The award-winning Australian theatre production Counting and Cracking will make its Queensland debut at Brisbane Powerhouse from 27 May to 6 June 2027, bringing its acclaimed story of family, migration and belonging to Brisbane audiences for the first time.
Created by S. Shakthidharan with Eamon Flack, the production is a co-production between Belvoir St Theatre and Kurinji. It will be presented by Brisbane Powerhouse in association with Queensland Theatre Company as part of the venue’s 2027 season.
Developed over a decade, Counting and Cracking has received 14 major awards and earned widespread recognition across Australia and internationally. More than 100 theatre professionals have hailed it as the best Australian play of the 21st century, according to the production’s media release.
Running for three and a half hours, the play explores the experiences of a Sri Lankan-Australian family across four generations and five decades, from 1956 to 2004. The story moves between Sri Lanka and Australia, examining the lasting effects of migration, political conflict, family relationships and the search for belonging.
The narrative begins with Radha and her son Siddhartha scattering the ashes of Radha’s mother on the banks of Sydney’s Georges River. As they attempt to move forward and embrace their lives in Australia, a phone call from Colombo draws them back into a complicated past shaped by love, political turmoil and separation.
Featuring 16 performers, five languages and more than 50 characters, the production explores the connections between personal history and national identity. It raises questions about the responsibilities people carry towards their past and the challenges of deciding what to preserve and what to leave behind.
The Brisbane season follows acclaimed appearances at Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival, the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the Edinburgh International Festival. Further international performances are expected to be announced.
For Brisbane Powerhouse CEO and Artistic Director Louise Bezzina, bringing the production to Queensland fulfils a long-held ambition. Bezzina recalled seeing the play at the Adelaide Festival in 2019, describing an experience that moved her between tears and moments of joy.
She praised the work by Shakthidharan and Flack for combining large-scale theatre with an intimate exploration of human experiences. Bezzina also described the Brisbane season as a significant moment for the city, highlighting the role of partnerships between major cultural organisations in bringing ambitious productions to local audiences.
The season also marks a new collaboration between Brisbane Powerhouse and Queensland Theatre Company. Bezzina said she was delighted to work with Queensland Theatre Company to make the production accessible to Brisbane audiences.
For co-writer and director Eamon Flack, the Queensland debut has a personal connection. Having attended high school in Brisbane and studied at the University of Queensland, Flack is bringing one of his most celebrated theatrical works to a city that played a role in his early education.
The production’s accolades include seven Helpmann Awards, among them Best Play and Best New Australian Work, as well as three Sydney Theatre Awards and seven Green Room Awards. The media release also notes that the production won in every category for which it was nominated at the Green Room Awards in 2025.
Additional recognition includes the Victorian Premier’s Prize for Literature, the Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting and the 2026 Windham-Campbell Prize for Drama.
After years of development and successful seasons across Australia and overseas, Counting and Cracking will bring its exploration of Sri Lankan history, migration and intergenerational relationships to Brisbane in May 2027.
The production will run at Brisbane Powerhouse from 27 May to 6 June 2027. Tickets go on sale on Thursday, 8 October 2026, through the Brisbane Powerhouse website.
The production is written by S. Shakthidharan with Eamon Flack and directed by Eamon Flack with S. Shakthidharan. The project is supported by Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax AC.
