VIMH (the voice in my hands) produces bold original new work and PURSUES RISK, RIGOUR AND CARE IN EVERYTHING IT DOES.
VIMH is an independent theatre company based in Melbourne. We make our work from scratch, fostering new writing and performance from the idea to the stage and prioritising work that models alternative modes of community and connection. We have an artist gathering practice, where experimentation feels safe, creativity is supported, and practice is rigorous and inclusive, and we are committed to best practice in every aspect of our work.
RECENT WORK – THE GRIEF TRILOGY
The Grief Trilogy by Liv Satchell, 2023, La Mama Courthouse. Pictured: Emily Tomlins, Belinda McClory, Chanella Macri, Hannah McKittrick. Photos by Darren Gill.
Created over the last seven years by writer/director Liv Satchell with an ensemble of Melbourne’s leading theatre artists, The Grief Trilogy brought together the critically acclaimed productions let bleeding girls lie and my sister feather and the world premiere of I sat and waited but you were gone too long to La Mama Courthouse in March 2023. Nominated for seven Green Room Awards and produced for the first time as a complete body of work, these plays explored transformational encounters between strangers and our desire for connection in the face of loss, grief, and violence.
“I sat and waited but you were gone too long is a gorgeous invitation to surrender to sensory aspects of witnessing live performance […] It’s dazzling to see work tailored with such skill to such unique artists.”
“Indie theatre in Melbourne so rarely has return or encore seasons and it’s a real gift to have Liv’s work presented in total in this way. [The] Grief Trilogy is an incredible achievement.”
“Satchell’s script explores grief from a place of truth and visceral, lived-in understanding. […] My Sister Feather is a feast of powerful storytelling, riveting relationships and truly masterful artistry from all involved.”
“This moving exploration of both the physical and psychological aspects of the female experience makes Let Bleeding Girls Lie a masterpiece that more people need to see.”
“This meditation on the difficulties of life and relationships and how we carry our grief ends with the beauty and solace of a lullaby which is reminder, as are the trio of plays, that once born we are wrapped in relationships which lead to harrowing pain and to unexpected comfort.”
recent work – sirens
Dark and funny, human and touching, SIRENS by Benjamin Nichol is a bruising exploration into the lives of isolated Australians. This solo performance presents a complex psychological study into obsession and intimacy, multi-faceted forms of love, the unpredictability of the queer experience and what we owe the people and places that ‘make us’.
Brought to life by the creative team behind the critically acclaimed kerosene (Green Room award winner for Best Production and Best Direction) and presented by VIMH, SIRENS is theatre stripped back to its essentials – just the word, the performer and the audience. Premiering at Melbourne Fringe Festival 2022, this season was awarded the Emerging Company Incubator Award, supported by Monash University, and the SA Touring Award, supported by Adelaide Fringe. It has also been nominated for Best Performance, Best Direction and Best Lighting Design at the 40th Green Room Awards.
“[T]his performance will undoubtedly stand out as being one of the highlights of this year’s Fringe festival.”
“[SIRENS] strikes a delicate, powerful chord thanks to the nuance and intensity of its characterisation, the intimacy and emotional depth that writer-performer Benjamin Nichol brings to the stage.”
“Nichol received a standing ovation at the performance we attended, underscored by a chorus of sniffles and rustling tissues. Sirens evokes the complexities of connecting to others and connecting to home in a way that marks it as one of the best on offer at Fringe this year – a siren call worth answering.”
“Nichol has crafted a story that is so unflinchingly raw and honest that it ends up being something you’ve not seen before. Given we are in October, it is safe to say that this will be one of the best shows of the year.”
RECENT WORK – the view from up here
Tackling the lived realities of a world increasingly affected by global warming and the impacts on our experiences of family, THE VIEW FROM UP HERE by Fiona Spitzkowsky and directed by Julian Dibley-Hall reflects and raises questions about the tapestry of our Australian zeitgeist. This theatrical experience investigates how we might find hope in one another in order to face tomorrow together.
‘I believe Spitzkowsky’s text needs to be experienced on as wide a scale as possible; regional and multi state tours, a place on the English and Drama syllabus; because it needs to be analysed, debated and lauded for boldness in exploring this very particular moment in time with the skill and passion with which she’s penned it. I hope that other works explore these themes on the level that this production does because as much as I was moved, elated, and stimulated by it, it’s essential that this not be the only one.’
‘The View from Up Here is a modern-day parable about the imminent dangers of global warming. It draws a powerful parallel between the characters striving to reconnect after tragedy and a wonderful team of independent artists who have rebuilt their practice in the wake of Covid-19. Their efforts prove worthwhile in this eloquent Australian premiere.’
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