Social climbing, dog racing, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford’s rivalry and a hapless drama group – these are just some of the topics which will be explored on stage at Ensemble Theatre in 2026.
It’s artistic director Mark Kilmurry’s 10th year in the job, and he continues to bring in the crowds at one of Sydney’s oldest theatres, located right on the water in Kirribilli. There is so much to love about the Ensemble, with its intimate space which lets you be fully absorbed into the actors’ ambit – and the fact you can grab a meal and a drink before seeing a show at the gorgeous Bayly’s Bistro.
Mark is a champion of Australian theatre, and renowned playwright David Williamson keeps writing exclusively for the Ensemble, with two offerings for 2026. David’s plays always open the season, and The Social Ladder exposes what happens when a ‘climber’ gets desperate. Mary Rachel Brown’s The Dapto Chaser is a black comedy which explores family dynamics through greyhound racing and addiction to the track – ‘a gritty Australian play that you don’t seem to get much anymore,’ Marks says.
A Hollywood-themed highlight will be Bette & Joan, a ‘deliciously wicked two- hander’ that explores the relationship between the screen queens Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
Mark himself will take to the stage for the first time since 2018 with Gold Logie winner Georgie Parker in 84 Charring Cross Road, a story about how friendship can be built in the most unlikely of places.
There will be 10 plays in 2026 – and one revue, The Year in Tatters, with some of Australia’s great comics like Chris Taylor (The Chaser) and Christie Whelan Browne (Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell). “We’ve got all our lawyers ready!” jokes Mark.
The Ensemble takes great pride in being a theatre for all, with performances for school children, free teen sessions and community nights for local teachers, who get to have a nibble and some wine before they see a show.
Subscriptions are rising at the theatre, now up to just over 8,000, still shy of the 9,000 it needs to not rely so heavily on grant funding.
So get yourself to the Ensemble to see some brilliantly-written plays and actors who have a deep understanding of their craft. It will enrich your soul – and support an enduring North Shore theatre company.
Ensemble Theatre
ensemble.com.au I 8918 3400
