DEBUT OF SECURITY BY MICHELE LEE
Shortlisted for the 2020 Patrick White Playwrights’ Award
“Melbourne writer Michele Lee has an exceptional grasp on capturing the atmosphere and sound of a place.” Time Out Melbourne
In a major coup for the Darebin Arts Speakeasy program, Security, written by Michele Lee and directed by Alice Qin will debut at Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre on 25 May.
Working security is a cruise most days. It’s the female security guards at Thompson Security – Naz, Tribe and Joey – who work on the side-lines to keep it all in line. But things turn to s**t when they become bystanders to a sexual assault.
Michele Lee is a multiple award-winning Asian-Australian writer working across stage, live art and screen. Her work is largely narrative-focused, in comedy and drama and explores stories of women, otherness and found families and has been commissioned by Griffin Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, Arts House, Next Wave Festival, Darwin Festival and Monash University.
Her play Rice won the 2016-17 Queensland Premier’s Drama Award, the 2018 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, the 2018 Australian Writers’ Guild stage drama award and was a finalist for the 2018 NSW Premier’s Literary Award, Nick Enright Prize. Going Down was a finalist for the 2019 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, Drama; 2019 NSW Premier’s Literary Award, Nick Enright Prize and 5 x 2019 Green Room Awards.
Director Alice Qin is a Melbourne-based theatre-maker, actor and educator. She was the directing mentor on the 2020 Melbourne Fringe award-winning 落叶归根 (Luò yè guī gēn) Getting Home and directed a playlet in the 2019 Red Stitch PLAYlist How Can I Be Sure of You? written by Ra Chapman.
She was also the assistant director of Lifespan of a Fact (Melbourne Theatre Company 2021) and Golden Shield (MTC 2019) and was a participant in the MTC x CAAP directing initiative. Alice is joined by a design team representing some of the best designers working across independent and mainstage theatre, including Set and Costume Designer Juliette Whitney, Lighting Designer Rachel Lee and Sound Designer Russell Goldsmith.
Security by Michele Lee
Presented by Darebin Arts Speakeasy
25 May – 4 June 2022
Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre
Wed – Sat 8pm, Sunday 6pm, Saturday 4 June: 2pm and 8pm
Tickets from $25. Visit https://arts.darebin.vic.gov.au/whats-on/event-calendar/2022/05/security
Auslan interpreted performance will occur on Thursday 2 June.
There will be a post-show Q&A session following the 2pm performance on Saturday 4 June.
Writer: Michele Lee
Director: Alice Qin
Performed by: Katerina Kotsonis, Sina Brown and Zoe Boesen
