MTC to Present YELLOW MOON, 2-16 May

The captivating teenage thriller, Yellow Moon, brings a gritty, contemporary tale of young love, looming tragedy and self-discovery to MTC's line-up of works for young adults. Starring a talented ensemble cast directed by MTC Associate Director Leticia Cáceres, Yellow Moon opens on Friday 2 May at Southbank Theatre, The Lawler before a two-week season touring regional Victorian secondary schools.

Director Leticia Cáceres said 'Yellow Moon is a highly poetic, non-naturalistic piece of theatre that travels fluidly through multiple locations and narrative style. It's a modern and tenacious love story with a dark heart, taking us on a journey with two young people as they face their troubles and the unexpected. It's thrilling, dramatic and an especially exciting piece to present to senior drama students.'

It's Friday night. Stag Lee is 17, bored and figuring out how to make fast money. Silent Leila is at the all-night superstore feeling stupid and ugly, wishing she lived inside the pages of a celebrity magazine. Suddenly, a chance meeting and a shocking life-changing event sees the duo heading north in search of refuge.

David Greig is a writer and theatre maker based in Scotland. As a leader in writing for young audiences, his work in this area includes The Monster in the Hall, Yellow Moon, Gobbo and Dr Korczcak's Example. He also wrote the book of the stage musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which is currently playing on the West End. Grieg's other award-winning work includes The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, Midsummer, Dunsinane, Damascus, Outlying Islands, The American Pilot, Pyrenees, The Cosmonaut's Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union, The Architect and Europe. He has also written a number of adaptations including Creditors, Tintin in Tibet, When the Bulbul Stopped Singing and Peter Pan.

MTC Associate Director Leticia Cáceres has been lauded as one of the most exciting talents in the country. She directed Cock, Constellations, Helicopter and Random (nominated for three Green Room Awards) for MTC; Miss Julie and The Dark Room (nominated for seven Sydney Theatre Awards) for Belvoir; and The Orphanage Project, Far Away, and Memory of Water for QTC. She is co-founder of independent theatre company, RealTV whose award-winning works include Hoods (nominated for a 2008 Helpmann Award), War Crimes, and Children of the Black Skirt.

Following its MTC season in the Lawler at Southbank Theatre, Yellow Moon tours regional Victorian secondary schools from 19 to 31 May with the generous support of MTC Education Patrons and in partnership with Regional Arts Victoria. There will also be a performance at Geelong Performing Arts Centre on Monday 2 June.

Cast Daniela Farinacci (Jenni/Holly), Naomi Rukavina (Leila), Luke Ryan (Lee), Mark Constable (Billy/Frank)

Director Leticia Cáceres; Set and Costume Designer Melanie Liertz; Lighting Designer Lisa Mibus; Sound Designer THE SWEATS

Yellow Moon
Venue: Southbank Theatre, The Lawler
Season dates: 2 to 16 May 2014
Opening Night: Friday 2 May 2014 at 7.30pm
Tickets: from $35; Under 30s just $25
Bookings: Southbank Theatre Box Office 03 8688 0800 or mtc.com.au

Regional Tour Dates: 19 to 31 May 2014
Bookings: Regional Arts Victoria, education@rav.net.au