Paul Rae is Head of the School of Culture and Communications and an Associate Professor in Theatre Studies at the University of Melbourne. He is the author of two books – Real Theatre: Essays in Experience (published in 2019) and Theatre & Human Rights (published in 2009) and is currently working on two others. Alongside Kaylene Tan, Paul was co-director of the Singapore-based theatre company Spell Seven Performance Club. He has a wealth of experience in contemporary theatre practices both in Melbourne and overseas. Here, in an interview recorded over Zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic, he shares his understanding of how a city, particularly its urban landscape and design, affects the production and reception of theatre and other live performance. __ This interview was produced by MTC Education as part of Melbourne Knowledge Week. MTC Education provides audiences with insight into the theatre making processes used at MTC to produce its world class theatre productions. This interview compliments MTC’s latest production, Berlin, by Joanna Murray-Smith, playing at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner until the 22nd of May, 2021. For more information head to mtc.com.au