In an ever-changing world, there may be times where we feel the need more for meaning in our lives. More purpose. More direction. For this reason? We may turn to religion for salvation. To steady our belief systems. To set our minds at ease. Some for spiritual reasons. And others? For personal reasons.
The ‘Big-ness’ of religion cannot be underestimated, and often pondered. Is it channelled through divinity, and drummed into us via institutional structures and educational systems? Or can there be a simpler way: through the universal language of heart-to-heart connection?
Which begs another question for the curious-minded: Is the idea of inner connection to source or spirit linear or abstract? Is there a rigid system for it only, or is that a fallacy we have come to accept as true?
The show, Big Religion, written and directed by Maddi Formosa, seeks to explore these very same themes, albeit through a fun, theatrical realm of holy zaniness. Where we, the audience, begin our madcap ride in a 360 degree theatre-in-the-round, outlined with big cross-shaped black stage, save for two black blocks that are used for seating. A wall behind the stage is used as a guide (via a projection lens) to guide us scene-by-scene with cheeky gothic script and humorous titles to keep the audience amused, engaged (and not asking too many questions!).
And so, under the guise and space of a huge cross, we staunchly sit under the so-called eyes of the Almighty, along with two feisty and largely frustrated 14-year-old catholic schoolgirls: rebellious rebel Jan, divinely played by Caitlin McCallig, who is railing against the institution she is chained under. Desperate to stand for something important within her school’s strict sacred walls of religo mumbo-jumbo, she chooses attention-seeking promiscuity as the answer, as that is where she places her worth in the world.
Her best-friend Dav? Is the opposite, scholarly and more subservient to her environment, gorgeously played by Gabrielle Ward. For Dav seeks to endure harsh, corporal punitive methods on purpose, as that is all she thinks she is worth. Indeed, both of these girls, the play’s heroines, are seeking some sort of salvation, and some refuge, even if they don’t fully understand why.
Meanwhile, things are also happening in the heavenly, spiritual realm as well. A co-worker-turned-love-story in fact, between naive ‘Being’, played by Megan Scolyer-Gray, a curiously-minded angel, with a dangerous and stubborn ability to ‘think’, who has been assigned observation work on earth, and ‘Also being’, a professional and highly dutiful Angel, awarded a second chance to observe life on earth, and played to a ‘T’, basked in brilliant subtlety, by Jett Chudleigh.
This way, Formosa takes us one step further, and seeks to also challenge our thoughts about heavenly helpers, known as angels, and what challenges they also must face in the line of ‘heavenly duty’, which brings another interesting parody to ‘Big Religion’, especially when the feisty schoolgirls and innocent angels meet, and the story unfolds in an hilarious yet tender way, full of surprises on every corner.
In all, this is a heartwarming must-see tale with a fantastic cast of characters. Where we learn what it means to be both earthly and divine. Where ultimately, we rediscover where true salvation may be found for us all— via the ‘BIG-ness’ of soulful connections.
To book tickets to Big Religion, please visit https://www.theatreworks.org.au/2026/big-religion.
