Illustration for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. Illustrator: James Fosdike

S.S. Metaphor

05 December 2021 – 19 December 2021 Malthouse Outdoor Stage

New Writing Theatre World Premiere Musical

A CABARET-COMEDY ABOARD A LUXURY CRUISE LINER

Welcome aboard the luxury cruise liner S.S. Metaphor! Sure, this glittering ode to freedom, adventure, and endless possibility is stuck at sea, but as top tier passengers you’ll be none the wiser about troubles back home... or even below deck! Just slip on a kaftan or linen slack, sip your mai tai and kick up your heels as the world-class cabaret duo Cruise Control croon your cares away. Remember—it’s all about you!

Writer, performer, and limbo champion Ash Flanders finally brings Zenya Carmellotti, Will Conyers, and Natalie Gamsu down to his level in a medley of maritime mayhem directed by Sarah Giles in Malthouse Theatre’s premiere production on Malthouse Outdoor Stage.

All hands on deck! Because as you surely know by now—we’re all in this together.

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Will Conyers, Natalie Gamsu. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Natalie Gamsu, Will Conyers, Ash Flanders. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Ash Flanders, Natalie Gamsu. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. In photo: Natalie Gamsu. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Will Conyers, Ash Flanders. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Natalie Gamsu, Zenya Carmellotti, Will Conyers. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Zenya Carmellotti, Natalie Gamsu. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Will Conyers, Natalie Gamsu, Zenya Carmellotti. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. In photo: Will Conyers. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Zenya Carmellotti, Ash Flanders. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Will Conyers, Natalie Gamsu. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Natalie Gamsu, Will Conyers, Ash Flanders. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Ash Flanders, Natalie Gamsu. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. In photo: Natalie Gamsu. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Will Conyers, Ash Flanders. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Natalie Gamsu, Zenya Carmellotti, Will Conyers. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Zenya Carmellotti, Natalie Gamsu. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Will Conyers, Ash Flanders. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Will Conyers, Natalie Gamsu, Zenya Carmellotti. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. In photo: Will Conyers. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for the 2021 Season of 'S.S. Metaphor'. L-R: Zenya Carmellotti, Ash Flanders. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Cast

Ash Flanders

Writer & Actor

Zenya Carmelloti

Actor

Will Conyers

Actor & Musical Direction

Natalie Gamsu

Actor

Creatives

Sarah Giles

Direction & Dramaturg

Tyler Ray Hawkins

Set & Costume Design

Jude Perl

Original Composition

Jed Palmer

Sound Design & Composition

Katie Sfetkidis

Lighting Design

Lyndie Li Wan Po

Stage Manager

Amelia Botter

Assistant Stage Manager

Acknowledgements

Malthouse Theatre presents S.S. Metaphor. Malthouse Theatre thanks the Robert Salzer Foundation, who have generously supported sound design and composition for this production. Malthouse Outdoor Stage is generously supported by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government initiative and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.