Who is Marcel Dorney?
He writes. He directs plays. When he does both, it’s probably with Elbow Room, the company he founded with Emily Tomlins in 2008 when they both moved to Melbourne.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
I would have started university majoring in German rather than biochemistry. Apart from that, I wouldn’t change a day.
Who inspires you and why?
People who work hard for a long time to improve other people’s lives without any expectation of being interviewed about it.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I’d tell you not to listen to people who tell you that exploitation is the natural and inevitable order of things.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Sydney. It’s great fun when you don’t live there.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take then to, and why?
Before I moved to Melbourne, the best part about visiting was locals taking you to small art venues, independent theatre, tiny bars, etc. That’d be a day with me.
What are you currently reading?
Not enough by Suzan-Lori Parks.
What are you currently listening to?
FKA Twigs. (I overdosed on Run the Jewels: this is my recovery phase.)
Happiness is?
Communication!
What does the future hold for you?
Getting better at #9.
An award-winning playwright and director, Marcel Dorney is a founding member and the current artistic director of Elbow Room. His work has been commissioned and developed by Queensland Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, Merrigong Theatre Company, Hothouse Theatre, USQ, La Boite Theatre, Griffin Theatre, Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse, Backbone Youth Theatre/Artslink, and the Next Wave Festival, and published by Playlab Press.
His plays include: Fractions (QTC/HotHouse); The Plague Dances (Four Larks/Malthouse Theatre); Charcoal Creek, Thieves Like Us (Merrigong Theatre Company), An Experiment With The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Artslink). With Elbow Room (co-writer/director): The Motion of Light In Water, Prehistoric, Now More Than Ever, After All This, As We Mean To Go On, Kassandra, Rule of Three, a tiny chorus, and There.
Marcel’s screenwriting includes: Cockleshell (prod. Matchbox Pictures, dir. Tony Ayres) in Arenamedia’s The Turning. Awards include: 2010 Queensland Premier’s Drama Award & 2012 Matilda Award (Fractions); Best Director (Ind.), 2011 Green Room Awards (After All This); and Lord Mayor’s Performing Arts Fellowship to study with the Maly Theatre in St Petersburg, Russia.
Marcel’s latest work, We Get It will be presented as part of MTC’s Neon Festival of Independent Theatre at the Southbank Theatre – The Lawler from 10 July 2015. For more information, visit: www.mtc.com.au for details.
Image: Marcel Dorney