Written by David Innes. Directed by Rob Lloyd.
It is 1918, our vampire-fighting heroine Dr. Mina Harker has to pit her wits against a brand-new foe: invaders from Mars! Will she save the world from the merciless Tripods? Can she save her son, Quincy, from the terrors lurking in the Great War? Time is running out for our dashing Monster Doctor. The third thrilling installment in a trilogy of shows featuring the character of Mina Harker, starting with Dracula (2019) and continuing with Mina Harker Monster Doctor (2021). |
Cast and Crew
DAVID INNES
Captain Hart Jonathan Private Haber Queen Topper Colonel Writer Sound Design Digital Artwork Video Trailers Programme |
ROB LLOYD
Midshipman Digby Abraham Bernard The Beast Marvin Campbell Director Flipchart Artwork Lighting Design |
JEN SPEIRS
Dr Mina Harker JACKSON EATHER Quincy Harker Soldiers The Beast Monsters Martian Helmet Design LIAM O'KANE Archie Dorsey-Miller Soldiers The Beast Monsters |
JAKLENE VUKASINOVIC
Technical Director Lighting Design CHRISTIAN BIZZARRI Original Music MATTHEW HADGRAFT Original Music FAB EVANS Photography CHRIS WONG Posters and Logo NICK HILL Videography |
About the Show
PERFORMANCE HISTORY:
1st - 7th April 2024, The Butterfly Club Melbourne
BACKGROUND
During the scripting process of Mina Harker Monster Doctor, Lloyd had pitched a great title for a third show: Mina Versus The Martians. This was then incorporated into the "cliffhanger" at the end of that show. Jen had decided to take some time off and instead Innes Lloyd decided to turn their attention towards the 60th anniversary of James Bond. Thus A Bond Among Us was created. Mina Versus The Martians was at the back of the duo's minds but happily worked on other projects until Jen was available. There was no way Mina Harker was being recast!
In late 2023, Innes approached Jen to see if she was available to return to the role in 2024 and she happily accepted. Having killed Jonathan Harker off in the previous show, the duo wanted to explore the dynamic between Mina and her son, Quincy. Some early rejected ideas included a potential Body Snatchers homage, where Quincy thinks he has found his father but it's all a nefarious plot by the Martians. In the scripting process, it became clear that not only did we need an additional actor to play Quincy, but also one to play his close confidant and friend Archie Dorsey-Miller (named after the famous band leaders).
Jackson Eather and Liam O'Kane had both been recommended and seen in improv shows in Melbourne. They agreed to be part of a table read just to hear how the play sounded. From this read through, it was clear that that both actors were perfect for the parts and both Innes and Lloyd were delighted that they accepted the offer to join the cast.
Waistcoats were made by Tom Sawyer Waistocats, who have been designing the classic Innes Lloyd look since Dracula in 2019. The challenge this time was to make the waistcoats uniform in appearance, with a hint of World War One British Army. As always, Jan Sawyer was able to create phenomenal costume pieces for the show.
REVIEWS:
"This tight knit party of five is brimming with delightfully madcap energy that soars smoothly through the 60-minute runtime like a Whitman’s War Blimp. MVTM deftly melds action, romance, drama, and consistent laughs aplenty. Transcending space, time, and consciousness, blending the more grounded backdrop of Europe during WW1 with elements of sci-fi, fantasy, and monster-movie horror, paying loving homage to numerous genre-defining historical and cultural touchstones. While there were many ‘HA’s’ to be had in the esoteric references scattered like Easter eggs throughout the show, there was just as much joy and humour in their physical comedy, absurd reactions, and witty one-liners." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Theatre Matters
1st - 7th April 2024, The Butterfly Club Melbourne
BACKGROUND
During the scripting process of Mina Harker Monster Doctor, Lloyd had pitched a great title for a third show: Mina Versus The Martians. This was then incorporated into the "cliffhanger" at the end of that show. Jen had decided to take some time off and instead Innes Lloyd decided to turn their attention towards the 60th anniversary of James Bond. Thus A Bond Among Us was created. Mina Versus The Martians was at the back of the duo's minds but happily worked on other projects until Jen was available. There was no way Mina Harker was being recast!
In late 2023, Innes approached Jen to see if she was available to return to the role in 2024 and she happily accepted. Having killed Jonathan Harker off in the previous show, the duo wanted to explore the dynamic between Mina and her son, Quincy. Some early rejected ideas included a potential Body Snatchers homage, where Quincy thinks he has found his father but it's all a nefarious plot by the Martians. In the scripting process, it became clear that not only did we need an additional actor to play Quincy, but also one to play his close confidant and friend Archie Dorsey-Miller (named after the famous band leaders).
Jackson Eather and Liam O'Kane had both been recommended and seen in improv shows in Melbourne. They agreed to be part of a table read just to hear how the play sounded. From this read through, it was clear that that both actors were perfect for the parts and both Innes and Lloyd were delighted that they accepted the offer to join the cast.
Waistcoats were made by Tom Sawyer Waistocats, who have been designing the classic Innes Lloyd look since Dracula in 2019. The challenge this time was to make the waistcoats uniform in appearance, with a hint of World War One British Army. As always, Jan Sawyer was able to create phenomenal costume pieces for the show.
REVIEWS:
"This tight knit party of five is brimming with delightfully madcap energy that soars smoothly through the 60-minute runtime like a Whitman’s War Blimp. MVTM deftly melds action, romance, drama, and consistent laughs aplenty. Transcending space, time, and consciousness, blending the more grounded backdrop of Europe during WW1 with elements of sci-fi, fantasy, and monster-movie horror, paying loving homage to numerous genre-defining historical and cultural touchstones. While there were many ‘HA’s’ to be had in the esoteric references scattered like Easter eggs throughout the show, there was just as much joy and humour in their physical comedy, absurd reactions, and witty one-liners." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Theatre Matters
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