"A killer comedy to die for” WhatsOnStage
Comedic genius Helen Thomson (Colin from Accounts, The Importance of Being Earnest) is back on board at Sydney Theatre Company to challenge everything you thought you knew about good manners.
Directed by the legendary Simon Phillips (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert), The Unfriend is the stage debut of Steven Moffat, the writer behind mega hits Doctor Who, Sherlock and Douglas is Cancelled.
On a cruise ship, Peter and Debbie befriend Elsa, a sassy and less than sensitive American widow who demands they stay in touch. When Elsa invites herself to stay a few months later, they look her up online and learn that she’s been putting more than mushrooms into the odd casserole, with poisonous results. Now, the couple must race to protect their family whilst avoiding the greatest faux pas of all: being, well, a bit impolite? Because guess who's coming to... murder!
This deliciously dark comedy takes a hilarious bite out of middle-class England's obsession with being “nice”, no matter the cost. Don your napkin for “an uproarious comedy of English embarrassment...a relentlessly snowballing orgy of discomfiture...a delight” (London Evening Standard).
Event Details:
Dates:
Previews 29 Sep – 02 Oct 2026
Season 05 Oct – 31 Oct 2026Night with the Artists
Tue 13 Oct, post-showLunch with the Artists
Mon 31 Aug, 12:15-2:30pm
The Wharf Restaurant and BarCaptioned Performances
Tue 20 Oct, 6:30pm
Sat 24 Oct, 1:30pmAudio Described Performances
Sat 31 Oct, 1:30pmAuslan Interpreted Performances
Sun 25 Oct, 2:00pmPerformance start times
Preview performances – 7:30pm
In-season evening performances – Mon & Tues 6:30pm; Wed – Sat 7:30pm
Matinee performances – Wed 1:00pm; Saturday 1:30pm; Sunday 2:00pmDuration: 2 hrs, including interval.
Suitable for: 15 years+
Location: Roslyn Packer Theatre
Warnings: Strong language