UpStage at the Civic Playhouse is set to launch an explosive season with Occasional Combustible Disaster, a hilarious and heartbreaking play examining the fallout in all nuclear families.
Written by Medowie-born playwright Daniel Cottier, the work blends humour, heart and social commentary, exploring mental health, gender diversity and the pressures of growing up in a small town.
The story follows Freddy Ambit, about to finish his HSC and face a life-altering decision, all while navigating a family rife with secrets, bickering parents, and the surprise return of his non-binary sibling.
The narrative captures the tension, love, and chaos that come with the passage from adolescence into adulthood, grounding it in a recognisable and deeply human Newcastle setting.
Nicholas Cradock stars as Freddy, bringing his experience from the Emmy-winning ABC series Hardball and major stage productions like Les Misérables and Dream Lover.
Sharing the stage is Nyx Calder, making their Newcastle debut as Liv, Freddy’s non-binary sibling, with Richard Hilliar and Hester van der Vyver rounding out the cast as the parents navigating an empty nest after 25 years of marriage.
The production marks the directorial debut of Sydney Theatre Award winner BROCKMAN, leading a creative team of queer and non-binary artists. The collaboration delivers a fresh, contemporary voice for Newcastle theatre, celebrating diversity both onstage and behind the scenes.
Critics have praised the show, with Theatre Thoughts calling it “a stunning debut play… familiar yet wholly original,” while Australian Arts Review described it as “wonderfully ambitious,” and Theatre Red highlighted it as “great fun and seriously thought-provoking.” The play’s development was supported by Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta and first presented at QTOPIA in Sydney.
Occasional Combustible Disaster runs at the Civic Playhouse, Newcastle, from 12–21 March 2026. Tickets and full event details are available via civictheatrenewcastle.com.au.
