VCE Playlist 2025: The Birds

The winds are changing. And they’ll be waiting

Overnight, the weather has turned in a small town. A war has been declared and there’s no one who can stop it. One family sounds the warning, but what can you do when denial is as easy as keeping your head down?

Powerhouse performer Paula Arundell will send your pulse sky-rocketing in this exhilarating adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s classic gothic horror, featuring innovative submersive binaural sound design by J. David Franzke that will make you dodge and duck out of reach of… the birds.

Director Matthew Lutton will bring together a liminal world of light and shadow and a nightmarish soundscape of flying feathers, murderous swoops and thrilling carnage – all crafted by some of Australia’s best theatre designers, with the spectacle and innovation you’ve come to expect from Malthouse Theatre.

Language and composition will be key in painting brilliant and terrifying pictures for the audience, with the joy of this work unashamedly being the adrenaline it creates – while leaving plenty of space for students to pull the story’s dramaturgical threads, and a rich source for their analysis and evaluation of a professional theatre production.

VCE THEATRE STUDIES PROMPT PACKS

Malthouse Theatre provides pre-show and post-show Prompt Packs that explore the script and themes to help the students gain a deeper understanding of the production.

PROMPT PACK A (PRE-SHOW)
Single spread version available here
Double spread version available here

PROMPT PACK B (POST-SHOW)
Available here, mid-May 2025

SCRIPT

Complimentary PDF scripts will be emailed to teachers in mid-April 2025 (together with Prompt Pack A) to be shared with students for educational purposes only.

DATES & TICKETS

EDUCATION MATINEES

1pm Friday 23 May
11am Tuesday 27 May
11am Thursday 29 May
11am Tuesday 3 June
11am Tuesday 5 June

DURATION

70 minutes, no interval
+ 30-minute optional Q&A at education matinees

PRICES

Metro schools: $45 (per student)
Regional & low-ICSEA schools: $35 (per student)
Accompanying teachers: Free (max. 2 per group)
Additional teachers: $55

POST-SHOW Q&A

All education matinees are followed by a Q&A session with select cast and creatives, facilitated by the Malthouse Education team.

REVISIT THE PLAY

Revisit the Play is our acclaimed digital workshop aimed at preparing students for their VCE Theatre Studies written examination. With production footage excerpts, facilitated analysis and curriculum-focused provocations, this on-demand session in an invaluable revision opportunity for your class. Bookings can be made via the button below.

This workshop will be available from 15 September 2025.

BOOK REVISIT THE PLAY

ADVICE FOR SCHOOLS

VCE Playlist 2025: The Birds is recommended for ages 15 and older.

This production is currently under development, therefore revised content information will be made available closer to the season. However, it is anticipated to contain horror themes, descriptions of violence and harm, infrequent coarse language, loud noises, flashing lights and smoke effects.

Headphones will be supplied and will need to be worn by the audience throughout the performance. Whilst most people with minor hearing impairments will find the headphone system adequate to hear the show, we can also provide oversized headphones for those wearing external heading aids, or personal induction loops, or have sockets for patrons with direct inputs. Independent volume controls may also be available.

For more information about the play, its script, curriculum links, or specific content, please contact Malthouse Education Coordinator, Lyall Brooks, at lbrooks@malthousetheatre.com.au.

For all ticket and booking enquiries, please contact education@malthousetheatre.com.au.

BOOK TICKETS