This performance is presented as part of the VCA Master of Theatre (Writing) Festival 2025.

With Parted Eye

Written by Lilian James

Have you ever hung out with your closest friends and thought: why is the vibe here so sinister? A high school friend group, now in their early twenties, chitter chatter their way through the bush on their way to an illegal rave.

Content Note

This performance contains references to sexual violence.

Runtime

This performance will run for approximately 90 minutes.

Performance schedule

Thursday 13 November, 4PM
Saturday 15 November, 4PM

Credits

Director: Henry Kent
Dramaturg: Francesca Gordon

About the writer

Lilian James (she/her) is an emerging writer and playwright based in Naarm/Melbourne. She completed her undergraduate in English at the Australian National University. Her short fiction has appeared in The Big Issue Fiction Edition. With Parted Eye is Lilian’s first full-length work.

Acknowledgement

My greatest thanks to Raimondo Cortese, Emily Sheehan, and Francesca Gordon for their ongoing support and guidance. To the staff at the VCA, particularly Michele Lee and Chris Mead. I am grateful to everyone in the 2025 Masters of Theatre (Writing) cohort, it has been an honour spending this year with you. And to all my friends, past and present, for everything.

Ticket Price

Free. Registrations required on Humanitix.

Please note that there is often a drop-off in attendance at our free events on the day of the performance. If this event is booked out and you have not secured a ticket, we encourage you to arrive at the venue 15 minutes before the advertised start time and speak to our Front of House team. Once audience members with tickets have been seated, any remaining seats will be made available to patrons waiting at the door. Please be advised that entry without securing a ticket in advance cannot be guaranteed.

If you have booked for a performance and are no longer able to attend, please cancel your booking via your Humanitix account or email us at fineartsmusic-tickets@unimelb.edu.au.

Venue

This reading takes place in Studio 4, located in the Dodds Street Performing Arts Building which is accessible via paths in the Dodds Street Linear Park.
Please meet our friendly Front of House staff in the foyer on the ground floor of the Dodds Street Performing Arts Building. Studio 4 is then accessible via the stairs or lift.

Read more about the Master of Theatre (Writing) graduates presenting this season.

Image: Don Shearman.

PARKING

The City of Melbourne has recently changed the parking restrictions around the Southbank Campus. Parking control hours are now expanded to 7am–10pm, seven days per week, and are capped at three hours. A $2-per-hour fee after 7pm is also now in place. There is no change to the $4-per-hour peak rate between 7am–7pm. Parking inspectors are regularly in the area fining drivers who overstay their meter, so we encourage everyone to be aware and avoid an expensive fine.

ACCESSIBILITY

All venues at the Southbank campus are wheelchair accessible. To read more about access services available at our venues, please visit: https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/access-our-events.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please stay home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms. Face masks are welcome in all settings for community and personal safety.
In order to account for drop-off in attendance, we overbook a select number of free events at the Faculty. If you have not arrived by the start of the performance, your ticket may be released to any waiting patrons at the door. Please arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before the performance to secure your seat.
Admission to any of our concerts and events is strictly at the discretion of Front of House. We have zero tolerance for any disrespectful behaviour.