Electrifying Ensemble And World Class Directors Confirmed For Cybec Electric 2017

Melbourne Theatre Company is thrilled to announce the final line-up of artists taking part in its annual play reading initiative, Cybec Electric, from Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 February at Southbank Theatre, The Lawler.

For the first time ever, Cybec Electric will be joined by international directors Jo Kukathas from Malaysia and Mark Zhuang Yi from China, who will each bring their world class expertise to works by nine emerging playwrights: Kim Ho, Hiroki Kobayashi, Alan Nguyen, Jeremy Nguyen, Hoa Pham, Natesha Somasundaram, Arun Subramaniam, Jean Tong and Chi Vu.

This invigorating line-up of talent will work collaboratively with MTC Literary Director Chris Mead and an ensemble of talented actors Emina Ashman, Jing-Xuan Chan, Joseph Lai, Georgina Naidu, Ricardo Rusch and Gareth Yuen, to bring these new plays to life.

Cybec Electric is an integral part of MTC's commitment to developing and presenting new Australian plays. It gives playwrights the opportunity to work with professional directors and actors to develop their work and road test it with a critical ingredient of live theatre: an audience.

MTC Literary Director and Cybec Electric curator Chris Mead said, 'Come join us for the shock of the new. Here are works that not only confirm the talent and vision of our emerging playwrights, but their fearlessness and muscularity. What better way to celebrate Asia TOPA than by championing these powerful new writers with two exceptional international directors and a great cast.'

In 2017 Cybec Electric is part of the inaugural Asia TOPA, the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts.

Cybec Electric is only possible due to the support of Roger Riordan AM and The Cybec Foundation.

Tickets for the play reading series are available on MTC's website now.