About
Lunatix Theatre
By Artistic Director
Maddie Richards
As much as a it feel like a cliché, I grew up performing, well, I was forced into it, but feel in love with the adrenaline rush that live theatre brings. But if you'd asked ten year old me this is where I'd end up, hell, if you asked twenty-four year old me, I probably would of laughed.
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I feel like most artist have that moment, a moment of epiphany when they know that this is the crazy career that they want to follow. For me, this came dress as the old witch from Snow White singing the encore number about apple pies, so not my most glamourous moment. But I knew I wanted to keep chasing that high. And I found that I could get that from other aspects of theatre. My proudest moment came in 2019, where apart from my design roles, I was tasked with choregraphing for men who had very limited dance experience. But watching them nail it on opening night was extremely rewarding.
But even when I moved to Melbourne in 2023, I didn't have any plans to start a company.
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But one day while at a pub (the place where all good ideas come from) I was discussing theatre experiences with my friends and just how annoyed we all were at the state of the theatre scene and how frustrating we were finding it. I was sick repeating these conversations to no solution, so I decided to put my work where my mouth is and create a company that solved all the issues we were complaining about. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm an expert by any means, but I want to make a difference and you have to try to fail.
Some key elements of Lunatix were inspired by Joan Littlewood sense of community between all members of the company but as well as the relationship with the audience.
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- Tokens
For ever production that we produce we supply a 'token' that the audience is given for free, with the goal that they feel included in the world of the show and unites everyone together. For example; in our production of
Constellations we offered everyone a small jar of honey
- Collaboration
Making sure that every creative is given the opportunity to express their ideas, as we work as a team to create a show
rather than follow introductions from one persons ideas.
- Opportunity
Ensuring that everyone is given the chance to audition, collaborate, get involved is they want and ensuring an
honest conservation about casting, process etc
- Experience
Theatre for me has always been about more just the performance. Having the venue match the needs of the
production, providing elements all of the senses, setting a mood for the audience. It may bee small details that no
one notices but overall slightly affect audiences.
The main question I asked myself, Do I just want to put on shows? Or do I want a company? And for me it was the later, a place that isn't designed for me to selfishly make myself the lead in everything, but an outlet for a range of people both on the production side as well as actors. And I'm excited to open up submission for our 2026 season and how we can help make other people's dreams come true. To develop and workshop new works, adapt classic and honestly put on dream shows - where passion drives our art.
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We hope that you'll see us along on this journey.