Theatre Round Up: Patricia Cornelius and Neil Armfield

Patricia Cornelius recently opened her premiere production Truth at the Malthouse Theatre directed by long-term collaborator Susie Dee. Truth is the story of Julian Assange. Edward Snowden. Chelsea Manning. It is a story about the costs of not staying silent.

“Truth is a grave and unsettling piece of political theatre from Australia’s most decorated playwright, Patricia Cornelius…Looking back on all this from 2025…the structural defunding of quality investigative journalism, and the US government’s vindictive pursuit of Assange and other whistleblowers, Truth is a rousing, sobering reminder of the courage and the cost involved in speaking truth to power.” ★★★★ The Age

Neil Armfield’s production of Andrew Bovell’s new play Song of First Desire is currently running at Belvoir St Theatre. Bovell wrote this play with and for an acclaimed theatre collective in Madrid, where it premiered in Spanish, in 2023. Two actors Jorge Muriel and Borja Maestre from that original cast are now joined by Kerry Fox and Sarah Peirse for the English premiere. Camelia is losing her grip, lost between the past and the present as she passes her days in the garden of her Madrid home. Her children employ Alejandro, a Colombian migrant, to look after her. But this house isn’t what it seems, keeping the terrible secrets of history in its stones.

“Song of First Desire is a complex work from a masterful writer…and even though set in Spain, has a resonance with world events at the present time and is a reminder that we must never forget.” Arts Hub

Truth is running until 8 March 2025 at the Malthouse Theatre. Song of First Desire is running until 23 March 2025 at Belvoir St Theatre.