Theatre

Jack and Millie

A witty gritty journey through a life-challenging experience.

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The female character, Millie, wears a black skivvy, against a pink background. She is surrounded by multiple versions of a secondary male character, who wears a white tshirt. Another male character, wearing a white shirt stands over her. This image depicts Millie being overwhelmed with invasive influences on her life.
A woman dressed all in white lies asleep on a box on stage, on which an actor stands over her, arms outstretched in a God-like style. This image depicts Millie having a nightmare about the meaning of life.
All dressed in white shirts and pants, two characters are sat on a plinth on stage, with another man pouting between them. The woman on the left has her arms up as if to signify a shrug, and the man on the right is watching her intently. This image depicts Jack physically/visually expressing what Millie is trying to say.

Image Credit: David Mullins

The female character, Millie, wears a black skivvy, against a pink background. She is surrounded by multiple versions of a secondary male character, who wears a white tshirt. Another male character, wearing a white shirt stands over her. This image depicts Millie being overwhelmed with invasive influences on her life.
A woman dressed all in white lies asleep on a box on stage, on which an actor stands over her, arms outstretched in a God-like style. This image depicts Millie having a nightmare about the meaning of life.
All dressed in white shirts and pants, two characters are sat on a plinth on stage, with another man pouting between them. The woman on the left has her arms up as if to signify a shrug, and the man on the right is watching her intently. This image depicts Jack physically/visually expressing what Millie is trying to say.
  • Created and Performed by: Alaine Beek

  • Performed by: Ross Daniels

  • Performed by: Phil Cameron-Smith

Based on the author's breast cancer journey, this work brings a unique comic perspective to the stage. 'Jack' is portrayed as Millie's cancer - her inner thoughts, her courage, fear and (often funny) human frailties.

A highly engaging piece of theatre that allows us to delve into the world of receiving a life threatening diagnosis. Performed in a non-natural style, the play is stripped back to a minimalist set with three actors - Phil Cameron Smith as 'Jack', Alaine Beek as 'Millie' and Green Room award-winner Ross Daniels portraying the multiple characters that fill Millie's world.

Critically acclaimed, 'Jack and Millie' has been studied by hundreds of high school students in 2022 (listed on VCE drama curriculum) and toured through Victoria and into NSW.

"Jack and Millie ... is an incredibly accessible and lovely example of storytelling in its simplest form. It is heartfelt and speaks to something many people don’t know how to express in a kind, funny, warm way." Theatre Travels (2022)

About Essence Theatre Productions Limited

OUR MISSION

Essence Theatre Productions Limited is a not-for-profit theatre company based in Werribee, Victoria.
Our organisation is a passionate embodiment of performing arts, with a profound belief in its life-altering potential whether on stage, backstage, or in the audience.
Our mission predominantly revolves around developing original stories from a spectrum of diverse backgrounds, and subsequently giving them a voice on stage through live performances. Although our focus is primarily trained on the outer West of Melbourne, we welcome all with open arms.
We consider authenticity a core value and believe the learning experience intertwined in the development process of a new play, is just as important as the performance itself.

WHAT WE DO

We create and produce our own work.

We have a theatrical residency at Werribee Park (since 2003) with our shows running each weekend all year round all being well-reviewed. (https://www.essencetheatre.productions/our-shows)

We have written a number of plays, many of which are award-winning, have been professionally toured with "Jack and Millie" being listed on Victoria’s high school curriculum 2022.

We are the 2024 recipients of the Malcolm Robertson Foundation grant in collaboration with Mãori performing arts group nmp.org.au, to write and develop our new play "The Yellow Line".

We have created a unique youth program ‘Say it Out Loud.’

essencetheatre.productions

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