MTC'S NEON Festival of Independent Theatre Wins 'Best of Australian Arts' Award

Melbourne Theatre Company has announced its NEON Festival of Independent Theatre has been named Best of Australian Arts 2013 in the theatre category awarded by The Monthly - Australia's leading national magazine about politics, society and culture.

Described in The Monthly as 'The most important initiative in Melbourne theatre since 2005... (NEON) demonstrates the virtues of a wider vision. It shows how exemplary production in a major organisation not only enables brilliant theatre, but can spark vital energies in a city's culture.'

In acknowledging the award MTC Artistic Director Brett Sheehy said, 'This is a great credit for Melbourne, and recognition of the tremendous depth of cultural talent in this city.'

MTC Executive Director Virginia Lovett said, 'The NEON initiative was outside our usual remit, and while financially and operationally taxing on the organisation, MTC feels it returned dividends a hundred fold, in terms of energising and supporting the Australian theatre landscape.'

MTC has programmed the second iteration of NEON in 2014, which will feature new works from Angus Cerini/Doubletap; Antechamber Productions & Daniel Keene; Arthur; Little Ones Theatre; and Sans Hotel.

New for NEON in 2014 will be NEON UP LATE, a series of informal late night play readings presented by MKA: Theatre of New Writing; and the popular NEON EXTRA program will return with another engaging range of free workshops, master classes and public discussions. Details at mtc.com.au/neon.