One of Australia’s most acclaimed playwrights, Patricia Cornelius, will return to Theatre Works this September with a new staging of Savages, a provocative work that examines mateship, violence and the social expectations surrounding masculinity.
Running from 2 to 12 September as part of Theatre Works’ 2026 program, the production is directed by Kitan Petkovski and features an ensemble of women and non-binary actors taking on the roles of “ordinary Aussie blokes”. Through a sharp mix of humour and brutality, the production explores the performance of masculinity and the behaviours hidden beneath everyday social rituals.
Savages follows a group of friends on what begins as a carefree holiday before spiralling into intimidation, aggression and violence. Inspired by a tragic death aboard a cruise ship in 2002, Cornelius’ writing explores the pressures of male identity and the ways social codes can enable harmful behaviour.
Director Kitan Petkovski said the themes of the play remain deeply relevant.
“I am very much attracted to plays that reflect some of the hard truths about our current times”, Petkovski said.
“Savages was written in 2013 but feels like it could have been penned today. The language that some men use towards women has not shifted, and neither has their behaviour. The rise in ultra-masculine networks and philosophies such as the ‘manosphere’ is alarming. With Patricia’s signature style, there are punchy moments in the play where powerful lines are quickfire and fly off the page, both hilarious and brutal within seconds. It’s works like this that truly excite me as a theatre maker.”
The production features actors Nicci Wilks, AYA Taur, Zoe Boesen and Laila Thaker, bringing Cornelius’ exploration of power, privilege and violence to the stage.
Known for championing bold independent theatre, Theatre Works continues its 40-year legacy of supporting challenging Australian stories and emerging creative voices. Savages is expected to be one of the standout productions in its 2026 By Theatre Works season.
Tickets are now on sale via https://www.theatreworks.org.au/2026/savages
