to just 60 audience members at a time. The spaces in the performance are designed for audience members to maintain social distancing and are thoroughly cleaned between performances in line with our COVID-19 venue safety protocols. You cannot touch the actors or other audience members, and the actors will not touch you.
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Because The Night is supported by the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government. Thank you to Daniel Besen, Michele Levine, The Humanity Foundation and Circle5 Foundation for their leading support of the production.
CONCEPT, DIRECTION & TEXT
Matthew Lutton
TEXT
Kamarra Bell-Wykes
TEXT
Ra Chapman
SET DESIGN (ARCHITECTURE)
Dale Ferguson
SET DESIGN (INTERIOR)
Marg Horwell
ASSOCIATE SET DESIGN (INTERIORS)
Matilda Woodroofe
COMPOSITION & SOUND DESIGN
J. David Franzke
LIGHTING DESIGN
Amelia Lever-Davidson
COSTUME DESIGN
Kat Chan
ASSISTANT DIRECTION
Bridget Balodis
DRAMATURG
Mark Pritchard
CAST (CLAUDIA)
Nicole Nabout
CAST (CLAUDIA)
Maria Theodorakis
CAST (GERTRUDE)
Belinda McClory
CAST (GERTRUDE)
Jennifer Vuletic
CAST (HAMLET)
Khisraw Jones-Shukoor
CAST (HAMLET)
Keegan Joyce
CAST (LAERTES), FROM 6 JULY
Kurt Pimblett
CAST (LAERTES), UNTIL 27 JUNE
Harvey Zielinski
CAST (LAERTES)
Ras-Samuel Welda'abzgi
CAST (OPHELIA)
Tahlee Fereday
CAST (OPHELIA)
Artemis Ioannides
CAST (POLONIUS)
Rodney Afif
CAST (POLONIUS)
Syd Brisbane
STAGE MANAGER
Tia Clarke
DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER
Lyndie Li Wan Po
DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER
Cecily Rabey
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Cointha Walkeden
PRODUCER
Annie Bourke
VOICE OVER
Marco Chaippi
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER
Lyndall Grant
VOCAL COACH
Suzanne Heywood
CASTING
Marline Zaibak
Event & ticketing details
Accessibility
Performance Times
Evening
6pm, Tue – Sun
8.30pm, Tue – Sun
Matinee
1pm, Sat
Event notes
WARNINGS /
Performance contains some strong sound and lighting effects, haze, coarse language, and adult content. A full list of content warnings can be located here.
AGE RESTRICTIONS /
Audience members must be 13 years or older to attend. Audience members under 13 years old must be accompanied by a guardian 18 years or older.
DURATION /
Performance duration is approximately 90 minutes.
ACCESSIBILITY /
For detailed information on Because The Night access performances see here.
REFUNDS AND EXCHANGES /
Please see Malthouse Theatre's terms and conditions for information on refunds and exchanges.