Welcome Stranger

Welcome Stranger was established in 2002 by a group of Performing Arts graduates from Monash University. It was established as a performance group to create challenging work not necessarily confined to the theatre in its influences or outcomes. In 2002, an early version of the group’s first original work The End of Civil Twilight was presented at the Merlyn Theatre and won a major development award as part of Malthouse Theatre’s 3DFest. It was subsequently workshopped and presented as part of the Playbox development program Theatre in the Raw with director Chris Kohn before premiering the following year at the Open Stage. Welcome Stranger presented two seasons of Attempts on Her Life by Martin Crimp in 2004 (as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival) & 2005, and Towards Omelas (after the writing of Ursula Le Guin) in 2006. 

2007 saw the City of Melbourne funded development showing of Villanus by Vlad Mijic and Rhys Auteri which received much critical praise.

In early 2008 Welcome Stranger presented This is Good Advice - a double bill featuring two short plays by Caryl Churchill and Martin Crimp.

Honour Roll

At one time or another the following talented personnel have been involved in Welcome Stranger creations:

Laura Adams, Kristy Barnes-Cullen, Philippa Barr, Zoë Boesen, Caitlyn Burton, Shelley Burton, Caroline Comino, Nick Coulson, Mark Crees, Carlie Devine, Amy Dobson, Rebecca Dunsdon, Michael Finney, Laura Griffin, Dani-Ela Kayler, Daniel Lammin, John Latham, Tania Lentini, Avi Lipski, Jenny McAdam, Nic Moore, Yuhui Ng, Goldele Rayment, Reuben Stanton, James Stephens, Nat Vincent, Kim Swalwell, Jennifer White and Monica White.