Based on the legendary coming-of-age novel by Miles Franklin, the musical adaptation of My Brilliant Career takes us into the world of fiery misfit Sybylla as she wrestles against the restricted life on offer for a young woman in rural Australia a hundred years ago.
We follow wannabe-writer Syb from her drought-struck farm to the paradise of her grandmother’s estate, where she grows into her looks and her mind, fighting and flirting with the local aristocrats. An offer of marriage forces the ultimate choice; will she become just another wife or risk it all in hopes of a ‘brilliant career’?
The production forms part of the Jeanne Pratt Musical Theatre Artists in Residence program, a groundbreaking collaboration between Monash University performing arts students and professional artists that aims to create and promote the development of Australian musical theatre. Written by Dean Bryant and Mathew Frank, who won Green Room awards for their musicals Prodigal and Once We Lived Here, the score promises a mix of period Victoriana and contemporary pop, bringing to vivid life one of Australia’s most loved feminist characters.
Friday Oct 18-25, 2019, Alexander Theatre, Monash University - Clayton Campus
My Brilliant Career is presented by The Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music, The Centre for Theatre and Performance and Monash Academy of Performing Arts in association with the Jeanne Pratt Musical Theatre Artists in Residence Program.
“Director Petra Kalive seamlessly brings them agll together in a single fluid ensemble.” Andrew Fuhrmann, THE HERALD SUN
“Kalive’s direction has fine subtlety with the moments between Sybylla and Aunt Helen and Hal particularly lovely...My Brilliant Career is a remarkable achievement.” David Gardette, THEATRE PEOPLE
Cast
Luisa Scrofani, Anne Wood, Natalie O'Donnell, James Millar, Alister Kingsley & Andrew Coshan
(+ Monash Student Ensemble; Sophie Bass, emma Batty, Georgina Bright, Mia Brown, Jasmine Buchla-Dober, Jessica Cork, Tia Cumberland, Susan D’Souza, Carla Di Maggio, Kenzii Docherty, Benjamin Gonsalvez, Chloe Hancock, Caitlin Harry, Jessica Hayden, Kate Hirst, Micaela Janssen, Luna Lethbridge, Liam McWhinney, Abigail Navarro, Brodie O’Halloran, Saik (Ron) Phan, Sophia Phillips, Ellena Stockdale, Emlyn Sugden, Ashleigh Tacoe, Lucy Tyrrell, Talia Yates, Nardine Youssef, Sophie Gray, Jessmin Green, Ryan Hamilton, Louise Peters Rodirgues, Amelia Van Steel, Kelly Wilson).
Creatives
Writer - Dean Bryant
Composer - Mathew Frank
Orchestrator - James Simpson
Director - Petra Kalive
Musical Director - Ashlee Clapp
Movement Director - Xanthe Beesley
Set & Costume Designer - Chloe Greeves
Design Associate - Alex Rothnie
Lighting Design - Paul Lim
Creative Sound Design - Darius Kedros
Technical Sound Design - Marcello Lo Ricco
Dramaturg - Anna Barnes
Photography by John Lloyd Fillingham & Sarah Walker