AustLit

'It’s Sydney. It’s Christmas time. And it’s stinking hot. Even though she’s unable to be there, Mum is insisting the family gather in honour of Dad – he was the BBQ king!

'Their adult children, wine snob Peter and cynical Connie, reluctantly get the clan together for round two of festivities – they’ve survived the chaos of Christmas but Boxing Day is set to pack a punch. In raising a toast to their Dad’s memory, old grudges and family tensions sizzle to the surface. Surely they’ll be able to stop grilling each other for one day.'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'Mel’s got a lot on her plate. Between the anxiety-inducing return of her mother from their old home in Malaysia, her brother Eric’s mysterious double life and the pressure of caring for her mother’s prized poodle, Mel is hungry for more simplicity. In the world premiere of this new and eccentric family comedy, award-winning playwright Vanessa Bates colourfully unravels the complexities of what it means to be Eurasian in contemporary Australia. Energetically funny and affectionately provocative, THE ONE is a sizzling hotpot of food, culture and identity.'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'To the world, Nora Helmer has it all. A well-respected husband, an immaculate home and three darling children. But underneath the façade of a confident modern woman juggling her life lies a secret. Or two. When an old ghost comes knocking on the Helmers’ door, their seemingly solid marriage is shaken to the core.'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'Free-spirited artist Renee has a sobering revelation at a New Year’s Eve party. With vivacious best friend Nick by her side, she now faces a life-changing decision. While reflecting on the tumultuous relationships between her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, no-nonsense Nick is on hand to lift her spirits and keep Renee grounded.

'Gumbaynggirr writer and actor Brittanie Shipway explores how the experiences of previous generations echo through time and shape the present. A LETTER FOR MOLLY is a vibrant, poignant story of reconnecting with family and looking to the future. This celebration of culture brings to light the importance of identity and the emotional power of a mother-daughter relationship.'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'They might be carrying briefcases and commanding bigger pay cheques, but straight-talking Joanne and perennially optimistic Felicity are back and STILL UNQUALIFIED in this sequel to 2018’s hilarious hit comedy.

'It’s been a year since we left Joanne and Felicity singing at a karaoke bar. They now live together, work out of their home office and tackle jobs that require a far greater degree of expertise — which neither of them have. From birth doulas to truck drivers, wedding planners to paralegals, the two women stretch the truth but never risk stretching their friendship beyond repair.'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'Diving back into the dating pool in your 40’s is a scary prospect. This bittersweet comedy navigates the highs and lows of modern dating. Will Matt and Olivia take the plunge and swipe right? Or is it left…?'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'When former Queen Bee of the book club Robyn publishes her first novel, the truth about the death of her nemesis, Katie, begins to unravel. Female friendships are tested in this laugh-out-loud, brutally honest, new comedy.'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'Meet Kenny, a fearless Aussie plumber and eternal optimist who looks for the best in every situation – even when his job is literally down the toilet.'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'Tune into a buzzing new comedy pulling the plug on an antiquated media industry.'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'Sparkling with razor sharp wit and humour, CRUNCH TIME tackles pertinent social issues head-on in this tale of family and duty. Don’t miss Australian theatre heavy-weight David Williamson’s final play before retirement.'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'Inspired by the true story of legendary First Nations cricketer Johnny Mullagh and Australia’s first ever international sporting team, this is not just about cricket. This is a story of strength, resistance, hope and possibility.'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'Adjust the dial, tune in for an evening of suspense and intrigue and witness the world’s greatest detectives at their sleuthing best. Incomparable duo Holmes and Watson team up to avert disaster at the hands of THE SOLITARY CYCLIST, while Divorced Detectives Ridley Jones and Teresa Scott are embroiled in a mad train chase to thwart a criminal mastermind in THE DEAD(LY) WIVES CLUB.

'Set in a 1950’s studio in the heyday of the radio play, marvel as atmospheric sound effects are created before your very eyes from galloping horses’ hooves to distant thunder… and a menacing squeaky bicycle.'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'Appleton is a small country town being forced into the present with a recent influx of wealthy city slickers, treechangers and refugees. Simmering tensions come to a head when new GP Penny Anderson discovers that the famous Appleton Potato Race awards $1000 prize money for the men, and a measly $200 for the women. When Penny decides to take steps to restore gender parity and coax Appleton into the 21st century, little could she have anticipated the spiralling, hilarious culture war that would follow.'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'Celia and Vicki were best friends at drama school, but the game of life has dealt them very different hands.

'Celia is a high profile soap star earning ridiculous amounts of money and the requisite harbourside views. Meanwhile Vicki is scraping by in gritty, critically acclaimed roles in independent theatre.

'When Vicki proposes they collaborate on an ambitious new film project, it could be a big opportunity for both of them to prove their mettle in the industry. But are Vicki’s motives as well-intentioned as they seem, or will jealousy rear its ugly head?'

Source: Ensemble Theatre.

'Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Ensemble Theatre, this lavishly illustrated book celebrates the history of Australia's second oldest theatre company. Featuring 60 black-and-white production images and a 4-page colour section, Ensemble Theatre: Celebrating 50 Years : A Great Stage of Life is the perfect memorabilia for any theatre fan.

'The Ensemble Theatre is the longest, continuously running professional theatre company in NSW and the second longest running in Australia. Since its inception, the Ensemble has presented over 350 productions at its home venue, the Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, Theatre Royal and the Seymour Centre. The company has also toured many productions around Australia and internationally, including End of the Rainbow which featured at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

'Many of Australia's favourite performers have appeared at the Ensemble Theatre including Lorraine Bayly, Simon Burke, Michael Craig, Russell Crowe, Max Cullen, David Field, Max Gillies, Nancye Hayes, Reg Livermore, Garry McDonald, Todd McKenney, Amanda Muggleton, Caroline O'Connor, Georgie Parker, Marina Prior, Kate Raison, Henri Szeps, Jack Thompson, William Zappa and international performers such as Warren Mitchell and Greta Scacchi.' (Publisher's blurb)