Heartbreak and grief: they’re almost universally experienced by human beings, yet how we’re affected will vary wildly from person to person.
Karin McCracken’s Heartbreak Hotel, which has returned to Melbourne after a sold-out season during RISING 2025, explores the concept of heartbreak in a way that’s deeply personal, while also demonstrating how universal it is. But don’t be put off by the seemingly heavy subject matter: this show is as funny as it is heartbreaking – weaving science, storytelling and music into an unforgettable 75-minute performance.
Written and performed by McCracken, Heartbreak Hotel explores what happens to someone when a relationship ends. Not through melodrama, but by taking a closer look at the emotional and physical reality of a heartbreak. It draws on everything from neuroscience and psychology to literature and pop culture and presents the topic in a fresh and thought-provoking way.
At times playing the synth and singing covers of classic break-up songs, McCracken takes us on a journey throughout the show – speaking to the audience directly in a warm and vulnerable way, with a lot of humour. She tells the tale of a breakup of a relationship where she’s been part of a couple, living together, to suddenly single – blindsided by the separation – and how she navigates the away forward over the months and years ahead.
Along the way she invites everyone in the audience into her journey. Whether you’ve experienced a devastating breakup or have simply loved and lost in the past (and lived to tell the tale) – there’s something here that will resonate with just about everyone.
McCracken is joined by Simon Leary, who plays a collection a range of male characters with remarkable versatility. The chemistry between the two performers keeps the production lively, even as it delves into difficult emotional territory.
Heartbreak Hotel is witty, insightful and unexpectedly uplifting. It acknowledges the pain of heartbreak without becoming consumed by it, reminding us that healing isn’t linear, but it is absolutely possible. The show is playing at The Arts Centre Melbourne’s Fairfax Studio until 19 July 2026. More information and tickets here.
