HOW TO PLOT A HIT IN TWO DAYS

Melanie Tait is a writer for stage and screen with a proven track record in Australia and the UK. Her play THE APPLETON LADIES’ POTATO RACE premiered at the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney in March 2019 and toured nationally in 2021. The play has been programmed right around Australia and New Zealand including at the State Theatre Company of South Australia, Queensland Theatre and The Court Theatre in Christchurch. Melanie also adapted her play into a feature film for Paramount+. Her second play for Ensemble, A BROADCAST COUP, opened in January 2023 at Ensemble Theatre as part of Sydney Festival, while THE QUEEN’S NANNY opened in September 2024 at the Ensemble and has just toured Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT. Her first play THE VEGEMITE TALES won critical and popular acclaim, playing eight years in London, including two years on the West End. THE APPLETON LADIES’ POTATO RACE, THE QUEEN’S NANNY and HOW TO PLOT A HIT IN TWO DAYS are published by Currency Press and A BROADCAST COUP is published by Playlab. Melanie has an original television series in development with Easy Tiger Productions.

Bell Shakespeare: THE SCHOOL FOR WIVES, TWELFTH NIGHT. Belvoir Street Theatre: THAT FACE, THIS HEAVEN, HALF AND HALF, A NUMBER, 7 BLOWJOBS, LADYBIRD. Griffin Theatre Company: FIRST LOVE IS THE REVOLUTION, PRIMA FACIE, IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT LADY?, THE ALMIGHTY SOMETIMES, KILL CLIMATE DENIERS, EIGHT GIGABYTES OF HARDCORE PORNOGRAPHY, THE HOMOSEXUALS OR ‘FAGGOTS’, RICE, MASQUERADE, GLORIA, THE BLEEDING TREE, EMERALD CITY, A RABBIT FOR KIM JONG-IL, THE SERPENT’S TABLE, REPLAY, SILENT DISCO, SMURF IN WANDERLAND, THE BULL, THE MOON AND THE CORONET OF STARS, THE CALL, A HOAX, THE NIGHTWATCHMAN. Griffin Theatre Company with Bell Shakespeare: THE LITERATI, THE MISANTHROPE. Melbourne Theatre Company: MOTHER PLAY, GLORIA, HAY FEVER, RUPERT. Queensland Theatre Company: GASLIGHT, FAMILY VALUES, FIRST CASUALTY, BERNHARDT/HAMLET, RETURN TO THE DIRT, PRIMA FACIE, OUR TOWN, MOUTHPIECE, RICE. Sydney Theatre Company: MARY STUART, HONOUR, LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING, ZEBRA!. Neil Gooding Productions: SHIRLEY VALENTINE. As Artistic Director Lee has led Queensland Theatre and Griffin Theatre Company. Awards: HELPMANN AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR for THE BLEEDING TREE (Griffin Theatre Company)

Assistant Director, Ensemble Theatre: EMERALD CITY. Sydney Theatre Company: TOP COAT. Associate Director, Bell Shakespeare: KING LEAR. Directorial Assistant: Hayes Theatre Co: MURDER FOR TWO. Director, New Theatre: ATLANTIS. Slanted Theatre: BOOM, SHORT BLANKET, LADY PRECIOUS STREAM, THREE FAT VIRGINS UNASSEMBLED, CHING CHONG CHINAMAN. Actor, Australian Shakespeare Company: ROMEO AND JULIET, Joining The Dots: THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW, Your Side: TWO WORLDS, ONE HEART. Film: FIVE BLIND DATES. Audition Coordinator/Stage Manager, Crossroads Live: CATS, BACK TO THE FUTURE, HAIRSPRAY, TEG. Dainty: TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. Awards: Tiffany was featured as an Honouree of the Asian Australian 2022, 2023 & 2024 List and is a proud member of Actors Equity.

Ensemble Theatre: Debut. The Good Room: I SHOULD HAVE DRUNK MORE CHAMPAGNE, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS (INC NATIONAL TOUR), I JUST CAME TO SAY GOODBYE, ONE BOTTLE LATER. Elbow Room: WE GET IT. Justin Martin and Old Fitz: LOW LEVEL PANIC. La Boite Theatre: COSI, THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE THIRD, BLACKROCK. MML Worldwide: MAGIC MIKE LIVE AUSTRALIAN TOUR. Metro Arts Awkward Conversations: MEDEA REDUX. Myths Made Here: CINDERELLA. Queensland Theatre: FAT PIG, SEEDING BED, TROLLOP, THE SEAGULL, THE ODD COUPLE, BERNHARDT HAMLET, FAMILY VALUES, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Shake & Stir: OUT DAMN SNOT, FOURTEEN (INC NATIONAL TOUR). Woodward and Neil Golding Productions: THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ABRIDGED. Film: DEMON DISORDER, POSTHUMOUS. Television/Media: INA, APPLES NEVER FALL, BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE, IN OUR BLOOD, JOE VS CAROL, YOUNG ROCK.

Ensemble Theatre: FOLK, DIPLOMACY, WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, TRIBES, BROKEN GLASS. For Belvoir Street Theatre: DEATH OF A SALESMAN, SEVENTEEN. Griffin Theatre Company: THE HOMOSEXUALS OR THE ‘FAGGOTS’. Hayes Theatre Company: DUBBO CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING, VIOLET, MELBA, CAROLINE OR CHANGE. Melbourne Theatre Company: PIAF, SUMMER OF THE SEVENTEENTH DOLL, THE VENETIAN TWINS. Queensland Theatre Company: AND A NIGHTINGALE SANG, BRILLIANT LIES. Sydney Theatre Company: THE HANGING, THE GIRL WHO SAW EVERYTHING, HANGING MAN, HARBOUR, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, MIRACLE CITY, MORNING SACRIFICE, NOISES OFF, ONCE IN A LIFETIME, THE RECRUIT, THE REPUBLIC OF MYOPIA, SUMMER RAIN, VICTORY. Other Theatre Credits include SISTER ACT, BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT: THE MUSICAL, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, THE MOUSETRAP. Film: SWEETIE, THE PIANO, THE POWER OF THE DOG, TICKET TO PARADISE, HERE OUT WEST, ACUTE MISFORTUNE, THE DRESSMAKER, BILLY’S HOLIDAY, HOLY SMOKE, SOFT FRUIT, SURBURBAN MAYHEM, LADIES IN BLACK, THE APPLE LADIES’ POTATO RACE, CRUEL HANDS, RUNT, KANGAROO. Television: RETURN TO PARADISE, POPULATION 11, TOTALLY & COMPLETELY FINE, PIECES OF HER, COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS, THE TOURIST, EDEN, FRAYED, THREE MEN AND A BABY GRAND, TOP OF THE LAKE, PRISONER. Awards: Helpmann Award (BILLY ELLIOT), Green Room Awards (BILLY ELLIOT and SISTER ACT), Sydney Theatre Critic’s Award (BILLY ELLIOT), Australian Film Critic’s Award (SWEETIE).

Ensemble Theatre: NEARER THE GODS, THE RASPUTIN AFFAIR, TRIBES, THE CAVALCADERS, SWEET ROAD. Other Theatre: Sydney Theatre Company: THE SEAGULL, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, SAINT JOAN, DINNER, A FLEA IN HER EAR, MARIAGE BLANC, THE CRUCIBLE, SCENES FROM A SEPARATION, THE WAY OF THE WORLD. Melbourne Theatre Company: RUPERT. Red Line Productions: AMADEUS. Belvoir: TELL ME I’M HERE. Bell Shakespeare: THE MISER, HAMLET, TARTUFFE, HENRY IV, THE DUCHESS OF MALFI, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, MEASURE FOR MEASURE, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, MACBETH. STCSA: THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. Griffin Theatre: WOLF LULLABY. Western Australian Theatre Company: THE CHERRY ORCHARD, WOMAN IN MIND. Sport For Jove: THE PLAYER KINGS. Australian Ballet: OSCAR. Training: WAAPA.

Ensemble Theatre: THE GREAT DIVIDE, RHINESTONE REX AND MISS MONICA, MURDER ON THE WIRELESS, LUNA GALE, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, RAPTURE BLISTER BURN, RHINESTONE REX AND MISS MONICA, LET THE SUNSHINE, RABBIT HOLE, THEY’RE PLAYING OUR SONG, CHAPTER TWO. Footbridge Theatre and National tour: HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. NUNSENSE. Marion St Theatre: WAIT UNTIL DARK, HERE COMES SHOWTIME. Queensland Theatre:  THREEPENNY OPERA. Sydney Theatre Company: SCENES FROM A SEPARATION, ALL IN THE TIMING. Theatre Royal: CRAZY FOR YOU. Sydney Entertainment Centre and National tour: MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER. FILM: THE 13TH SUMMER, THE STRANGER (short film) SANTA’S APPRENTICE (animation), IRRESISTIBLE, DANGER DOWN UNDER, YOUNG EINSTEIN, THE REPRISAL, THE BOY WHO HAD EVERYTHING, THE 13^TH FLOOR.
TV: HOME AND AWAY, PLAY SCHOOL, CITH HOMICIDE, SCORCHED, EMERALD FALLS, STUPID STUPID MAN, STEPFATHER OF THE BRIDE, THE SOCIETY MURDERS, ALL SAINTS, FIRE, OVER THE HILL, ACROPLIS NOW, GP, ALL TOGETHER NOW, A COUNTRY PRACTICE, RAFFERTY’S RULES, BARLOW AND  CHAMBERS. Georgie has been nominated for a Logie Award 11 times and won 7, two of them Gold for her television work.

Actor; Belvoir 25A: POV (with re:group), JESS AND JOE FOREVER (with Sugary Rum Productions), THE ASTRAL PLANE. Christine Dunstan Productions: TIM. Griffin Theatre Company: WHEREVER SHE WANDERS. Little Eggs Collective: THE LOST BOYS. Sydney Theatre Company: THE REAL THING. Film: HOT MESS. As Director; Little Eggs Collective: PINOCCHIO, THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER, EXTENDED PLAY: OLIVER SHERMACHER (with City Recital Hall), METROPOLIS (with Hayes Theatre Co.) Joshua Robson Productions: THE PRODUCERS (with Hayes Theatre Co & Riverside Parramatta). RaCreate & Old Fitz Theatre: DO YOU MIND? Sydney Grammar School: RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. St. Vincent’s College: MATILDA, THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS. Assistant Director; Ensemble Theatre: THE GREAT DIVIDE, THE HEARTBREAK CHOIR. Joshua Robson Productions & Hayes Theatre Co: BONNIE AND CLYDE, CITY OF ANGELS. Opera Australia: IL TRITTICO. Training: Lee Strasberg Institute of Theatre and Film (New York) and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London).

Ensemble Theatre: THE LOVER & THE DUMB WAITER, SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER, CLYDE’S, HONOUR, KENNY, THE LAST WIFE, LUNA GALE, SHIRLEY VALENTINE, FRANKENSTEIN, CASANOVA. Brisbane Festival: BANANALAND (with Sydney Festival), MACBETH. Queensland Theatre: TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS (with Belvoir), THE ALMIGHTY SOMETIMES, BERNHARDT/HAMLET, MACBETH, ELIZABETH: ALMOST BY CHANCE A WOMAN, VENUS IN FUR, BOMBSHELLS, KELLY, HEAD FULL OF LOVE, FRACTIONS, THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, AUSTRALIA DAY, THE PITCH, THE CHINA INCIDENT, THE REMOVALISTS, AN OAK TREE, MAN EQUALS MAN, WAITING FOR GODOT, EATING ICE CREAM, BECKETT X 3, RUBY MOON. Sydney Theatre Company: THE CRUCIBLE, SENECA’S THYESTES. Opera Queensland: THE MIKADO, THE MERRY WIDOW, SPACE ENCOUNTERS, THE MAGIC FLUTE. Pinchgut Opera: RINALDO. State Opera South Australia: LA BOHEME, SUMMER OF THE SEVENTEENTH DOLL, LOVE BURNS, BOOJUM!. Victorian Opera: EUCALYPTUS.

Ensemble Theatre: TRIBES, THE BIG DRY, THE PLANT, NEVILLE’S ISLAND. Campbelltown Arts Centre: HIGH OCTANE, MIRAGE; Dance Makers Collective: ALL IN, THE RIVOLI, WOLVERINE. Darlinghurst Theatre Company: OVERFLOW, TORCH SONG TRILOGY, BROKEN. Griffin Theatre Company: FLAT EARTHERS, FAMILY VALUES, SPLINTER, REPLAY, DIVING FOR PEARLS. Hayes Theatre Company: RIDE THE CYCLONE, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, CARMEN ALIVE OR DEAD, RAZORHURST. National Theatre of Paramatta: THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (AUS/UK), LADY TABOULI, GIRL IN THE MACHINE, THE GIRL/THE WOMAN, THE SORRY MUM PROJECT, LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU GET HOME. Queensland Theatre Company: FAMILY VALUES. Sydney Theatre Company: CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, CONSTELLATIONS, AMERICAN SIGNS, A FOOL IN LOVE. Awards: APDG Award for best lighting design for a Live Performance or Event (CLEANSED), Best Lighting Design for an Mainstage Production 2023 (CONSTELLATIONS), Best Lighting Design for an Independent Production 2019 (METAMORPHOSES), Best Lighting Design for an Independent Production 2021 (SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE).

Belvoir Street Theatre: FAITH HEALER, DANCE OF DEATH, BURIED CHILD, DIARY OF A MAD MAN, AFTERSHOCKS, HAMLET, THE BLIND GIANT IS DANCING, SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER, THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE. Broadway: DEUCE. Crossroads Live: AND THEN THERE WERE NONE. DV8 Physical Theatre: THE COST OF LIVING. Force Majeure: ALREADY ELSEWHERE. Griffin Theatre Company: PRIMA FACIE. Legs on the Wall & Sydney Opera House: HONOUR BOUND. Marrugeku: JURRUNGU NGAN-GA (STRAIGHT TALK). National Theatre of Great Britain: AFTERLIFE. NewTheatricals: GASLIGHT. Sydney Theatre Company: RBG-OF MANY ONE, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, UNCLE VANYA, TOT MOM, COPENHAGEN. Film: CANDY, LAST RIDE, LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI, PAUL KELLY STORIES OF ME, ADAM GOODES THE FINAL QUARTER, SUZY AND THE SIMPLE MAN, RACHEL’S FARM, HOLDING THE MAN, THE PROJECTIONIST, THE COST OF LIVING, THE POOL. Television: AFTERSHOCKS. Awards: Helpmann Award, Sydney Theatre Awards and Australian Screen Sound Guild Award.

Stage Manager: Ensemble Theatre: MASTER CLASS. Belvoir Street Theatre: LOSE TO WIN. Carriageworks: PARTY | PROTEST | REMEMBER. Contemporary Asian Australian Performance: LOST IN SHANGHAI, THE BRIDAL LAMENT, DOUBLE DELICIOUS. Griffin Theatre Company: KOREABOO, GOLDEN BLOOD 黄金血液, PONY, END OF. Kurinji & Sydney Festival: 宿(STAY). National Theatre of Parramatta: NOTHING. The Ethics Centre: FESTIVAL OF DANGEROUS IDEAS 2022. Assistant Stage Manager: Belvoir St Theatre: SONG OF FIRST DESIRE, AT WHAT COST. Pinchgut Opera: RINALDO. Company Manager: National Theatre of Parramatta: CHOIR BOY. Training: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DRAMATIC ART.

Ensemble Theatre: Stage Manager Cover: THE LOVER AND THE DUMB WAITER. Stage Manager for Steps and Holes: A PILGRIM IN SEARCH FOR A BULL NAMED CARLO. Bub Productions in association with 25a: HOT TUB. Hayes Theatre Company: PIRATES OF PENZANCE (or the Slave of Duty). Sydney Conservatorium of Music: PAPER STARS. Production manager for Griffin Theatre Company: KOREABOO. Joshua Robson Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Company: LITTLE WOMEN. The Other Theatre Company: IRL. Site assistant for City of Sydney: NEW YEARS EVE 2025 and NEW YEARS EVE 2024. Access and inclusion assistant for City of Sydney: SYDNEY CHRISTMAS CONCERTS 2024. Training: National Institute of Dramatic Art: Production; Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Theatre and Stage Management). University of New England: Diploma of Arts.

Ensemble Theatre: ARIA, UNCLE VANYA, MASTER CLASS, ULSTER AMERICAN, SWITZERLAND, ALONE IT STANDS, THE GREAT DIVIDE, THE MEMORY OF WATER, SUMMER OF HAROLD, MR
BAILEY’S MINDER, BENEFACTORS, RHINESTONE REX AND MISS MONICA, THE CARETAKER, PHOTOGRAPH 51, THE ONE, OUTDATED, CRUNCH TIME, BABY DOLL, FOLK, LUNA GALE,
and many more. Bell Shakespeare: HENRY V, THE WINTER’S TALE, MACBETH. Belvoir St Theatre: FANGIRLS. New Theatricals: DARKNESS. National Institute of Dramatic Art: THE GOVERNMENT
INSPECTOR, STAY HAPPY KEEP SMILING, THE TEMPEST, WOYCECK, A LIE OF THE MIND, PORT, THE THREESOME. Pinchgut Opera: THE FAIRY QUEEN, JULIUS CAESAR, RINALDO, MÉDÉE, PLATÉE and many more. Sydney Festival: BETTY BLOKKBUSTER RE-IMAGINED. Australian Chamber Orchestra: THE NUTCRACKER.