This month, powerful stories are being brought to life by some of the Australian entertainment industry’s brightest talents. From intimate two-handers to large-scale spectacles, NIDA alumni’s creative fingerprints can be found in every corner of the theatre, from centre stage to the lighting rig and costumes created behind the scenes. Here’s where to catch their work warming our hearts this chilly July.
Sydney Theatre Company’s latest must-see production, Circle Mirror Transformation will run from 12 July – 7 September. Co-starring in the sharply funny and wildly relatable production are Ahunim Abebe (Acting, 2022) and Nicholas Brown (Acting, 2000), who play two strangers coming together to take part in an amateur acting class. Behind the scenes is a top-tier creative team including Tony-nominated Composer and Sound Designer, Clemence Williams (Directing, 2016), Designer, Jeremy Allen (Design, 2015) and Lighting Designer, Brockman (Production, 2011).
Fresh off a celebrated Broadway run, Mother Play has arrived at Melbourne’s Southbank Theatre from 30 June – 2 August. Directed by Lee Lewis AO (Directing, 2003), the production stars screen legend Sigrid Thornton AO, a member of the NIDA Board of Directors, and acclaimed actor Yael Stone (Acting, 2006). This award-winning play captures decades of family resilience, starting from 1962, with humour, grit and emotional punch.
Sport For Jove presents Betrayal at the Old Fitz from July 18 – 10 August. This intimate production peels back the layers of a triangle of friends and lovers to reveal the raw emotions, festering secrets and fragile psychology behind their actions. Experience the captivating energy directed by Cristabel Sved (Directing, 2007) and delivered by co-stars Ella Scott Lynch (Acting, 2004) and Matt Hardie (Acting, 2008), with lighting design by Verity Hampson (Technical Production, 2005) and AV by Aron Murray (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2018 & Design, 2020).
Described as something akin to a gothic Mary Poppins, Grief is the Thing With Feathers takes flight at Belvoir from 26 July – 24 August. Co-adapted and starring Toby Schmitz (Acting, 1999), this soul-stirring story follows a family grieving the loss of a wife and mother, and the strange Crow that comes to stay in her absence. Joining Toby on stage is Philip Lynch (Acting, 2021) with costume design by Ella Butler (Design, 2017) and sound design by Daniel Herten (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2021). This production is based on the novel by Max Porter and co-produced with Andrew Henry Presents.
The world applauded her genius then turned its back. In The Half-Life of Marie Curie, Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie, portrayed by Gabrielle Scawthorn (Acting, 2009), weathers the storm of public scrutiny and heartbreak after a scandalous affair, held up by fellow pioneer and friend Hertha Ayrton. This fierce and heartfelt two-hander is powered by a phenomenal team of NIDA alumni, including Lighting Designer Verity Hampson (Technical Production, 2005), Composer and Sound Designer Daniel Herten (Technical Theatre, 2021), Video Designer Cameron Smith (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2021), Dialect Coach Linda Nicholls-Gidley (Voice Studies, 1998), Movement Coach Gavin Robins (Movement Studies, 1994), Stage Manager Bella Kerdijk (Production, 2008), Assistant Manager Maddison Craven (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2023) and Costume Supervisor Lily Mateljan (Costume, 2022). The Half-Life of Marie Curie is running until 12 July at Ensemble Theatre.
Also on at Ensemble Theatre until 12 July, Primary Trust is a heartwarming story about friendship, change, and the quiet courage it takes to start over. Directed by Darren Yap (Directing, 1997) and starring Albert Mwangi (Acting, 2020), this production once again features the creative talents Lighting Designer Verity Hampson (Technical Production, 2005), Video Designer Cameron Smith (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2021), Dialect Coach Linda Nicholls-Gidley (Voice Studies, 1998) and Costume Supervisor Lily Mateljan (Costume, 2022). Also behind the scenes of beautifully human piece of theatre are Stage Manager Krystelle Quartermain (Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services, 2018 & Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2021) and Assistant Stage Manager Bernadett Lőrincz (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2023).
Wolfgang in the Stars is a wild, acrobatic ride through the cosmos helmed by NIDA alum Yaron Lifschitz (Directing, 1991), recipient of the prestigious 2025 International Society for the Performing Arts Distinguished Artist Award. This playful circus adventure, presented by Circa at Riverside Theatre, reimagines young Mozart as a space-travelling prodigy on a mission to finish ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’. Tickets are available from 17 – 19 July.
In case you missed it: NIDA is proud to celebrate two Logie nominees, Anna Torv (Acting, 2001) for Netflix’s Territory and Darren Gilshenan (Acting, 1988) for Binge/Foxtel’s Colin from Accounts. The Logie Awards ceremony will take place Sunday 3 August streaming on Seven and 7plus. Uli Latukefu (Acting, 2012) is in Amazon Prime’s The Countdown, streaming weekly from 25 June, and Richard Roxburgh (Acting, 1986) plays Joh Bjelke-Peterson in the documentary JOH: Last King of Queensland, available to watch now on Stan. You can also hear a new campy single by Marney McQueen (Acting, 2003) whose remix of Taking Chances from the smash-hit Titanique has been produced by Michael Cassel Music.
*Header image: From left to right: Yael Stone (Acting, 2006), Sigrid Thornton AO and Ash Flanders rehearsing for Melbourne Theatre Company’s Mother Play.