2025 Season
Collective Identities
In 2025, Underground’s season revolves around plays that explore human connection, self-expression and identity, with a specific focus on the external and internal forces that influence us to form social groups.
THE CAMPAIGN
Written by Campion Decent | Directed by Lachlan Boyes
In 1988 more than one hundred arrests were made at Salamanca Market when the Tasmanian Gay Law Reform Group defied a ban on a stall that featured petitions to decriminalise sexual activity between consenting adult males in private. The arrests lit the spark for a campaign to change a law in Tasmania that was the most draconian in the Western world in terms of its penalty and, by the time of its repeal, the last of its kind in Australia.
The Campaign tells an historic and emotionally-charged story about real-life events that changed Tasmania for the better. Based on personal testimony, parliamentary transcripts, media reports, and archival sources from the people involved – including Rodney Croome, Nick Toonen and Christine Milne –The Campaign chronicles Tasmania’s journey from exclusion to inclusion, from opposition to acceptance, and from hatred to embrace.
A Night Of FUN!
Pandaemonium (is a Place on Earth):
Written by Abel Taylor | Director TBA
Satan has a message for you! God is not dead, and He is hellbent on making your so-called sacred present history!
In Pandaemonium , Satan flocks to Earth to forewarn the mortals of the imminent End of Days, as sanctioned by God, who is disillusioned with the human race as of late. Who can blame him?
It falls on the shoulders of best friends River and Lana to convince God to stop the Apocalypse before it's too late - or before the start of fourth period.
Some parameters are given; they have one hour to come up with the argument to save all of humanity, they have been granted access to time machines, and it's best if they make it snappy. Hey, no probs!
That’s One Damn Sexy Ape:
Written by Gavin Roach | Directed by Hannah Page
Bubo is a proud, strong and stoic gorilla. He is the pride of the Zoo. Its main attraction. Visitors come in waves to gaze upon his majesty and mystique.
But when a series of chilling events tarnish his unblemished reputation, drastic measures must be used to win back the public’s favour.
With a sultry new ad campaign and a cast of over-the-top characters, hilarity ensues as Bubo is pushed and pulled into an arena, he is not only ill-equipped for, but one that he never imagined he would shine so brightly in.
Prehistoric
Written by Marcel Dorney | Director TBA
Celebrating the controversial legacy of late-1970s Brisbane with iconoclastic humour, Prehistoric is playful, self-aware, and passionate as four young people come together to form a punk band against the backdrop of the Bjelke-Petersen administration – a very different place from the Brisbane of current day.
Playground Festival 2025
Written by UTC Community
UTC’s Annual Short Play Writing Festival, rebranded as the ‘Playground Festival’ is a festival dedicated to our communities aspiring playwrights.
Aptly named, the festival's emphasis on short plays aligns seamlessly with the concept of playfulness, encouraging creatives to take risks, challenge norms, and traverse the unexplored aspects of themselves and their work.
Bringing together dozens of creatives, It becomes a metaphorical playground where creativity knows no bounds, and innovative ideas are given the freedom to grow and roam.
It's an annual rendezvous where the serious business of storytelling melds harmoniously with the sheer delight of artistic play, resulting in an unforgettable and vibrant theatrical experience.