An ambitious new work about the worst engineering disaster in Australian history is set to be a highlight in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s 2026 season. West Gate, penned by former shearer and construction worker Dennis McIntosh, will delve into the tragic story of the West Gate Bridge collapse in 1970, where 35 men lost their lives. Director Iain Sinclair, known for his 2019 production of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge, will direct the piece.
MTC Artistic Director Anne-Louise Sarks was captivated by McIntosh’s script when she first encountered it nearly two years ago. “I felt like this is a work we need to do because we are a state theatre company, and this story is about Melbourne, it’s for Melbourne,” Sarks stated. “It has a national reach – it’s the worst industrial disaster in Australian history – but it’s our story.”
The Story Behind West Gate
The West Gate Bridge collapse remains a poignant chapter in Melbourne’s history. On October 15, 1970, the bridge, still under construction, tragically fell, claiming 35 lives and injuring many others. It was a catastrophe that not only affected the families of those directly involved but also left a lasting impact on the city’s psyche.
McIntosh, who attended Newport Primary School at the time of the disaster, brings a personal connection to the narrative. “He speaks so passionately about it because he has a genuine connection to this story, to those people, and he has worked really hard to engage with survivors and families, to do his research, and the result is a work that is so human,” Sarks explained.
Exploring Human and Technological Themes
Another notable inclusion in the 2026 line-up is Tom Holloway’s Eliza, inspired by the true story of Dr. Joseph Weizenbaum, a professor at MIT whose 1966 language-simulation program, ELIZA, was a precursor to modern chatbots. Despite the success of his work, Weizenbaum became a vocal critic of artificial intelligence, particularly its potential military applications.
“I’m not a hugely technological person, but I knew when I first saw that script that it was a very urgent work,” Sarks remarked. “It looks through that historical lens at the questions everyone is asking right now about technology, about AI, about human engagement, and so we need to get that play on next year.”
A Season of Australian Voices
The 2026 program includes 12 plays, with 10 by Australian writers, seven world premieres, and several developed through the company’s Next Stage writers’ program. “I came to this company [in 2023] with a vision to put Australian work at the centre of the company,” Sarks said. “And this season, I feel, really delivers on that.”
The season will begin in January with an encore of My Brilliant Career, followed by a tour across Canberra, Sydney, and Wollongong. International discussions for the musical are also underway.
Other new works include Marieke Hardy’s Losing Face, a comedy about perimenopause and ageing, and Jean Tong’s Do Not Pass Go, starring Belinda McClory in a drama about identity and politics.
Reviving Classics and New Adaptations
Acclaimed actor Daniel Henshall will return to the stage in Joanna Murray-Smith’s reimagining of Uncle Vanya, marking MTC’s first Chekhov production since 2013. Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie will also be revived, featuring Alison Whyte and Tim Draxl.
Meanwhile, Bert LaBonte will direct Retrograde, a play centered on a real-life encounter between Sidney Poitier and a studio lawyer in 1950s Hollywood. The season will also feature The Jungle and the Sea, a family drama set during Sri Lanka’s civil war, and an adaptation of E.M. Forster’s A Room With a View, starring Nathalie Morris.
The Melbourne Theatre Company’s 2026 season promises to be a compelling blend of historical reflection, technological inquiry, and Australian storytelling, offering audiences a diverse and engaging theatrical experience.
