Malthouse Theatre’s 2025 season promises an eclectic mix of powerful productions, spanning diverse themes and styles. The lineup will feature seven captivating plays, each showcasing the theatre’s commitment to innovation and accessibility.
This is the theatre company’s ninth program with Artistic Director, Matthew Lutton, at the helm.
Lutton says: “This season of theatre is for the curious who are seeking adrenaline, fun, rich ideas, and who want to explore what theatre can be. We’ve found the most enlivening ideas from artists at the peak of their craft; every production is different, and we have made it price
accessible for you to see them all throughout the year.”
The season kicks off with “Truth” (Feb 13 – Mar 8), written by renowned playwright Patricia Cornelius. This compelling drama delves into the life of Julian Assange, exploring his journey from Melbourne hacker to the founder of WikiLeaks. Five performers bring to life Assange, Snowden, and Manning, unraveling the consequences of exposing hidden truths.
Archibald Prize 2024 finalist, Shaun Gladwell ‘A spangled symbolist portrait of Julian Assange floating in reflection’ © the artist
Next is “A Nighttime Travesty” (Feb 19 – 22), a raucous First Nations vaudevillian musical directed by Stephen Nicolazzo. Combining music, parody, and political commentary, this reimagined production pushes boundaries with explosive performances and provocative themes.
From March 26 to April 20, Malthouse Comedy lights up the theatre with a selection of local and international acts, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Audiences can expect 20,000 visitors across 20 performances during this three-week celebration of humour.
The chilling adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s “The Birds” (May 16 – Jun 7) follows, featuring a one-woman performance by Paula Arundell. Audiences will be immersed in an audio-driven nightmare that brings Hitchcock’s iconic horror story to life.
“ECHO” (Jul 14 – 19) takes the stage with a cold-read, unrehearsed format. Written by Nassim Soleimanpour and directed by Omar Elerian, this play explores themes of home and climate crisis through a live connection with the playwright from Berlin.
In August, “The Orchard” (Aug 5 – 16), a new work by Melbourne’s Pony Cam, challenges the classics with a dynamic reimagining of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, blending comedy and surrealism.
The season concludes with “Meow Meow’s The Red Shoes” (Nov 19 – Dec 6), a playful and chaotic cabaret production. Directed by Kate Champion, this fresh staging offers a song-and-dance journey through Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved fairy tale.
From Thursday 10–Thursday 31 October, an early bird offer of 25% off every 2025 Malthouse Theatre production will be available via the website, with prices from as low as $38.
See malthousetheatre.com.au for more information.
