Someone sneezes. Someone can’t get a signal. Someone shares a secret. Someone won’t answer the door. Someone put an elephant on the stairs. Someone’s not ready to talk. Someone is her brother’s mother. Someone hates irrational numbers. Someone told the police… and someone’s never felt like this before.
A riveting exploration of the delicate balance between its title concepts, Caryl Churchill’s Love and Information is a fast-moving kaleidoscope, with an impressive number of characters searching for meaning in their lives. And although considered one of the world’s most influential playwrights her work is, surprisingly, rarely staged in Australia.
With director Belle Hansen at the helm, this latest season is brought to the stage by an outstanding team including Green Room Award Winners and Nominees such as Lighting Designer Sidney Younger (Winner), Set Designer Harry Gill (Nominated) and Composer/Sound Designer Jack Burmeister (Nominated).
Featuring a full original score with inspiration drawn from Hans Zimmer’s cinematic intensity, Frank Ocean’s introspective lyricism, and Billy Joel’s storytelling through melody, Love and Information is a giant puzzle with over 100 characters and more than 50 scenes.
Comprised of seven sections of re-orderable scenes and lines that are rearranged and reallocated daily, no two performances will ever be the same – making it practically impossible for audience to experience the same show twice.
“The work my team and I create is grand, musically driven, and fast-paced,” says director Belle Hansen. “There are few pauses, and every point is scored and soundtracked, much like cinema, ensuring there’s never a silent moment.”
“The production will feature live music and dynamic movement sequences brought to life by an ensemble of multifaceted artists spanning generations. With scenes reordered and lines redistributed in every production, no two shows are alike.”
“Churchill’s episodic, non-linear storytelling creates a vibrant and remarkable theatrical kaleidoscope, constantly reconfiguring. We’re very excited to bring this to Melbourne audiences,” says Hansen.
First performed in 2012 at the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs in London, Love and Information sees Churchill’s signature wit and intuition reveal an amazing tapestry of human connections.
Director & Choreographer: Belle Hansen | Featuring: Charlie Morris, Chelsea Hawke, Emma Woods, Felix Star, Iopu Auva’a, Jack Francis West, Jane Edwina Seymour, Junghwi Jo, Sean Yuen Halley | Sound Design & Composition: Jack Burmeister | Lighting Design: Sidney Younger | Set Design: Harry Gill | Projection Design: Hannah Jennings | Assistant Director & Choreographer: Bek Schilling | Assistant Lighting Design: Joshua Fernandez | Marketing & Producing Secondment: Manda Rozen-Flannery | Associate Secondment: Bella Ness | Production and Stage Manager: Jade Hibbert
Love and Information
Theatre Works, 14 Acland Street, St Kilda
Season: 31 May – 14 June 2025 (previews: 29 & 30 May)
Information and Bookings: www.theatreworks.org.au
Image: Love and Information – photo by Steven Mitchell Wright