The Black Swan Theatre Company, presents The Shepherd’s Hut at the Heath Ledger Theatre. Adapted by Tim McGarry and directed by Matt Ejertton and taken from the novel by Tim Winton.
Just wow…what a performance. I couldn’t fault it. I was gripped from beginning to end!
The story follows young Jaxie Clackton through the agonising heat of the desert, only to be matched by the internal agony of his past. While battling to survive the Australian outback, Jaxie stumbles across a dwelling on the edge of a salt lake in the middle of nowhere where he finds Finton McGillis, a disgraced Irish priest. Finton is isolated and desperately seeking salvation from a damaged past, purposely deprived of human contact as punishiment for his sins. The dynamic between Finton and Jaxie is remarkable. The tension, raw emotion and sense of danger between the two, created an atmosphere in the theatre that kept everyone on the edge of their seat.
Finton was played by George Shevtsov, who brought an element of compassion and empathy to the very angry and hot blooded Jaxie, played ever so powerfully by Ryan Hodson. Often I felt like Shevtsov was trying to tame an injured, wild animal. The two very masculine characters pushed each other to the limit and pressed each other until cracks from their past would surface, leaving the audience in a gasp, but raising more questions then answers. Each heated debate between the two drew the audience in even more.
A large sand-covered stage stretched almost endlessly across the space, creating the feeling of the harsh Australian outback. The set design was probably the most simple I have ever seen on a stage. But it added to the raw, exposed landscape, which set the tone and sense of isolation, loneliness and helplessness. The clear sand contrasted beautifully against the textured drapes, which added important visuals when needed and the lighting against the sand and drapes were beautifully orchestrated with the mood.
The stripped-back design felt intentional rather than minimal, as our focus remained on the physical movements and rapid psychological changes of the characters. The brilliant story telling by The Hat (Ben Mortley) and The Hair (Ella Prince) amplified the emotional weight of the performance. With their dynamic tones and rhythm, we were able to imagine ourselves in different scenes instantly.
Personally, I loved how this story is fragile in ego, dangerously honest, and strangely tender. Both men, clearly needing help but refusing to show weakness, are a mark on society and confront young men in crisis and how they respond to fear and trust. Clearly ashamed of their past, they are literally screaming out for redemption but unable to forgive their own sins or the sins of others.
This truly is a powerful play and you must experience it the energy of it. It does however, contain coarse language, adult themes and references (or abstract simulations) to violence including family and domestic violence which can be triggering.
To book tickets to The Shepherd’s Hut, please visit https://blackswantheatre.com.au/season-2026/the-shepherds-hut.
Photographer: Philip Gostelow
