theatre

The Wolves present: Marooned

Marooned

Marooned Rating

★★★★★

Click if you liked this article

The lights go up to illuminate a minimalistic stage with clouds floating on a screen behind, as we are introduced to our cast of characters.

We are in a waiting room of sorts; perhaps it’s purgatory, or it may be a processing room, but as the scene unfolds, we eventually learn it’s a room for those that have failed at committing suicide.

As we meet our nameless characters, from our antagonist, known only as 379, to our young peacemaker 134, businessman 1620, and the only woman 786, through a series of conversations, we slowly learn what has brought each person to this space.

Whether it is a failed life, illness, divorce, sexuality, or just uncertainty, we learn about the insights of each character. Like an overripe onion, layers are slowly peeled away to reveal the deep personal pain and the lessons each character must learn.

Each character must face their demons in the hostile space that is this waiting room, deciding whether they want to live or die. They begin by being in denial of the ending of their lives, as they share their stories we see their humanity evolve, and we begin to see regret, heartbreak and pain in each person. It’s compelling to watch as we learn of the struggles of each individual.

 

Marooned
Marooned

The play delves into some very deep issues of the human psyche and explores them on a level that is thought-provoking and compelling.

As we learn of each character’s complexities it’s hard to decide how to feel about each person and their journey to this space. Each character comes from a diverse background and each has unique reasons for being in the waiting room.

The play is a powerful exploration of a serious topic and it is unafraid to explore such a complex subject. However, it is done in a manner that is provocative and emotional. Each actor brings a rawness to the performance, and all of them are exceptional in their respective roles.

Marooned is a piece of theatre that will leave you feeling a little shocked, rattled and is an exceptional piece of work that is an absolute must see for all lovers of the arts.

To book tickets to Marooned, please visit https://alextheatre.au/marooned/

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Crimson Gully

Crimson Gully

Crimson Gully Rating

★★★★★

Click if you liked this article

14

Powerful and engrossing, Crimson Gully is a brilliantly written play by Sreekanth Gopalakrishnan.

Set in the 1990s, the story centres on a brothel within the fictitious town of Chandapur in India.

Crimson Gully, which translates to Red Light Street, shines a light on the prostitution industry, forcing the audience to look beyond the societal labels associated with the women in the brothel and see them as individuals with complex lives, aspirations and personal battles.

The play opens with the young and popular worker, Muskaan, performing a traditional South Asian dance known as Mujra to the clients.

Having born and grown up in the brothel, Muskaan accepted her fate and circumstances long ago but she does not see herself as a victim but rather a person who unlike the other girls, has chosen to remain in the brothel. However, deep inside she longs for another life but does not believe she is worthy of it.

 

Crimson Gully
Crimson Gully

Then there is Champa, who did all the things that society expected of her as a woman. She met a man, got married and had a child but lost it all when her husband died and she was left cleaning up the destruction and financial mess he left behind. Without any education or qualifications, she finds herself in the brothel, the only way she knows how to make a living.

The young and innocent Mansi, from a seemingly good family, shows the viewers how girls like her end up in the brothel through no choice of her own. Much like Champa’s situation, it also proves that marriage is not always the answer to a attaining a better life.

Jamuna, the eldest, having spent most of her life in the brothel, now just serves as the caretaker and cook.

Taai is the madam of the brothel. Initially, viewers may think of her as a villain but as the story evolves it’s clear that she is as much of a victim as the rest of the women, trapped in her circumstances and in many ways acts as their protector.

It is the few people at the top driven by greed and power, in this instance all men, that keep the women trapped in their unfortunate circumstances and other men in line. The simmering tensions build up to a dramatic climax that does not disappoint.

 

Crimson Gully
Crimson Gully

Gopalakrishnan, who also designed and directed Crimson Gully, does not shy away from bringing to the forefront weighty topics such as political corruption, human trafficking, misogyny, and poverty and how they are all interconnected.

Inspired by the DW documentary India’s Prostitution Village, Gopalakrishnan provides a realistic account of the industry. It is a story which could take place in any culture and in any country but the elements of greed and corruption remain the same. Crimson Gully provides an insight into how corruption from the top can trickle down and poison society as a whole.

The Great Indian Theatre Company brings the story to life, with all cast members delivering solid and powerful performances. Crimson Gully is not to be missed.

Photographer: Albert Antony Roy

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Grand Horizons

Grand Horizons

Grand Horizons Rating

★★★★★

Click if you liked this article

2

The name “Grand Horizons” evokes an image of expansive possibilities, a bright future, and a world of untapped potential. It suggests a place where grand things await, a sense of hope and excitement about what lies ahead. In the context of the play, however, this promise is ironically deflated. The “Grand Horizon” is revealed to be not a metaphor for limitless opportunities but rather the confines of a retirement village.

From the very first curtain rise, director Jason Darlington expertly transports the audience into a space that is reminiscent of a sitcom, with musical tunes such as “Love and Marriage” from the TV show “Married with Children”, setting up the scene perfectly. The story is indeed about a married couple with children, only in this tale Nancy decides one day that she wants to divorce Bill, while their two grown up children come to the “rescue” by trying to stop the divorce from happening.

The children’s behaviour is somewhat sitcom-like, with over-the-top acting and facial expressions. Both are oblivious to their parents’ true nature: no matter how many times they ask what the reason for the divorce could possibly be, they never stop to actually let them answer and instead continue on their own trajectory.

 

Grand Horizons
Grand Horizons
Grand Horizons

It is deep into Act One when we finally hear from Nancy about her rather superficial marriage to Bill. Her confession of long-held desires for an old high school crush feels like a tipping point. It’s here, deep into Act One, that the play shifts gears from sitcom-style comedy to something more poignant, building toward a climactic moment where the walls of the retirement unit—quite literally—come crashing down. This marks the moment when “Grand Horizons” takes a profound turn, offering a raw and vulnerable exploration of the emotional truths that have been buried for decades.

Act Two is the standout, with Nancy’s meeting with Bill’s new girlfriend serving as an acting high point. The final confrontation between Bill and Nancy is both explosive and deeply revealing, a gut-wrenching moment where both characters come to realize how much they’ve actually known about each other’s desires all along. 

In his directorial debut at the Castle Hill Pavilion, Darlington wisely lets the seasoned actors take centre stage, and it’s their performances that resonate most strongly. “Grand Horizons” blends comedy with pathos in a way that’s both funny and cringeworthy, ultimately leaving the audience with a bittersweet sense of reflection on life’s fleeting promises and the often-unspoken truths we carry with us.

Grand Horizons is running from 15 Nov – 7 Dec.

To book your tickets, please visit https://paviliontheatre.org.au/grandhorizons/

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

The 39 Steps – Tugun Theatre

The 39 Steps - Tugun Theatre

The 39 Steps – Tugun Theatre Rating

★★★★★

Click if you liked this article

3

The 39 Steps is a comedic and farcical adventure that follows an ordinary man thrown into the throes of a spy action thriller.

The unique thing about The 39 Steps is that it is played by a cast of four plus stage crew who make occasional appearances. Two cast members take on approximately 250 roles between them, as mentioned in the play foreword. This makes it one hell of a ride for cast, crew, and audience alike, and that was before ingenious director Rianna Hartney-Smith added her hilarious touch to it.

Tugun Theatre sees an even more outlandish production of the 39 steps brought to life, giving the audience a guaranteed night of laughs. They use the guise of things going wrong [on purpose] to elevate the humour, with prompts often repeated so set pieces can be rushed out, broken props that play into the comedy and fantastically funny costuming. One amazing example of these additions was when two cast members kept rushing a lamp post on stage every time the other two characters looked out the window. This bit was repeated, leaving the actors increasingly flustered with hats falling off, arms flying everywhere, and the audience laughing.

Some other great choices for staging were using a plunger and a music stand to create a ‘car’. The ridiculousness of the props enhanced the jokes but still made them practical for the actors to use. All of these additions give the overall feeling of a play in a state of mania, in the best possible way.

 

The 39 Steps - Tugun Theatre
The 39 Steps - Tugun Theatre
The 39 Steps - Tugun Theatre

Special commendations need to be made to Jack Lovett and Neil Watson, who take on the daunting task of having multiple characters. Jack Lovett gives the most energetic and exuberant performance, absolutely nailing the physicality of each of his roles. He should be applauded for his effort and commitment, most notably his cameo as an old man who fell many, many times from his seat and eventually off the stage. Jack absolutely sold this, and I believe he accidentally [or maybe on purpose] copped his own cane to the head multiple times in committing to this gag.

Neil Watson provides an equally entertaining performance, cross dressing multiple times but most notably giving a long and sultry kiss to finish out the play that really showed his dedication to the comedy of his many roles. Jon Turley does a fantastic job as Richard Hannay, playing a consistent and likable do-gooder who is really adept at escaping out windows.

Samantha McClurg also competently traverses the stage and gives us the right amount of hysteria in her roles as Anabella and Pamela. Finally, the dedicated stage crew went the extra mile, donning costume pieces and performing dance numbers during set changes to keep the pacing and laughs flowing.

This production was an absolute delight, and the whole cast and crew were clearly putting their passion into this performance. From using the entire venue and stage, to the elaborate lighting choreography you can feel the respect and hard work put into this play .Tugun Theatre and all involved should be congratulated on a riveting and hilarious production.

Tugun Theatres The 39 Steps runs from November 14th – November 30. To book tickets, please visit https://www.tuguntheatre.org/the-39-steps

Evening Shows:
November 14th – 30th
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – 7:30PM

Matinee Shows:
November 16th & 23rd
Saturday – 2:00PM

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Connect Online

© 2025 Dark Stories Pty Ltd     ♦     Whats The Show