‘Theatre is like magic’: Maddie Richards on the Lunatix Theatre Company and its transcendental debut
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20.01.2025

‘Theatre is like magic’: Maddie Richards on the Lunatix Theatre Company and its transcendental debut

Lunatix
Words by Juliette Salom

Speaking from Lunatix Theatre’s rehearsal space after their final rehearsal for 2024, founder and Artistic Director Maddie Richards talks about creating her own theatre company.

“I’ve known for a while that I’ve wanted to get into the producing side of theatre,” Maddie Richards says, “but it has never been my dream goal to have my own company.”

While Lunatix Theatre Company – the brand-new independent theatre company that Maddie heads up as the founder and Artistic Director – may not be a project that has come from dreams, it’s one that is becoming a steadfast reality.

Lunatix Theatre Company

  • Constellations is running from February 5 to 15
  • Bakehouse Studios: Scarp Museum
  • Tickets here
  • Follow Lunatix here

Explore Melbourne’s latest arts and stage news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Lunatix will be launching alongside the theatre company’s debut show, Constellations by Nick Payne, on February 5 2025. “Constellations is essentially a love story that explores the concept of time and the existence of multiverses,” Maddie says.

Performing in the show in one of the two lead roles, it’s clear right from the start of Lunatix’s journey that Maddie’s mark is all over the production company. And it doesn’t stop there.

Having worked as an actor in the theatre world for over 16 years, Maddie has been well exposed to all the chaos that happens behind the scenes and away from the spotlight when it comes to getting a show on the road.

However, during a recent performance as Sonia in Sarah Goodes’ production of Uncle Vanya, something changed for Maddie. There were more ways and more roles, she realised, that she wanted to try her hand at when it came to creating a show. Enter stage left: Artistic Director.

“It just awakened so many creative thoughts and conversations,” Maddie says. “Through working with [Sarah] I was inspired and motivated to produce work.”

While Maddie was inspired by some of the people she had the pleasure of working with to launch Lunatix, she was also just as inspired by the lack of these people. “I had previously had [and] heard of some bad experiences with how companies were treating people,” she says. When she saw the need for change, she sought a solution.

“I figured, there’s no point complaining because who knows if I can do any better,” Maddie continues. “So, I wanted to create a space that I would want to work with, that has focus on community both as creatives and audience, supports and encourages artists, and can produce people’s passion projects.”

From actor to artistic director

 

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Maddie saw a gap in the market and then found a way to carve it out in her own way. It’s a proactive approach to passion that should come as no surprise as someone who, in addition to having a background in acting, also has worked roles in the tech, marketing and managing fields of theatre.

“[These roles have] given me an overall understanding of all the elements [that] need to come together,” she says. “I’ve always been the type to try and do everything, so I’ve loved starting my own company because it allows me to not only express my creativity but also support my incredibly talented friends.”

For now, Maddie leads each production as a producer. As Lunatix’s Artistic Director, she says she wants to remain open to taking on and trying different roles within the theatre company. “It will be an evolving conversation,” she reflects. “For example, I’m acting in our first show, planning on directing a different show, and who knows from there. One of my main goals is to also have a very collaborative rehearsal room so actors can have a say.”

Maddie says she is focused on building a network of hard-working creatives to collaborate with on Lunatix projects. “I mainly want to work with people that are passionate about the art they want to make,” she says. It’s a passion that will no doubt reverberate throughout Lunatix’s productions.

“I have honestly never seen another show like it”

 

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“I always aim to work with like-minded people who have a similar work ethic [and a] creative mindset and will give their honest opinions,” Maddie says. “[As well as] always aim to work with people who I consider more talented than I am and who I look up to creatively. I’m very lucky that most of these people I consider my friends.”

Like attracts like, and so if the level of passion that Maddie’s friends and collaborators are bringing to Lunatix is anything like that of their producer, you know you’ll be in safe hands at one of their shows. “I’m very lucky that everyone I work with wants the production to be the best it can, regardless of whose ideas get us there,” Maddie says.

Constellations will be Lunatix’s opening show, kicking off on February 5, and will be starring Maddie and Luke Hill-Smith. For Maddie, Constellations was the obvious pick as the first show to launch the theatre company.

“I have honestly never seen another show like it,” she says. “Nick Payne’s writing is beautiful and shows deep connection into the human experience.”

A story of time and connection

 

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“The uniqueness with this production is that it touches our common humanity,” she continues. “It invites us to consider how multifaceted we are and that deep down, we are all the same, we make mistakes, we screw up, but we all crave some form of connection. And when we find it, time is irrelevant.”

With the first show on the slate of Lunatix’s calendar being one that will transport you across time, space and human existence, Maddie is barely exaggerating when she says that “theatre is kind of like magic.”

In addition to Constellations, Lunatix also has a plethora of projects lined up for 2025. From traversing multiverses to witnessing theatre magic, a ticket to a Lunatix show will be a front-row seat to the creative wizardry of performance.

You can get tickets to see Constellations here.

This article was made in partnership with Lunatix Theatre Company.