PRODUCTIONS
Explore Burning House's production history. We bring rare classic texts to Melbourne and Sydney - plays of extraordinary power and relevance, written by the best writers in the history of the world - in a bold, new contemporary manner.
THE BREATH OF KINGS (PART 2)-
RICHARD 3
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Robert Johnson
Henry the Sixth is dead. So are many others. Soon King Edward will too be dead, and Richard of Gloucester is ready to rise and claim power.
Part 2 of Burning House’s stellar The Breath of Kings, audiences will get the rare treat of seeing Richard 3 brought to life alongside its prequel plays, allowing them to see the full journey of crookback Richard from teenager to tyrant.
Presented by Theatre Works
Staged in October/November 2025.
Photo by SMW IMAGE
THE BREATH OF KINGS (PART 1) - HENRY 6
by William Shakespeare
Adapted and Directed by Robert Johnson
Burning House continue their exploration of Shakespeare’s lesser performed works with the mammoth five hour long The Breath of Kings - a repertory season of Shakespeare’s Henry VI plays and Richard III.
Henry is a rare thing - a pacifist in a world of war. His wife is the opposite, a ferocious tiger willing to do anything to protect her family. And wolves nip and yap in every direction, as disgraced and disgruntled dukes jostle for power. War looms, and Henry will need to sacrifice his morals, or sacrifice himself.
Presented by Theatre Works
Staged in October/November 2025.
Photo by Shane Palmer
CYMBELINE (OR, IMOGEN)
by William Shakespeare
Presented with Heartstring Theatre Company
Directed by Robert Johnson
Princess Imogen is in love with her father’s orphaned ward Posthumous. He loves her too, but her malicious stepmother the Queen wants her to marry her loutish buffoon of a son, Cloten. Lovers are separated and united, lost siblings resurface, the Gods descend to Britian to bless anguished mortals and only Imogen’s grace and Posthumous’ valour can save the country from being plunged into a terrifying war against the might of Rome.
Burning House and Heartstring team up after the success of Little Eyolf to present this rare romance - one of Shakespeare’s wildest and most complex plays. Staged in the intimate confines of Collingwood Yards, Melbourne audience’s get to witness this tale of love and longing in candle-lit glory, the first professional production in Melbourne in over a century.
Staged in April 2024.
Photo by Jack Dixon-Gunn
LITTLE EYOLF
By Henrik Ibsen
Presented with Heartstring Theatre Company
Directed by Robert Johnson.
'Little Eyolf' is one of Ibsen's very best plays. Rarely performed due to its difficult subject matter, it is an intensely moving portrayal of a husband and wife picking up the pieces of their life after their only child dies. To watch it is a horrifying, cathartic experience, leaving you feeling cleansed at the end, and determined to life your life with fierce responsibility.
It is a searingly modern play about sex, marriage, death, grief, motherhood and responsibility. It is with great delight that Burning House, together with Cracked Actors Theatre, present Melbourne with the first professional production of this truly masterful play.
Presented at Theatre Works The Explosives Factory
Staged in December 2022.
CALIGULA
by Albert Camus. Directed by Robert Johnson.
The mad Emperor Caligula rules over Rome. People are murdered, robbed and hanged for treason. His horse is the leader of the government. And he’s dressing up as the goddess of Love and singing about it. The future is uncertain, reality itself is up for grabs and there are ears everywhere.
Burning House brings Ancient Rome to life in a cross between ‘American Psycho’ and ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ in this massive play. Twelve actors bring this anarchic, volatile world to life in Melbourne’s professional premiere.
It’s an epic, modern showdown between stoicism and nihilism in a play bursting with poetry, violence, sadness and love.
There will be blood. And glitter.
Presented by Theatre Works
Staged in July 2022.
AJAX
After Sophocles. Adapted by Robert Johnson & Jonathan Graffam.
At the end of the Trojan War Ajax’s best friend Achilles has been killed. Denied his armour, an worn down by ten years of brutal warfare, Ajax finally snaps. The events that take place will threaten everything around him, including his wife and daughter.
Burning House once again turn their attention to this powerful classic, creating a new production from their 2016 text.
In association with The Old 505 Theatre.
Staged in April 2019.
THE PERSIANS / THE SUPPLIANTS
(DEVELOPMENT SHOWING)
Inspired by Aeschylus, with addition text by Hazrat Inayat Khan, Rumi, Robert Johnson and others.
Reaching far back in time to our two oldest playtexts, Burning House is working to create a new work about terrorism, Islam, the refugee crisis, empathy and the nature of theatre and storytelling itself.
With thanks to Darebin Speakeasy Development Program.
Developed in 2018.
THE MOST LAMENTABLE ROMAN TRAGEDY OF TITUS ANDRONICUS
Written by William Shakespeare & Adapted by Robert Johnson
After ten long years fighting for his country, Titus Andronicus returns home to Rome. Twenty-one of his sons are dead in battle, and the queen of his enemies rules side by side with his new emperor. Rome is a wilderness of wolves, and Titus finally decides to step outside the law, to protect and avenge his own. With 'Titus', the team behind 'Coriolanus' finish their Roman study on leadership and power.
Staged in October 2017.
SUMMERFOLK
Written by Maxim Gorky & Adapted by Robert Johnson
A large ensemble of friends are on vacation. Isolated and shielded from the tumultuous events of an empire in upheaval, these summer guests are free to enjoy life at leisure. But the call of revolution cannot be ignored by several members of the party. The play is an overwhelming call to arms – it is a gigantic invitation to live and embrace a life of passion, fulfilment and agency.
Staged in March 2017.
AJAX
After Sophocles - Adapted by Robert Johnson & Jonathan Graffam.
At the end of the Trojan War, Ajax is denied his friend Achilles’ armour. After 10 years of constant war he snaps. Ashamed of his deeds, he plans to kill himself. His wife and child do their best to change his mind.
In association with Hawthorn Arts Centre and Melbourne Fringe.
Staged in September/October 2016.
THE TRAGEDY OF CORIOLANUS
Written by William Shakespeare & Adapted by Robert Johnson
Coriolanus is a consummate solider – a coddled mother's boy whose sole purpose is to find valour (and validation) through martial prowess. He is elected to Consul, and when unable to reconcile his honour and his virtue with democratic Rome, he is exiled. He turns on the city, leading his old enemies the Volsces against Rome.
Burning House's premiere production is the first in a 'Roman' diptych, focusing on power, politics and leadership.
Staged in May 2016.