William McInnes and Sigrid Thornton Pair Up for the First Time Since SEACHANGE in MTC's THE EFFECT

One of TV's favourite couples will be reunited on stage when William McInnes and Sigrid Thornton pair up for the first time since SeaChange alongside Nathaniel Dean and Zahra Newman for Melbourne Theatre Company's forthcoming production of The Effect, which starts rehearsals next month. Exploring notions of love and happiness in a chemically-controlled world, The Effect opens on Thursday 21 August 2014 at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner.

MTC Associate Director Leticia Cáceres, who will direct award-winning UK writer Lucy Prebble's profound and critically acclaimed play, announced today that William McInnes will complete the cast. Currently back on screen in ABC TV's The Time of Our Lives, he will accompany Sigrid Thornton's long-awaited return to the Melbourne stage.

'Sigrid and William are two of this country's most respected actors. They have made hallmark work together for stage and screen and it is an enormous thrill for MTC to have these two powerhouses unite once again on our stage for The Effect,' said Leticia Cáceres. 'Together they provide a perfect foil to Nathaniel Dean and Zahra Newman and will bring this hit UK play about the highs and lows of life, love and neuroscience to life.'

Connie, a clever psychology student, and Tristan, an unemployed drifter, volunteer for a clinical drug trial testing the effects of an anti-depressant, RLU37. Spending time together, they soon fall in love and although closely monitored, the resourceful lovers find ways to escape the watchful eye of their clinicians. As their romance throws the trial off-course, they begin to question whether their love is real or just a chemical side effect. This funny, moving play explores the limits of medicine and the inevitability of physical attraction that had the UK critics raving.

Lucy Prebble is one of Britain's most celebrated young writers for stage and screen. In 2013 The Effect won Best New Play at the Critic's Circle Awards. Her play, Enron, transferred to the West End and Broadway in 2010 after sell out seasons at The Royal Court and Chichester Festival Theatre. Enron won Best New Play at the TMA Theatre Awards, and was shortlisted for The Evening Standard Award and Olivier Award for Best New Play.

For more information about Melbourne Theatre Company and to book tickets, go to mtc.com.au, phone 03 8688 0800 or follow Melbourne Theatre Company on facebook and twitter.