DIRECTORS’ ADDRESS
We are back baby! 2026 is shaping up to be another bumper year for Shock Therapy Arts.
2025 has been a massive milestone year for us and as we move into our 2nd decade of operations we are thrilled to announce that we will be touring 5 productions into schools in 2026, including a new original work, CONSUMED. Each production focuses on a different social issue and are a perfect fit for Pastoral Care, English or Drama. We will be offering in-school performances, workshops and residencies across all 4 terms, expanding our network throughout Queensland and New South Wales.
We also have some exciting in-theatre offerings with a return of CROSSING THE DIVIDE to a number of venues and also a special premiere season of CONSUMED at HOTA.
We are aware of the many challenges facing teachers (especially drama teachers), with current changes to the curriculum and syllabus, and we aim to support teachers in the best way we know how. That is by providing high quality arts experiences for young people. We believe it is vital that young people have access to the arts, in particular live theatre, as the best and most powerful form of inspiration for them. There is no substitute for the live theatre experience and it can not be overstated the impact that it can have on someone.
We strive to create and perform theatre that invites audiences to think about complex issues from multiple perspectives and explore our shared humanity through the magic of live performance and storytelling. As the world continues to become more digital and our interactions less personal, we feel more motivated than ever to share the unique experience that live theatre presents. An opportunity for a group of people to gather, listen to a story, be entertained, reflect and respond in real time.
We want to thank all the teachers, students, venues and funders for your ongoing support. Without you, we can’t do what we do. We look forward to seeing you in 2026!
Sam and Hayden
Co-Artistic Directors, Shock Therapy Arts
2026 TOURING SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
TERM 1
| DATES | SHOW | REGION |
|---|---|---|
| 2—13 February | FUEL & CONSUMED | SEQ |
| 16—27 Feb | CROSSING THE DIVIDE (In-Theatre) | SEQ, NTH QLD |
| 9—20 March | THE STONES, UNDERTOW & THE APOLOGY | SEQ |
| 11—12 March | CONSUMED (In-Theatre) | SEQ (HOTA) |
TERM 2
| DATES | SHOW | REGION |
|---|---|---|
| 28 April—2 May | Crossing the Divide (In-Theatre) | SEQ |
| 27 April—8 May | FUEL & CONSUMED | SEQ |
| 11—15 May | THE STONES, UNDERTOW & THE APOLOGY | METRO NSW |
| 18—22 May | THE STONES, UNDERTOW & THE APOLOGY | WESTERN SYD |
| 25 May—12th June | THE STONES, UNDERTOW & THE APOLOGY | SEQ |
TERM 3
| DATES | SHOW | REGION |
|---|---|---|
| 20—31 July | FUEL & CONSUMED | SEQ |
| 3—7 August | THE STONES, UNDERTOW & THE APOLOGY | NTH QLD |
| 10—28 August | THE STONES, UNDERTOW & THE APOLOGY | SEQ |
TERM 4
NOTES
SEQ: Southeast Queensland
CENTRAL QLD: Sunshine Coast to Mackay
NTH QLD: Townsville to Cairns
METRO NSW: Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong
NTH NSW: Lismore to Tweed Heads
WESTERN SYD:
*Additional dates and regions may be added.
| DATES | SHOW | REGION |
|---|---|---|
| 12—30 October | THE STONES, UNDERTOW & THE APOLOGY | SEQ |
IN-SCHOOLS PRODUCTIONS
Inspired by the astonishing true story of a man who ate an entire aeroplane, CONSUMED is a story of a young aspiring content creator who pushes their body and sanity to the limit as the world watches, clicks, and demands more.
This outrageous new dark comedy takes a razor-sharp look at our obsession with influencers, consumerism, and the hidden cost of turning people into commodities.
Equal parts hilarious, grotesque, and disturbingly human.
FUEL is a powerful exploration of the impact of toxic relationships and coercive control on young individuals and the importance of personal empowerment and resilience. The play's realistic portrayal of abusive dynamics, coupled with its depiction of recovery and self-assertion, provides a nuanced perspective on relationship challenges that some young people face.
Weaving together humour, political satire and psychological drama this cautionary tale explores themes of coercive control, healthy relationships and patriarchal systems.
UNDERTOW explores themes of resilience, mental health, relationships, identity and empathy. It is an honest and powerful look at the hidden forces, beneath the surface that move us and determine the choices we make and the actions we take.
Funny, moving, poignant and dynamic, UNDERTOW is a two-actor tour de force of storytelling, combining physical theatre, multiple characters and live music into a taut show that packs a punch.
THE STONES is based on a true Australian story that rocked the country and sparked a national discourse youth crime, peer pressure, age of responsibility and the complexities of young peoples behaviour.
This award winning production, created by ZEAL THEATRE is one of the most impactful shows for young people in the world. It is a masterful display of physical theatre, multiple character acting and engaging storytelling.
THE APOLOGY is a powerful portrayal of bullying's devastating long term effects, the struggle for justice, and the quest for redemption, providing a nuanced examination of human behaviour and societal responsibility. This play underscores the importance of empathy, understanding, and appropriate intervention in addressing and preventing bullying and its tragic repercussions.
Fuelled with intensity, THE APOLOGY fuses physical theatre techniques, multiple role acting and live music into a visceral and dynamic piece of theatre.
Check out our touring schedule and catch us throughout the year! Book in with us now, or contact our Education Manager for more enquiries.
Pricing: $1500 + GST/Performance
*Flat rate fee, no minimum audience number, maximum of 500 students.
IN-THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
Image by Cinnamon Smith
CROSSING THE DIVIDE is the back again in 2026!
After it’s successful premiere in 2024 and a tour of Queensland and NSW in 2025, we are excited to announce that CROSSING THE DIVIDE will be hitting the stage again in 2026.
This work is a vital and timely piece that challenges audiences to take a deeper look into our national identity, the events of the past and how they have shaped this country and the responsibility we all face in shaping Australia’s future.
CROSSING THE DIVIDE is a collaboration between Shock co-founders Hayden Jones & Sam Foster and First Nations Artist Benjin Maza, with music and sound design by DOBBY.
The full list of dates and venues will be announced over the coming weeks so be sure to stay tuned and get ready to book your tickets!
Image by Cinnamon Smith
CONSUMED is a brand new original work from Shock Therapy Arts!
We are very excited to announce that we are partnering with HOTA, Home of the Arts to present the world premiere season of CONSUMED.
Dates for the season are:
Thursday 12 March 2026 at 7:00pm
Friday 13 March 2026 at 10:30am
Friday 13 March 2026 at 1:00pm
Tickets for the HOTA premiere season of CONSUMED will be available Thursday 19th September 2025 at www.hota.com.au
WORKSHOPS & RESIDENCIES
SHOCK THERAPY have developed a unique and dynamic style of theatre over the years and there is an increasing demand for us to share this approach with students throughout the country. Whether that is running one off masterclasses in physical theatre or characterisation, engaging with schools as Artists in Residence or guest directing productions for schools, our team of highly experienced artists and teachers can accommodate your schools needs.
We are incredibly passionate about sharing our knowledge with the next generation of artists and passing on some of the tips and tricks we have learnt and developed over many years in the theatre and film industry.
Get in touch and let us know what you are looking for and we will be more than happy to work with you to develop a programme that meets your needs.
Pricing: Starting at $450 + GST for a standard workshop
*Up to 90 minutes, maximum of 40 students.
Half day, full day and Artist in Residence rates available upon request.
