Jacky is a new Australian play by Arrernte playwright Declan Furber Gillick, commissioned as part of Melbourne Theatre Company's Next Stage Writers Program. The lighting design for the work was an integral part of the scenography of the work. The play was a world premiere of a new work by an indigenous playwright on a mainstage and received a broad range of critical reviews.
NTRO Output Category
- Original Creative Work : Design / architectural Work
Place
Melbourne, VictoriaVenue
Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre MelbourneNTRO Publisher
Melbourne Theatre CompanyStart Date
2023-05-22End Date
2023-06-24Medium
Lighting Design for Live PerformanceResearch Statement
Jacky is a new Australian play by Arrernte playwright Declan Furber Gillick, commissioned as part of Melbourne Theatre Company's Next Stage Writers Program.
The minimalist stage design frees space as a dramatic tool by shedding naturalistic elements. Initially, light divides Jacky's family and work realms into distinct, orderly compartments. As relationships complicate, these boundaries blend, creating a unified stage without clear resolution. Light was a principle material in the scenography of the work.
The significance of this work is evidenced by:
• The producing company, Melbourne Theatre Company, is the state theatre company of Victoria and a member of the Australian Major Performing Arts Group, receiving both federal and state arts funding.
• The production received a broad range of critical reviews from major national publications, notably from The Guardian by Tim Byrne, ArtsHub by Kate Mulqueen and The Age by Sonia Nair.
• A live performance was recorded and is intended to become available for streaming as part of Melbourne Theatre Company's Digital Theatre Plus program in 2024.Size or Duration of Work
Full Length Play (new work)Affiliation
Matt Scott, University of Melbourne
