The world premiere of Maddie Nixon’s genuinely hilarious ecological thriller WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE! pulls you in and keeps you captivated. Brought to life in collaboration with La Boite Theatre and Dead Puppet Society as part of La Boite’s 100 year anniversary celebrations, this play is a love letter to Brisbane.
Something is lurking in the murky depths of Brisbane Port when Theo’s mother goes missing. Throughout the play, the audience joins Theo as she tries to uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance.
Opening night buzzed with excitement at the cosy Roundhouse Theatre. Although the stage might appear small at first glance, the set is anything but. Created by David Morton, who takes on the dual roles of designer and director (alongside Courtney Stewart), it’s like stepping into a Tardis. Morton transforms the space into something that feels vast.
Watching a play in Brisbane that’s also set here feels like being let in on an inside joke. There are many Easter eggs in both the script and physical elements of the play. The backdrop for most of the performance features the Brisbane skyline, scattered with landmarks instantly recognisable to any Brisbanite.
The five-piece ensemble comprising Louise Brehmer, Milena Nesic, Ngoc Phan, Anthony Standish, and Hsiao-Ling Tang give strong performances throughout. Nesic takes on the role of the main character, Theo, the fiercely protective and misunderstood daughter, barely leaving the stage across the 75 minute play. The ensemble work well to make clever use of props, convincingly transforming a couch into a car. It’s an effect that is as funny as it is ingenious.
Ngoc Phan and Anthony Standish give standout performances with Phan as Theo’s missing mother, and Standish as the insufferable political figure, Harvey. But they both shine brightest in their other roles as schoolyard sidekicks, displaying instinctual comedic timing while fleshing out their characters with defining quirks.
The production design reaches new heights through the use of props, lighting, and sound brought to life by the technical team. The opening scene is cleverly projected by the actors onto the back screen in real time. It’s a brilliantly inventive touch that immediately gives the show a cinematic quality. The effect is enhanced by the musical brilliance of Sound Designer Brady Watkins and Composer and Curator Dean Hanson of Ball Park Music.
The story finds its footing through its sound and lighting. During interludes of the projected scenes describing the environment, one can feel the enormity of its themes. It highlights the grandeur of the Earth and how small we as viewers are by comparison.
The addition of curated pop-style songs works so well at lifting the tone, the music almost feels like another character. Lighting designer Ben Hughes paints with emotion, using light and shadow to reflect the shifting moods of both the play and its characters.
WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE! sets out with the best of intentions, and its message is an important one. As a society, we are the creators of our own climate crisis. It’s we who have created the monster that ends up terrorising Brisbane. It’s man-made mayhem and cultivated carnage right down to the final moment. WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE! is filled to the brim with quick, witty writing and forces serious reflection as well as providing a good old giggle.
WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE! runs to 16 August 2025 at the La Boite’s Roundhouse Theatre. 6 Musk Avenue Kelvin Grove 4059.
Tickets: https://tickets.laboite.com.au/were-all-gonna-die-2025/6350
Website: https://laboite.com.au/shows/were-all-gonna-die
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/laboitetheatre/
Photo credits: Dean Hanson
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