Ensemble Theatre unveils 2027 programme

featured image

11 August 2026

Building on a successful 2026, the Ensemble Theatre has announced its 2027 line up, ready to bring a diverse range of stories to one of Australian most unique stages. The Sun sat down with The Ensemble’s Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry to find out what they have in store for next year. 

Reflecting on 2026, Kilmurry describes the season as a resounding success defined by variety.

“It’s been great. We’re halfway through the year now, more or less, and all the shows have been doing really well,” Kilmurry said. He highlighted the strength of balancing comedy and drama, noting that the year kicked off with a “big blast” from David Williamson’s The Social Ladder. 

The theatre also found success with Mary Rachel Brown’s The Dapto Chaser, a play Kilmurry praised for its honest exploration of the Australian psyche, gambling, and addiction. “I just thought the characters shone, and it said something not just about gambling, but about Australian life and living at the other end of Australian life in terms of struggling with poverty,” he noted.

The 2027 season features an array of premieres and classic revivals, designed to build on the Ensemble’s unique spirit.

Sleeping Dogs

The season opener continues the theatre’s long-standing relationship with playwright David Williamson. The story follows Max, a fading Hollywood director who returns home to find the past snapping at his heels as family tensions flare and buried truths are unleashed. “It’s a terrific new David Williamson,” Kilmurry said. “He keeps writing them, and we’ll keep doing it because it’s a huge success.” 

Kilmurry notes that Williamson’s recent work, which often touches on the precarious nature of careers, remains sharp: “I think the fear factor is probably put into the plays.” The play follows a fading film director who returns home, only to discover the past snapping at his heels.

David Williamson’s Money and Friends will also hit the Ensemble stage later in the year. 

Split Ends

This new Australian comedy by Brittanie Shipway is set in the sleepy town of Warragamba, where the perms are tight, the gossip is tighter, and a struggling salon owner faces chaos when a flashy city hairdresser tries to buy her out. “An article I read about a young man taking over a salon where the older woman ran it for many, many years… I thought, ‘Oh, well, this is a great comedy, basically,’” Kilmurry remarked. He added that the play perfectly captures the local flavor “It’s very Australian, set in a new country town, and those are the stories that I think we like to see because they reflect who we are living in today.”

Hedda Gabler

Directed by Kilmurry, this Henrik Ibsen piece follows a woman trapped in a suffocating marriage, determined to regain control of her life, no matter the cost. “I like Henrik Ibsen’s play. It is a comedy-drama; people think of it as a drama, but Hedda is hilariously funny. She’s a great character,” Kilmurry said. “Michael Meyer has done this translation that captures the essence of Ibsen really, really well. So, I’m thrilled to be directing that.”

Bombshells 2

Following the success of the original, Joanna Murray-Smith has been commissioned to write a sequel featuring five wildly different women’s stories, again starring Sharon Millerchip. “We commissioned Joanna to write this new piece with Sharon Millerchip in mind, which is a thrill as well,” Kilmurry noted. “So, it’s very exciting. And Bombshells completely sold out last time we did it, so I’m hoping for the same for this.”

The Year in Tatters 2027 Revue

The Tatters Revue team returns to the Ensemble stage with an all-new show, featuring Mark Kilmurry as Directorial Advisor. The production promises to sift through the cultural wreckage of the year, turning global chaos into satire through songs and sketches, ensuring a night of political satire to keep audiences sane.

Fallen Angels

Closing out his 2027 directorial slate, Kilmurry is bringing a Noel Coward classic to the stage. The play centers on two wives who get “rip-roaringly drunk” while trying to figure out how to handle the return of a former lover they both share. “It’s a very, very funny Noel Coward. It’s hilariously funny for two really good character actors, which we have in the role,” he said. “It’s just a great piece.”

As the Ensemble Theatre looks toward 2027, Kilmurry believes that the company’s longevity relies on maintaining its welcoming and distinct identity “I think theatre should be a welcoming place. You don’t feel intimidated; you feel happy, you feel relaxed.” By prioritising this inclusive atmosphere alongside a diverse programme, the Ensemble aims to remain an essential space for the “collective creative experience” that defines live theatre.