The Whisper
6 - 15 August 2026
Presented by UpStage at the Playhouse
Written by Carl Caulfield
Produced by Stray Dogs Theatre
A young man responds to an advertisement for a lodger in a suburban family home. He not only bears an uncanny resemblance to the family’s late son, brother and grandson, he shares his first name, Cameron.The devout Catholic mother, struggling with her grief, is captivated by his charm. Her withdrawn husband soon grows enamoured too. Their daughter is wary but also feels alienated by her family’s refusal to confront the truth about her brother’s death. The grandfather, slowly succumbing to dementia, yet still sharp enough to view the intruder with deep suspicion, raises the alarm, but his voice is rarely heard.
The Whisper, by award-winning Newcastle playwright Carl Caulfield, is about an ordinary Australian family questioning their beliefs and values at a time where two plus two equals five, cognitive dissonance is deafening, and the tech bros are surveilling us through our phones. From the team that brought you Dali: Hallucinogenic Toreador, Creativity and Karma Kafe, comes a dark tragi-comedy for our age.
Opening night includes post-show Q&A with the Stray Dogs Theatre team.
Running time: 2 hrs, inc interval. Running times are approximate and subject to change without notice.
This performance contains suicide and mental health themes.
Strictly ages 15+. All persons ages 24 months and over must hold a valid paid ticket to enter the auditorium. If bringing a child who will be under 24 months old at time of the event, please contact the Ticket Office to organise a Babe in Arms ticket.
Concession tickets include means-tested pension card holders, full time students, and under 18s.
The Whisper is proudly part of the UpStage at the Playhouse 2026 season, an exciting initiative developed by the Civic Theatre Newcastle aiming to connect with the vibrancy and talent of our local theatre community.
