LOVE LETTERS Opens at Arts Centre Melbourne, October 31

From Wednesday 31 October – Saturday 3 November, peek into the hearts of Melbourne's teenagers as they experience love for the very first time in Love Letters. A co-production between St Martins Youth Arts Centre and Arts Centre Melbourne, written by Kylie Trounson and St Martins' Teen Ensemble and directed by Sarah Austin, Love Letters takes its inspiration from real-life love letters that have been collected by the artists and crafted into the performance.

Retelling age-old lessons in love submitted by adults and kids alike, Love Letters presents the heart-warming and cringe-worthy truths of first loves on the stage. From schoolyard crushes to a girl's obsession with Justin Bieber – nothing is sacred in this honest and candid production based on the real-life experiences of everyday Melburnians. Told through the voices of teenage actors, Love Letters captures the hormones, the tears and the giddy feeling of being in love for the first time.

Melburnians can submit their love letters to St Martins until Sunday 14 October via Facebook, e-mail and post (details below). Letter boxes will also be erected around Arts Centre Melbourne and lovers will be able to drop their letters in person. After this date, love letters can still be submitted for inclusion in an exhibit in the Fairfax Studio Foyer, which will be on display during the play's season.

"I'm so excited to be working with this bunch of incredible artists, and in particular a cast of eleven teenage artists whose passion, ideas, capacity and vision leaves nothing to be desired," said director Sarah Austin. "It has been a fascinating experience collecting people's actual love letters and crafting them into a performance. We hope audiences see a bit of their own experiences reflected on the stage – quite literally."

A stalwart of Melbourne's theatre community for over 30 years, St Martins Youth Arts Centre is a leader in creating accessible theatre with and for young people. Alumni from St Martins' many performance ensembles include Julia Zemiro, Noah Taylor and Kath and Kim's Jane Turner and Gina Riley.

Love Letters
Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio
7:30pm Wednesday 31 October – Saturday 3 November
11am Thursday 1 and Friday 2 November

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