Australia's first and only Sondheim repertory company, Watch This is a bold, grass-roots organisation presenting outstanding, sophisticated musical theatre to audiences in Melbourne and regional Victoria. Our ambition and commitment to the highest production/ performance standards attract teams of wonderfully talented artists and creatives.
Heading into our tenth year, we've garnered an enviable reputation in a highly competitive field, boasting twenty-nine Green Room Award nominations with five wins, alongside multi-million dollar commercial and state sponsored productions. We have also broken ground by successfully touring full-scale musicals to regional centres.
We are passionate about creating exciting, immediate theatrical experiences for theatre-goers. We are also committed to ensuring that these experiences are available to as many people as possible - a philosophy that informs the relatively simple matter of ticket pricing to more complex touring proposals.
Past productions include Assassins, Pacific Overtures, Company, Merrily We Roll Along, A Little Night Music. Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods and most recently, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. All projects to date have been made possible by the generosity of the Lyngala Foundation and other visionary individuals/ organisations, including the Opera & Arts Support Group and Robert Salzer Foundation. Since 2016, Watch This has recently been included on the Register of Cultural Organisations - an incredible endorsement of our contribution to the sector.
To Support our dynamic and visionary organisation, we invite you to make a tax deductible donation today!
Can you believe it's been 10 years since Watch This' debut season of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins at Melbourne's iconic fortyfivedownstairs?
Over the past ten years we have delivered ten acclaimed productions of scale across Melbourne and regional Victoria. We've collaborated with well over 250 artists on and off the stage including some of Australia's leading lights alongside emerging and mid-career artists who have gone on to star in commercial / mainstage shows. To date, we have delivered $740k to artists in fees and wages.
We've amassed 27 Green Room Award nominations (with 4 wins), alongside multi-million-dollar commercial productions. We've piloted our FreshMint initiative - a platform for nurturing the next generation of music theatre makers, with a specific focus on diverse voices and stories. We've introduced an education program that facilitates workshops for students and their teachers to work with top industry professionals on curriculum-based activities. And we've created a five-part digital documentary series The Art of Making Art, celebrating the incredible work and talent of our designers.
That's a lot to have achieved in 10 years, and we have a lot more planned for our next 10.
So, to celebrate all that has been and to enable all that is still to come, we are launching a $10 For Ten Years crowd- funding campaign.
For the price of a couple of takeaway coffees, you could help us continue this company's incredible contribution to our community and maintain our place in Australia's music theatre ecology. And of course, those who can contribute a bit more are more than welcome.
Thanks so much to all our Watch This family for your continued generosity and support. See you at the theatre!
"Independent music theatre is a vital part of the industry. A space where artists can take risks in bold, immediate reinventions. Donations are the lifeblood of indie organisations and allow Watch This to continue reimagining Sondheim's extraordinary work for and with contemporary artists and audiences." Dean Drieberg, Co-Artistic Director
"Our company philosophy embraces equality and opportunity. We champion artists from the full spectrum of society and ensure independent voices and perspectives are heard and celebrated. With our FreshMint and educational programs, Watch This nurtures the development of new Australian stories and introduces students to the exceptional craft and artistry of Sondheim's canon." Melanie Hillman, Co-Artistic Director
Mel & Dean
Watch This Co-Artistic Directors