The Anarchy 1138-53, presented in KXT on Broadway, is like walking into a narrated RPG walkthrough that spans levels of anarchy, death and destruction!
The stage is a mirrored walkway where the mirror is at once a reflection in water as you travel through the oceans on an imaginary boat before becoming the beach where you are shipwrecked, as enemies swoop in, dragons fly and various characters aim to destroy you.
The imaginary RPG campaign you find yourself in is set in Britain, or another dystopia where anarchy prevails and suffering is a plenty – this is the ‘Crossworlds Universe’, narrated by two hyper-verbal guides whose stamina is as relentless as their script.
While in regular theatre productions the actors play out the scenes, in this play it is mostly just narrated, with moments of re-enactment and audience interaction being a much needed respite from the tyranny of the spoken words that flow out of both actors at astronomical speed.
As the story progresses you from the ‘tutorial’ and through the myriad of ‘levels’, it becomes one level too many, and this 135 minute no interval play, begins to resemble a notoriously long boss fight—technically impressive but emotionally numbing.
Though the dark, punk world the play creates is intriguing and the production is inventive and daring, the overall experience is somewhat languished and the script feels a little too self indulgent.
Sometimes some levels are best left sans walkthrough, for the gamer to navigate, even if that means dying and respawning a few times.
Neil Labute’s ‘The Shape of Things’ is a one-act show crackling with tension. The dialogue and four-person cast do a seriously good job of unsettling and amusing their audience in equal measure; it’s a tightly woven exploration of art, youth, truth, and how on earth you find your way through those things when you’re still in university.
Kathryn Thomas has skillfully directed the company to explore the strange and complex interactions between manipulation and agency, art and artist. The script itself is excellent, and this production does a great job of finding the humanity, mainly through illustrating the loneliness of each character, even in their worst moments.
The show is intimate; set in bedrooms, lounge rooms, corners of campus and, notably, two gallery settings. The most impactful moments in this production come from the subtle misunderstandings that litter the conversations; each of the students in this fictional college town is thoroughly on their own arc, while being irrevocably changed by where their arcs intersect. Influence and change are central themes, and each actor does well at finding their character’s particular place and pace.
Evelyn is the most enigmatic character of the set, and is here performed as being quite aloof and hard to read. This leaves the mystery of her motivations to be interpreted, which lead to some whispers of speculation in the audience throughout the show. Some of the most disarming moments are when she softens and connects with Adam, the other lead.
Adam transforms across the play, and is played with an earnestness that endears him to the audience despite some of his choices. The web of connections and misconceptions that thread through the play leave a lot of questions and offered plentiful conversation on the car ride home.
Every character has moments of comedy and moments of vulnerability, and this small cast carry them off in style. There’s crackling tension, youthful energy and also moments that drew genuine gasps from the audience. The final moments had us holding our breath.
If you’re interested in dark humour or theatre about human beings in the throes of their fears and insecurities, this is a fascinating and engaging production of a whip-smart play. Lane Cove Theatre Company’s new space in The Pottery Lane Performance Space is a great fit for this show, and the clever, minimal set design works really well in the room. This is an impactful and interesting show, and worth a look in for HSC Drama Majors as an excellent production of a core text for Topic 6: Black Comedy.
Two spotlights. One long wooden bench. That’s all that occupies the simple stage. Yet from this minimal set emerges a richly layered, emotionally textured piece of theatre. Heaven is a quietly compelling two-hander that rests entirely on the shoulders of its actors, and both carry it with grace, depth, and humour.
In alternating monologues, Mairead (Lucy Miller) and Mal (Noel Hodda) each tell their side of a shared story. They never speak directly to one another, yet the interplay of their perspectives – tender, funny, and heartbreaking – creates a powerful sense of connection. The chemistry is in the contrast: Mairead is fiery, frustrated, and yearning for affection; Mal is warm, wry, and wrestling with a long-buried truth.
Set in a rural Irish town on the night of a mutual friend’s wedding, Heaven captures a pivotal moment in two lives quietly unravelling. Mairead, long disconnected from both her husband and daughter, finds herself tempted by an old flame. Mal, equally starved for intimacy, reveals his lifelong but unacknowledged attraction to young men – something he has kept hidden behind the veil of domesticity. His quip about fantasising over “Jesus” as a young altar boy is one of several unexpected, laugh-out-loud themes that punctuate the play’s poignant revelations.
Director Kate Gaul describes the couple as “great friends, warm to each other,” but with “huge parts of themselves they haven’t revealed.” That observation anchors the emotional core of Heaven. Each character has settled into a life that looks fine from the outside but feels hollow within. On this one night, their reflections hint at the fragile possibility of change – of choosing not comfort, but truth.
O’Brien’s writing is lyrical and intimate. There’s an authenticity in both characters that feels deeply human – flawed, funny, searching. If the title Heaven seems elusive at first, it may be because both characters are chasing their own vision of it, hoping to escape the quiet despair of lives not fully lived.
Performed in the intimate amphitheatre-style space of The Loading Dock Theatre at Qtopia Sydney, the production’s closeness intensifies its impact. Every line lands clearly, every expression matters. With only subtle musical cues, the emotional texture is carried entirely by the strength of the performances – and both Miller and Hodda deliver. Both are Australian yet their Irish accents sound authentic!
The venue itself is worth a visit. Located in the heritage-listed former Darlinghurst Police Station, Qtopia is the largest museum and cultural centre dedicated to queer history and culture in the world. With four buildings on site, it’s worth arriving early or staying after the show to explore. A bar onsite offers refreshments, and the audience – an even mix of ages and genders – added to the warm, community feel.
Presented by Bitchin Wolf, a theatre and film company devoted to bold, magical storytelling, Heaven runs until 31 May. The performance lasts 90 minutes without interval. Tickets are $45 general admission and $35 concession.
A moving, quietly radical meditation on love, regret, and identity, Heaven proves that even the simplest staging can hold a world of complexity.
Written by Eugene O’Brien | Directed by Kate Gaul | Presented by Bitchin Wolf at The Loading Dock Theatre, Qtopia Sydney
‘Various Characters’ is an aptly titled play that explores the emotional terrain of six individuals, each living in their own world and caught in the tension between isolation and connection. Their lives – diverse, troubled, and at times tender – intersect by circumstance, creating a tapestry of modern identity, dislocation, and longing.
Set in early 21st-century Sydney, the play touches on themes of multiculturalism and cultural identity, exploring how difference both separates and defines us. Through these characters, we glimpse the struggle of living in a society where connection is craved but hard-won.
Each character wrestles with personal transformation. Nina (Georgia Da Silva) is plagued by uncertainty and fear; Raoul (Tony Goh) stumbles through his inability to express himself and fit into the community; Mile (Tate Wilkinson-Alexander) grapples with identity and the burdens of responsibility. Boris, played with wide-eyed charm by Maliyan Blair, lives in a romantic fantasy. Zita (Nashy MZ) attempts to exert influence on the world around her, while Greta, portrayed with particular depth by Kate Bookallil, seeks to rewrite her future and reclaim a sense of purpose.
Bookallil’s performance as Greta, a Croatian mother, is a standout – rich in authenticity, expression, and control. Her presence brings emotional gravity to the piece. Blair’s Boris is also noteworthy, his youthful optimism providing contrast to the more subdued characters.
Though engaging and evocative, the narrative at times lacked clarity. Some character motivations felt opaque, leaving the audience uncertain as to why certain events unfolded. Still, the emotional beats mostly land, offering poignant moments of insight.
Technically, the production was tight. Set changes were executed smoothly in near darkness, a testament to the cast’s discipline. The minimalist staging adapted cleverly to both indoor and outdoor settings, and the restrained use of music helped maintain focus on the dialogue and action.
Performed at Flight Path Theatre – appropriately named, given the frequent sounds filtering in from low-flying planes – the two-sided amphitheatre ensured an intimate viewing experience, with every seat offering proximity to the stage. The theatre holds 90-100 people and has a bar with snacks. The demographic of the crowd was mostly younger with a mix of ages and ethnicities.
Written and produced by Šime Knežević and directed by Victor Kalka, ‘Various Characters’ offers a glimpse into lives trying to make sense of themselves and each other. While not every thread resolves cleanly, the performance is heartfelt, timely, and thought-provoking.
