Neon Extra

The Neon Festival of Independent Theatre came about through conversations MTC's Artistic Director Brett Sheehy had over drinks with The Hayloft Project's Artistic Director, Anne-Louise Sarks, among others. As part of the NEON season, MTC is hosting a series of Sunday afternoon talks, Neon Extra, beginning with an exploration of independent theatre's relationship with the main stage, and asking the question: friends or foes? Daniel Clarke of Theatreworks chaired a panel including Sarks, Sheehy, critic Alison Croggan, Matthew Lutton (currently Associate Artist at the Malthouse Theatre) and producer Stephen Armstrong (currently Australia Council's Chair of the Theatre Board). All agreed on a definition of independent theatre as theatre which was artist driven and 'not beholden' to concerns of funding, subscription, programming nor taste (unless the artists concerned chose otherwise). One thing it isn't is a stepping stone or alternative to mainstream theatre. Different models of engagement between the main stage and the indie are driven by artists and small companies, and relationships are often initiated as innovative means of supporting individual projects. That the big theatres respond to challenges by smaller companies and individual artists is clear, Neon being a case in point. From a festival director's international perspective, Melbourne is the best city in the world for independent theatre makers, asserted Sheehy. We already know it, but we still like to hear it.

MTC Neon Festival runs to Sunday 21 July