Presented as part of Melbourne Theatre Company’s acclaimed Education & Families Program, SLAP. BANG. KISS. is returning to Australian stages for a National Tour from 30 July 2024.
Writer Dan Giovannoni tracks three young people whose stories kickstart a series of events none of them could have anticipated, transforming them into global symbols of revolution.
SLAP. A video of 16-year-old Immi hitting a security officer goes viral. BANG. Sofia’s impassioned speech for the victims of a school shooting makes international news. KISS. In the car park of a small-town Woolies, people rally around Darby and Daniel as the boys lock lips in an attempt to set the world record for the longest kiss. But when their stories go viral and the whole world is watching, what will they do next?
Exploring themes of hope, identity and activism, this is a bold MTC NEXT STAGE original from multi-award-winning playwright Dan Giovannoni (Merciless Gods), directed by Katy Maudlin (Meet Me At Dawn) and starring Sarah Fitzgerald (The Great Australian Play), Tomáš Kantor (West Side Story) and Tsungirai Wachenuka (Paw Patrol Live).
Sharing his hopes for the touring production, Playwright Dan Giovannoni said, “I wanted this play to be an invitation to young people stepping into the world, an opportunity to see folks like them leading change, demanding their voices be heard. They are often shaped by the world around them, but they are also capable of doing the shaping,” he said.
“This is an important work that speaks directly to our younger generations. This national tour ensures this work is seen by more young Australians in the hope it inspires them, as it did for so many during the 2022 season,” said Melbourne Theatre Company’s Artistic Director & Co-CEO, Anne-Louise Sarks.
The touring performances will be complemented by a suite of detailed digital resources to support students’ study and learning outcomes. MTC Education’s array of study resources is provided free of charge and available alongside a growing library of award-winning materials designed to enhance students’ experience and engagement with the arts.
Director: Katy Maudlin | Featuring: Sarah Fitzgerald, Tsungirai Wachenuka, Tomáš Kantor | Set & Costume Designer: Kate Davis | Lighting Designer: Amelia Lever-Davidson | Composer & Sound Designer: Ian Moorhead | Writer: Dan Giovannoni
SLAP. BANG. KISS. returns following out a sell-out season in 2022 and will hold 22 performances in 16 venues across three states – Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales. For more information and touring schedule, visit: www.mtc.com.au for details.
Image: Tsungirai Wachenuka, Tomáš Kantor and Sarah Fitzgerald (supplied)