Scary Goats Theatre is a small Melbourne-based troupe that has been slowly building momentum over the last four years. This week at The Motley Bauhaus they have opened their third season of A Twist of Fate, a horror anthology of sorts inspired by the likes of Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone.
A Twist of Fate Season 3 features a collection of four short plays that each promise an unexpected twist at the end. For those curious about the local theatre scene, this is a great opportunity to see work from young, up-and-coming talent at an affordable price.
The four plays featured include Bestow, Mr Moore Wants Less, Mr Id, and Possession. Chloe Towan serves as both host and narrator, connecting the shows together and ensuring the whole anthology flows nicely. (It must be noted however, that the inclusion of a ten minute intermission in the middle feels unnecessary for such a short production.)
The first play, Bestow, is written by Emily Morey and directed by Towan. It tells the story of three grandchildren (Cassandra Hart, Henry Stephensen and Seon Williams) who have to spend a night in their deceased grandmother’s house before they can earn their inheritance.
The twist in this work is very fun to watch play out, and the performances are strong. The inclusion of several red herrings in the plot, however, such as two of the grandchildren’s drug habits, didn’t so much misdirect from the twist as they did make the segment more confusing.
Mr Moore Wants Less is written by Towan and directed by Patrick Slee. It tells the story of a humble movie theatre janitor (Richard Mealey) who wakes up one day to discover that he has become a religious figure overnight.
This is the standout piece of the night. This can be attributed to Richard Mealey’s performance and the dark turns the story takes before its final reveal. This segment is also the most fully realised in terms of production values. With tech manager Patrick Slee in the booth, we see some great usage of the projector in the space to create convincing settings without the need for elaborate set design.
Mr. Id is written by Corey M. Glamuzina and directed by Kate Weston. It starts strong, building a world set in a dark future where 95% of the population has a chip planted in their brain, controlled by a single corporation. Following this, however, the story finds itself tangled up in an incredibly grand moral quandary. It feels more emotionally draining than entertaining, particularly due to a very inconsistent tone.
Liliana Braumberger’s performance as the titular Mr. Id must be commended as one of the best performances of the night, despite contributing to the segment’s all-over-the-place tone.
Finally, Possession is written by Henry Stephensen and directed by Patrick Slee. It introduces us to a young girl (Kate Weston) who uses a magical book to summon a friend (Corey M. Glamuzina).
This is probably the simplest segment in terms of its production. But it paves the way for very impressive performances from the two actors. Weston performs alone on stage while Glamuzina’s character only appears as a menacing voice heard from the speakers. Despite their physical distance, the pair have a fantastic comedic chemistry.
Together, these four short plays work to create a fun night at the theatre. It is very impressive to see such a varied presentation of shows all working off the same core premise.
Also commendable is the amount of work being put in by this team. Many members serve as actors, writers and directors of several of the segments. It is inspiring to see young theatre makers coming together to put on a show with very few resources, regardless of any faults that may be present in the production.
If you are a Melbourne local who is either looking for theatre that won’t break the bank or is just interested in seeing some young emerging local talent, Scary Goats Theatre’s A Twist of Fate is definitely one to check out. A Twist of Fate Season 3 runs for just a short time, but the company will be returning with a similar format for the upcoming Halloween and Christmas seasons.
A Twist of Fate Season 3 by Scary Goats Theatre runs to 23 August at The Motley Bauhaus. 118 Elgin Street, Carlton Vic 3053.
Tickets: https://www.eventfinda.com.au/2025/a-twist-of-fate2/melbourne/carlton
Website: https://www.themotley.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/scarygoatstheatre/
Photo credits: Kieran McNamara
