Founded in 1953, Melbourne Theatre Company is the oldest professional theatre company in Australia. It is a semi-autonomous department of the University of Melbourne. Producing up to twelve plays in a subscription season, a full education program and a studio program, it is not only Victoria's major theatre company and one of the major performing arts companies in Australia, but one of the largest theatre companies in the English-speaking world.In January 2009, Southbank Theatre (formerly the MTC Theatre), the Company's new performance home, opened on Southbank Boulevard in the heart of Melbourne's cultural precinct, allowing much of their season to be performed in the new 500-seat theatre, the Sumner. There is also the Lawler, a 150-seat studio space, which will allow the Company to develop edgier works and new writers. With the Company continuing to stage works at the Arts Centre's Playhouse (850 seats) and Fairfax Studio (350 seats), they have, for the first time in many years, access to the widest range of venue sizes to suit any play we might wish to produce.Despite these exciting developments, the company's mission has not changed since the first season more than fifty years ago:To produce classic and contemporary Australian and international theatre with style, passion and world class artistic excellence in order to entertain, challenge and enrich audiences in Melbourne, Victoria and Australia. Content: Melbourne Theatre Company Monday to Saturday9:00amThe Box Office is open Monday to Saturday from 9am until the commencement of the evening performance for MTC productions held at Southbank Theatre, and 2 hours prior to performances on Sundays and public holidays. If there is no evening performance at Southbank Theatre the Box Office will close at 5pm. Contact operator for further details.
