Malthouse Theatre unveils bold and diverse 2026 season

Malthouse Theatre has lifted the curtain on its 2026 season, unveiling a daring and wide-ranging program that spans contemporary drama, radical reimaginings, cabaret, comedy and dance – reaffirming the Southbank institution’s reputation as one of Australia’s most innovative performing arts companies.

Executive producer and co-CEO Vivia Hickman described the new program as a celebration of artistic diversity and ambition.

Our 2026 program is a testament to the extraordinary creativity of artists working today,” Hickman said. “Through their work, we are opening our doors to stories that not only inspire and entertain but also speak with urgency to our audiences and the complex times we live in.

The season opens on February 13 with Black Light, a powerful new Malthouse commission written and directed by Jada Alberts (Brothers Wreck), starring real-life sisters Lisa and Rachael Maza. The work offers an intimate portrait of contemporary Blak motherhood and resilience.

Following in May, actor and playwright Megan Wilding brings her sharp wit to Game. Set. Match., a love story that turns into a revenge thriller, directed by Malthouse’s Jessica Arthur. That same month, the inventive theatre collective Bloomshed presents a modern twist on Pride and Prejudice, blending Jane Austen’s classic romance with commentary on Australia’s housing crisis.

In June, Australian stage icon Paul Capsis teams up with Adam Noviello in House of Rot: Grey Gardens, a cabaret-infused homage to two reclusive women living in a decaying mansion, created by Dino Dimitriadis and Victoria Falconer.

Acclaimed choreographer Stephanie Lake returns to Malthouse in July with Vista, a high-energy contemporary dance premiere featuring Lake’s signature physicality and poetic imagery. August brings Break of Day, Steve Rodgers’ moving Australian drama directed by Sarah Goodes, starring Kat Stewart and Richard Piper. The same month, Roslyn Oades and Bob Scott’s The Nightline invites audiences to explore hundreds of late-night voice messages left by insomniacs, shift workers and night owls in a deeply immersive experience.

Another standout is Michelle Lim Davidson’s Koreaboo (September 24 to October 10), a tender exploration of identity and belonging set in Seoul, following its sold-out Sydney season with Griffin Theatre Company.

Incoming artistic director Dean Bryant will close the year with Ivo van Hove’s electrifying stage adaptation of All About Eve, starring Christie Whelan Browne in the dual roles of Margo Channing and Eve Harrington.

“All About Eve is a story I’ve been obsessed with putting on stage for years,” Bryant said. “It’s wicked, hilarious, and full of juicy roles for actors. Having Christie play both Margo and Eve will be a theatrical event unlike anything we’ve seen.”

The program also features Ritual Ritual Ritual by Rae Perks, a climate change-themed work developed through Malthouse’s Suitcase Series, and the Australian Trans Theatre Festival, opening in January.

Tickets for all productions are on sale via malthousetheatre.com.au •