Six must-see theatre shows for autumn
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A night at the theatre has never sounded so good.
Canberra is lucky enough to be home to an incredibly diverse theatre scene, showing everything from major touring productions to smaller, indie works on the stage – and with so many options to choose from, why wouldn’t you want to support our local arts scene?
From revisited classics to solo shows, here are six must-see theatre shows for your autumn entertainment. Yes, they are worth leaving the house for.
Constellations (Free-Rain Theatre)
Do we have free will or are we just “particles governed by a series of very particular laws being knocked…around all over the place”? This is the question posed by Free-Rain Theatre’s latest production.
Written by Nick Payne, Constellations tangles together theoretical physics with a love of nature when an improbable romance evolves between a physicist, Marianne and a beekeeper, Roland.
Premiering in London in 2012 and receiving a West End revival in 2021, it’s a story about possibility, connection and the tiny choices that change everything.
Thursday 16 until Saturday 25 April | ACT Hub, Causeway Hall, 14 Spinifex Street, Kingston | Book your tickets here.
No Exit (Mockingbird Theatre)
Following the success of Mockingbird’s acclaimed 2026 season – including Shakespeare in Love, A Hundred Words For Snow and Almost, Maine – this bold new production plunges audiences into one of the most iconic works of modern theatre: Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit.
Best known for its chilling line, “Hell is other people,” Sartre’s play is a cornerstone of existentialist theatre – a gripping, psychologically charged experience that is known for its insight, biting humour, and relentless tension.
Unsettling, provocative, and unexpectedly funny, it’s running in Canberra for strictly limited season. With adult themes (and the promise of a “healthy dose of existential dread”), you’ll want to leave the kids at home for this one.
Wednesday 15 until Saturday 18 April | 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | Book your tickets here.
Thom Pain (The Mill Theatre)
This is a one man show like no other. Coming to The Mill Theatre as part of their Co-Production Series, Thom Pain (based on nothing) is a meditation on disappointment and futility – and it’s one of the most treasured comedic monologues of the 21st century.
In a rambling, hilarious, and heartbreakingly honest monologue, Thom Pain shares stories of a bee sting, a boy and his dog, and a tumultuous encounter with love – exploring the absurd, the painful, and the ordinary moments that make life extraordinary.
Performed around the world, translated into over a dozen languages, it was a finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, so you’ll want to pop this one into your diary.
Thursday 16 until Saturday 15 April | Building 3.3/1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | Book your ticket here.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Canberra REP)
Set in the glittering decadence of pre‑Revolutionary France, Les Liaisons Dangereuses follows two manipulative aristocrats – the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont – who use seduction and emotional ruin as a game against others.
Spiralling into betrayal, obsession, and devastating consequences (all while revealing the rot beneath society’s polished veneer), it’s a must see for anyone who loves the original novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. Or who can’t resist a show with a touch of drama…
Friday 24 April until Saturday 9 May | 3 Repertory Lane, Acton | Book your tickets here.
Trophy Boys (Canberra Theatre Centre)
All about power, privilege, and high school debating, Trophy Boys is performed by a female and non-binary cast in drag as it looks at (and interrogates) insecure adolescent masculinity, entitlement and the ego of Australia’s next generation of politicians and powerbrokers.
Following its successful 2024 run in Canberra, don’t miss this chance to watch this razor-sharp queer dark comedy. What’s that saying about ‘boys will be boys’…?
Tuesday 28 April until Saturday 2 May | Canberra Theatre Centre, City | Book your tickets here.
Lose to Win (The Q)
Mandela Mathia’s life story is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in South Sudan, he fled him homeland as a child, embarking on a journey that took him from the calamity of war to the streets of Egypt to the Belvoir St Theatre stage in Sydney.
A joyful, poignant solo show – straight from the man who lived it – Lose to Win is a modern Australian show that celebrates resilience, hope, and the power of self-acceptance through song, spoken word and a touch of comedy.
It’s showing for one night only, so book your ticket now before they’re gone.
Saturday 2 May | 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan | Book your tickets here.
