Venue: New Theatre (Newtown NSW), Oct 6 – 31, 2026
Playwright: Alastair Brown
Director: Madeleine Withington
Cast: Sonya Kerr, Alice Livingstone, Alisha O’Brien, Nathan Farrow, Brendan Kater, Jessica Carter, Sophie Newby, Harrison Collis-Oates
Images by Bob Seary
Theatre review
We descend into the underworld, where cleaners must scrub away evidence before the police arrive, and a contract killer plies her trade for both profit and pleasure. Next to Godliness by Alastair Brown offers a day in the lives of three women on the wrong side of the law. The criminal underbelly is ordinarily rich territory for drama, but this comedy yields precious few genuine laughs, and its plot never ignites.
Director Madeleine Withington marshals her performers with commendable precision, and the production maintains a consistent visual elegance, yet neither can compensate for the frailty of the writing. Tom Bannerman’s set design is handsomely proportioned and meticulously finished, its textures lending an aura of mystery, while Julian Dunne’s lighting is admirably dynamic, shading the storytelling with hints of menace and drama. The cast of eight display a dedication that is nothing short of admirable; even in the absence of wit or narrative momentum, they attack the material with boundless energy and unwavering commitment.
Next to Godliness aspires to be a portrait of colourful characters in unorthodox occupations. One could draw a parallel based on the curious kinship between criminals and artists: the former takes from society, the latter gives to it, yet both stand similarly beyond the boundaries of conventional life. A further truth is that artists so often command less respect than rogues, despite the fact that so much of life’s pleasures flow from their work.
