World Premiere Comedy Exposes Media's Moral Maze

Courtesy of Australian Writers Theatre

# This is Not Journalism (#TINJ) is hailed as an urgent comedy about truth, news and alternative facts. A powder keg 75-minute comedy drama written and directed by Ross Mueller for some of Newcastle’s finest actors, including Philip McGrath and Mark Pegler, # TINJ is presented by UpStage at The Playhouse (Newcastle Civic Theatre) from Friday 26 September until Saturday 4 October.

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Conservative journalist Brian Matthews is a star on Real Time News Network. A loud, proud advocate for free speech and political incorrectness. He is a news-breaker, opinionmaker, and friend of CEOs and Prime Ministers, and then… Matthews is outed on social media as a sexual predator, and the RTN team is thrown into a dark night of ethical chaos.

Everyone knows social media is a sewer, full of trolls, bots, liars, right?... However, as new allegations emerge in real time, the truth begins to collide with alternative facts, and some unedifying Christmas party photocopies. The deadline clock is ticking. Will RTN choose to protect their star, or try to win the ratings?

Mueller is the Artistic Director and founder of Australian Writers Theatre and has written extensively for legacy and online media. He covers politics, arts and sports as a freelance for News Corp and Crikey.

His plays have been performed by Malthouse, Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Griffin and Red Stitch Actors Theatre. In 2020, he won the Georgi Markov Award and the BBC International Audio Drama Prize. He has been a resident writer at New York New Dramatists in New York City and the Royal Court Theatre in London. For more information and tickets, visit www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au.