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Media Release – Lord of the Flies

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Theatre Works presents

Lord of the Flies
By William Golding
Adapted by Nigel Williams
Directed by Steven Mitchell Wright

It was a game… wasn’t it?

When a plane crashes and a group of boys find themselves alone on a remote island, they begin to build order from the chaos with youthful optimism and a sense of adventure. They make rules, elect leaders, and imagine a world where fairness and cooperation will keep them safe.

But order is fragile. 

What starts with hope quickly descends into rivalry, tests, and power struggles. Play turns to ritual. Loyalty becomes leverage. And in the absence of oversight and consequence, instincts begin to outweigh ideals. 

In this fresh, highly physical staging of Nigel Williams’ adaptation of Lord of the Flies, award-winning director Steven Mitchell Wright (MEDEA: Out of the Mouths of Babes, Ghosts) leads an ensemble of exceptional performers through a visceral retelling of William Golding’s literary classic. 

Running at Theatre Works for a limited season and playing as part of the 2026 By Theatre Works programming, this electric new season is a gripping, contemporary encounter with a timeless story. One that speaks to the world we live in now as urgently, if not more urgently, than when it was first written. Not to be missed.

Based in St Kilda, Theatre Works has been home to bold, independent theatre for more than 40 years. They give artists the space, support, and freedom to take risks, and audiences the chance to discover powerful new stories. Each year, they present dozens of productions across their three venues, created in partnership with some of the country’s most exciting theatre makers, solidifying their reputation as a vital ecosystem for independent artists.

Other 2026 By Theatre Works productions include Australian Open, Savages, Beyond The Neck, Mara, Red Sky Morning, Lazarus, The Wolves, and Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Directed and Designed by Steven Mitchell Wright
Performed by Will Bastow, Oliver Cowen, Darcy Crawford, Oliver Gorringe, Sam Finn Gudgeon, Hugo Gutteridge, Sean Yuen Halley, Angus Leighton, Declan Magee, Alvin Prasad, Blaise Tindale, and Charlie Veitch
Lighting Design by Ben Hughes
Sound Design by Jack Burmeister
Stage Management by Jade Hibbert
Produced by Dianne Toulson for Theatre Works
Publicity by Sassy Red PR   

18 September to 2 October 2026
Tues – Sat 7:30pm
Previews: Fri 18 and Sat 19 September 7:30pm
Opening Night: Tues 22 September 7:30pm
Tickets: $55 Full, $48 Concession, $40 Preview, $35 Tues 29 September
Bookings: www.theatreworks.org.au/2026/lord-of-the-flies
Venue: Theatre Works – 14 Acland Street, St Kilda
www.theatreworks.org.au

Duration: 120 minutes including interval
Age suitability: 15+
Warnings: Adult themes, violence, strong language, theatrical blood, theatrical haze and smoke, partial nudity, loud and sudden noise, flashing and strobing lighting
Accessibility: Theatre Works is a wheelchair-accessible venue. A full-access guide will be available closer to the date

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High-res images for download (click on hyperlink, then right-click to download): 

Photographer: SMW Image
Subjects (L-R): 
Hero Image: Angus Leighton and Sean Yuen Halley
Image 1: Sean Yuen Halley
Image 2: Sam Finn Gudgeon
Image 3: Oliver Cowen
Portrait: Declan Magee, Oliver Gorringe

Lord of the Flies Hero Image
Lord of the Flies Image 1
Lord of the Flies Image 2
Lord of the Flies Image 3
Lord of the Flies Portrait Image