What's On At Newcastle's Civic Theatre?
GRIMM
Happily ever after? Never. These bedtime stories come with a darker edge.
Shake & Stir Theatre Co.'s latest theatrical triumph, GRIMM, plunges audiences into a richly imagined world where familiar fairytales are stripped back to their darker origins. Beneath the enchantment lies something far more unsettling, as beloved characters including Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood step from the shadows and reveal the raw, untamed truths at the heart of their stories.
Journey through eerie landscapes and haunting realms as folklore's hidden depths come vividly to life. This bold reimagining of the Brothers Grimm tales unearths the macabre, the mysterious and the magnificent in equal measure.
From the creative force behind the acclaimed stage productions Frankenstein, Jane Eyre and The Mousetrap, Shake & Stir delivers a spellbinding theatrical experience that is both visually spectacular and emotionally charged. Lavish, daring and utterly immersive, GRIMM is a night of theatre that lingers long after the curtain falls.
WHAT | GRIMM
WHEN | 16–17 September
VENUE | Civic Theatre
The Gospel According to Paul – The Second Coming
Jonathan Biggins returns to one of Australia's most celebrated political satires.
Following acclaimed seasons across the country, The Gospel According to Paul – The Second Coming makes a triumphant return, with Jonathan Biggins once again stepping into the shoes of one of Australia's most influential and enigmatic political figures, former Prime Minister Paul Keating.
A masterclass in wit, observation and performance, Biggins, co-creator and star of The Wharf Revue, brings Keating's unmistakable voice and formidable presence vividly to life. Part political portrait, part theatrical satire, the award-winning production revisits the convictions, complexities and contradictions of a leader who helped reshape modern Australia.
Exploring Keating's landmark reforms, enduring passions and unshakeable belief in the nation's potential, The Gospel According to Paul – The Second Coming shines a spotlight on a politician who viewed economics as an art form, challenged Australia to reckon with its history and championed a bold vision for its future.
Smart, sharp and deeply entertaining, this celebrated comedy offers an insightful and engaging reflection on one of the defining figures of Australian public life.
WHAT | The Gospel According to Paul
WHEN | 23 September
VENUE | Civic Theatre
Wolf by Circa
A breathtaking collision of contemporary acrobatics, movement and instinct.
Presented by Civic Theatre and New Annual, Wolf by Circa is a thrilling contemporary circus work that explores the tension between order and instinct, individuality and belonging. Created by acclaimed director Yaron Lifschitz and performed by ten of Circa's extraordinary artists, the production channels a fierce physical energy that is as exhilarating as it is captivating.
Against a pulsating soundscape by DJ Ori Lichtik and framed by Libby McDonnell's striking, form-fitting costumes, performers climb, tumble, balance and soar with remarkable precision and power. Every movement feels urgent, driven by a raw vitality that pushes the limits of strength, trust and human connection.
For Lifschitz, the wolf embodies our untamed nature: rebellious, fearless and free. Across two contrasting acts, Wolf traces a transformation from disruption and chaos to collective purpose, as a pack emerges through a series of breathtaking choreographed sequences that showcase Circa's trademark blend of artistry and athleticism.
Visceral, provocative and visually arresting, Wolf grips audiences from beginning to end, leaving them in awe of the extraordinary possibilities of the human body.
WHAT | Wolf by Circa
WHEN | 2–3 October
VENUE | Civic Theatre
She, Her & I
A moving portrait of family, grief and reconciliation set against the backdrop of a sweltering Newcastle summer.
Nora left Newcastle at eighteen to pursue a career in family law. Clara departed a few years later, swept away by love. Lou never left, her decision to abandon university remaining a source of quiet confusion and unspoken judgement. Years and distance have left the three sisters estranged, their lives unfolding along very different paths.
When they reunite in their childhood home to care for their dying mother during Newcastle's hottest summer on record, old wounds resurface. Amid the oppressive heat, a broken air conditioner, frayed tempers, questionable musical ambitions and long-standing habits become catalysts for conflict, exposing the fractures that have shaped their relationships for years.
Following their acclaimed 2025 production of This Restless House, Cats in the Cupboard Productions return with She, Her and I, a deeply affecting new work that balances humour and heartbreak with remarkable authenticity. Rooted in the Newcastle landscape and inspired by the restorative power of the ocean, this compelling local story captures the messy, complicated and enduring nature of family love.
She, Her and I forms part of the 2026 season of UpStage at the Playhouse, Civic Theatre Newcastle's initiative supporting local artists, playwrights and producers to bring new and reimagined work to the stage. Opening Night includes a post-show Q&A with the Cats in the Cupboard team.
WHAT | She, Her & I
WHEN | 12–21 November
VENUE | Playhouse, Civic Theatre
