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Picnic at Hanging Rock / has haunted the Australian psyche for over a century. One summer’s day in 1900 three schoolgirls and a teacher inexplicably vanished, never to be seen again. The trip was supposed to be a Saint Valentine’s Day treat. They were supposed to be home for dinner.

In Tom Wright’s chilling adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s classic novel, five performers will struggle to solve the mystery of the missing girls and their teacher. Euphoria and terror will reverberate throughout Appleyard College, as the potential for history to repeat itself becomes nightmarishly real.

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a story that defies explanation, a story that / proves that horror is a warm, sunny day.

"THIS RETELLING OF THE JOAN LINDSAY CULT CLASSIC PROVES THE BOOK’S POSTCOLONIAL THEME REMAINS RELEVANT—AND WILL TERRIFY THE PANTS OFF YOU"
— The Guardian
"THERE IS LITTLE TO FAULT IN THE PRODUCTION...IT IS A GENUINELY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE, A RARITY IN THE THEATRE"
— Australian Book Review
"MATTHEW LUTTON AND TOM WRIGHT OFFER A SURREAL AND SUBVERSIVE TAKE ON THIS AUSSIE CLASSIC"
— Limelight Magazine
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PRODUCTION PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

A co-production with Black Swan State Theatre Company. Proudly supported by the Art Series Hotel Group.
Presented by Triple R.

Key image: Andrew Gough
Images: Pia Johnson

Partners

ASH RRR
A NEW PLAY BY /

Tom Wright adapted from Joan Lindsay’s novel
DIRECTION / 

Matthew Lutton
CAST INCLUDES / 

Harriet Gordon-Anderson, Arielle Gray, Amber McMahon, Elizabeth Nabben, Nikki Shiels
SET & COSTUME DESIGN / 

Zoë Atkinson
LIGHTING DESIGN / 

Paul Jackson
COMPOSITION / 

Ash Gibson Greig
SOUND DESIGN / 

J. David Franzke
STAGE MANAGER /

Tia Clark
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER / 

Lyndie Li Wan Po

Event & ticketing details

Accessibility

Wheelchair Access
Audio Described
Auslan Interpreted

Dates & Times

PREVIEWS 7.30pm Fri 26 Feb, 7.30pm Sat 27 Feb, 6.30pm Mon 29 Feb, 6.30pm Tue 1 Mar
OPENING NIGHT 7.30pm, Wed 2 Mar
MONASH MEETS MALTHOUSE 5pm, Sat 5 Mar
AUDIO DESCRIBED 7.30pm, Thu 17 Mar
AUSLAN INTERPRETED 7.30pm, Thu 17 Mar

Location

Merlyn Theatre

The Malthouse, 113 Sturt St, Southbank 3006

Get directions

Train

Any train to Flinders Street, then a 12-minute stroll through Melbourne’s sparkling Arts Precinct.

Tram

The No. 1 South Melbourne tram goes right past our door. Get off at Stop 18. Any tram down St Kilda Road—jump off at Grant Street, Stop 17 and take a 3-minute walk.

Event notes

DURATION /

85 minutes (no interval)

WARNINGS / 

Contains occasional coarse language & horror themes.