A coming-of-age birthday party. The threat of an approaching bushfire. A deeply held family secret.

It’s the 7th of February 2009 – forever known in Australia’s history as ‘Black Saturday.’ It’s also Tom Robinson’s 18th Birthday. But tensions start to rise between Tom and his older brother Matthew, along with the temperature outside, and before the ice-cream cake has time to melt a deeply held family secret is revealed.

As part of La Mama’s VCE Theatre Studies list Hearth features a stellar ensemble cast, this compelling new drama is guaranteed to not only be a thought-provoking night at the theatre, but also an extremely enjoyable one.

‘Hearth is an extraordinarily prescient play for our times. With its mixture of pathos and humour, it’s seamlessly crafted from go to woe. The characters are complex and highly conflicted, their stories delicately woven and delivered through emotionally charged language that leaves you floored.’ – Raimondo Cortese, Playwright.

‘Murphy’s story-telling sparkles… Murphy writes whirling, unfiltered emotion most powerfully‘ – Australian Stage.

‘Murphy’s writing crackles with dark wit and beauty‘ – Theatre People.

Performed by Geoff Paine, Sonya Suares, Kurt Pimblett, Carole Patullo, Martin Blum & Eleanor Webster

Written by Fleur Murphy

Directed by Tom Royce-Hampton

Produced by Fiona Stafford

Set & Costume Design by Chantal Marks ​

Lighting Design by Clare Springett

Sound Design by Max Royce-Hampton and Tom Royce-Hampton

Image by Chris Tomkins