A late-night showdown set against the backdrop of the Australian Open is heading to the stage, with Game. Set. Match. premiering at Malthouse Theatre’s Beckett Theatre from 1–23 May.
Written by Megan Wilding and directed by Jessica Arthur, the new two-hander pairs Wilding with Rick Davies in a tightly wound, high-stakes encounter that plays out over one long, humid night. The setup is deceptively simple. Ray meets Joshua after the funeral of his mother, a towering figure in Australian tennis. What follows is less a conversation and more a rally, with each line landing like a shot across the net.
The production leans into that competitive edge, building from flirtation and banter into something sharper and more unpredictable. As the night stretches on, the tone shifts. Secrets surface, motives blur and the balance of power starts to wobble. It becomes increasingly unclear who is in control and who is being drawn into the game.
Megan Wilding said, “Game.Set.Match. has been a 9 year journey for me and finally premiering the show at Malthouse is the most excited I have been about this story. Getting to work with Rick Davies is such a delight. What can I say? He’s a bloody legend! I can’t wait to see how audiences respond. Hopefully they will laugh, cry, and are so stunned they can’t speak after!”
Malthouse Theatre Executive Producer Vivia Hickman said, “From the second Meg’s script arrived, we had to program it. The piece covers a profound subject lightly and flirtatiously then evolves it into something deeper and darker, leading the audience into a world they’ve never seen. You will leave shaken and exhilarated.”
With a creative team that includes Isla Shaw, Amelia Lever-Davidson, Rainbow Chan and Keziah Warner, the production brings together a strong mix of design and sound to match its emotional intensity.
For Wilding, a proud Gamilaroi woman and one of Australia’s most exciting emerging playwrights, this marks a major moment. Following the success of her debut work, Game. Set. Match. positions her firmly as a voice to watch, delivering a story that plays with form, tension and expectation right up to the final point.
Game. Set. Match. runs at Malthouse’s Beckett Theatre from 1-23 May 2026.
Tickets on sale now at malthousetheatre.com.au
