Melbourne Theatre Company Premieres COCK by Mike Bartlett, Now thru 3/22

One of Britain's hottest young playwrights, Mike Bartlett, explores sexuality and the agony of confusion in the Australian premiere of Cock. This funny, intimate and provocative play directed by MTC Associate Director Leticia Cáceres with original music by Missy Higgins opens on Thursday 13 February 2014 at Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio.'Beyond the cheeky title, c*ckis an artful and sophisticated interrogation of desire. c*ckstrips away the roles assigned to us by society and asks us to confront our primal needs in what feels like a battle to the death. c*ckis fresh, sexy and heartbreaking. A real theatrical aphrodisiac for Melbourne audiences,' director Leticia Cáceres said.

John shares his life and home with his male partner, but when the couple decide to take a break John unexpectedly meets the woman of his dreams. Trapped in a love triangle and riddled with guilt, John is stuck in a personal crisis not knowing what to do, what to say or who he really is. He's paralysed by indecision. As the pressure increases, it becomes clear there's only one way to straighten things out.

Cock is a remarkable portrayal of a man questioning his identity that sensitively explores the multi-layered complexity of sexuality. Impressing critics on both sides of the Atlantic, the play received four star reviews from the Financial Times, Sunday Times, Evening Standard and Time Out New York.

Mike Bartlett has gained a reputation as one of Britain's most exciting young playwrights. His play Love Love Love won Best New Play at the 2011 UK Theatre Awards and c*ckwon a 2010 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre. His other plays include Bull, Medea, Chariots of Fire, 13, Decade, Earthquakes in London and Contractions. Bartlett won the Writer's Guild Tinniswood and Richard Imison Awards for Not Talking, and the Old Vic New Voices Award for Artefacts. His television series The Town was nominated for a BAFTA for Breakthrough Talent. Currently Associate Playwright at Paines Plough, Bartlett was Writer-In-Residence at the National Theatre in 2011 and the Pearson Playwright in Residence at The Royal Court Theatre in 2007.

MTC Associate Director Leticia Cáceres has been lauded as one of the most exciting talents in the country. She directed Constellations, Helicopter and Random (nominated for three Green Room Awards) for MTC; Miss Julie and The Dark Room (nominated for seven Sydney Theatre Awards) for Belvoir and The Orphanage Project, Far Away, and Memory of Water for QTC. She is co-founder of independent theatre company, RealTV whose award-winning works include Hoods (nominated for a 2008 Helpmann Award), War Crimes, and Children of the Black Skirt.

Booking details: Southbank Theatre Box Office 03 8688 0800 or mtc.com.au; Arts Centre Melbourne 1300 182 183 or artscentremelbourne.com.au