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Media Release – Savages

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Theatre Works and Aperture Productions present

Savages
By Patricia Cornelius
Directed by Kitan Petkovski

Four boisterous friends. One cruise liner. The holiday of a lifetime.

A confrontational, award-winning play examining the menacing underbelly of Australian masculinity and mateship, Patricia Cornelius’ Savages is inspired by a real-life 2002 death aboard a cruise ship. What begins as a celebration among friends quickly spirals into chaos. Laughter turns to violence, loyalty twists into cruelty, and the pack takes control.

Under the provocative direction of Kitan Petkovski (The Inheritance), and with a powerhouse ensemble comprised of women and non-binary actors embodying “ordinary Aussie blokes”, this engrossing new production subverts gender norms and exposes the toxic undercurrent of power and privilege.

Unflinching, physical, and politically fierce, Savages is quintessential theatre by Australian playwright legend, Patricia Cornelius. Running for nine shows only at the Acland Street venue, Savages is running as part of the 2026 Theatre Works in-house season and promises to be an electric offering in the Melbourne Arts Calendar. Tickets now on sale.

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, Beyond The Neck, Mara, Red Sky Morning, Lazarus, Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, The Wolves, and Lord of the Flies.

Praise for Kitan Petkovski’s work:
★★★★★ “An extraordinary ensemble performance” – The Age (The Inheritance)
★★★★ “Some of the year’s best theatre” – The Age (In the Club)
★★★★ “Hot-button theatre” – Limelight (In the Club)

Written by Patricia Cornelius
Directed by Kitan Petkovski
Assistant direction by Belinda McClory
Performed by Nicci Wilks, AYA Taur, Zoe Boesen and Laila Thaker
Lighting design by Harrie Hogan
Sound design by Jess Keeffe
Set and costume design by Bianca Pardo
Stage management by Charlotte Fischer
Produced by Theatre Works

2 to 12 September 2026
Tues – Sat 7:30pm
Previews: Wed 2 and Thurs 3 September 7:30pm
Opening Night: Fri 4 September 7:30pm
Tickets: $55 Full, $48 Concession, $40 Preview, $35 Tues 8 September only.
Bookings: www.theatreworks.org.au/2026/savages
Venue: Theatre Works – 14 Acland Street, St Kilda
www.theatreworks.org.au

Duration: 80 minutes no intermission
Age suitability: Ages 16+
Warnings: Contains coarse language, themes of misogyny and gendered violence
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: Dan Rabin
Subject (L-R): Non credited

Savages Landscape Image