Australian playwright S. Shakthidharan (Counting and Cracking) is one of the most exciting voices in theatre today. This bold new work conjures a tale of community, family and freedom in the face of impending globalisation.
Australian playwright S. Shakthidharan is one of the most exciting voices in theatre today. His epic play Counting and Cracking wowed audiences in sell-out seasons across the country, alongside triumphant tours to the UK and now New York. Melbourne audiences can again witness his talents in full flight with this new work conjuring a community confronted by the bold promises of globalisation.
For fifty thousand years, soldiers and missionaries and kings and queens have tried to conquer this remote Indian valley, and for fifty thousand years Nirmala’s ancestors have kept them out. But what if out is exactly where her daughter Isha wants to be?
When a stranger arrives with an offer too good to be true, the two must reckon with the costs of a devil’s bargain. Family, freedom and the fates of thousands will ultimately rest in their hands.
The Wrong Gods is a thrilling, gripping tale full of hope, betrayal, tradition and self-discovery. Rich with poetry and imagery, it asks brave questions that don’t have a safe answer. If everything in this world comes at a cost, who gets to decide what that cost will be?
Event Details:
Dates: 6 JUN — 12 JUL 2025
Duration: Approx. 1 hour 40 minutes, (no interval)
Suitable for: Recommended for ages 14+ / Years 9–12
Location: Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio
Warnings: This production contains occasional coarse language and mature themes.
Notes: Audio Described, Tactile Tour, Open and Close Captioning and Auslan Interpreted sessions available