Review by Markus Hamence – The Lark starring Noni Hazelhurst. Performance date: Friday 26 June 2026. Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, South Australia.
There are performers who command a stage through spectacle, and, then there are those rare artists who need nothing more than their presence. Noni Hazlehurst sits firmly and proudly in the latter category. In The Lark, she delivers one of the most mesmerising performances Adelaide audiences are likely to experience this year, transforming Daniel Keene’s beautifully observed script into something profoundly human, intimate and unforgettable. Directed with remarkable restraint by Matt Scholten, this one-woman production proves that theatre is at its most powerful when it trusts both its performer and its audience. The play follows Rose Grey as she prepares to farewell the inner-city Melbourne pub that has shaped her entire life before it is demolished, becoming a meditation on memory, identity and the places that quietly define us.
“Adelaide has seen nothing like The Lark. A well-written, powerful piece of theatre, delivered by the commanding Noni Hazelhurst, that grabs your attention right from the opening line “I’ll Tell You A Story”!”
Markus Hamence
Hazlehurst’s performance is astonishing in its honesty. Every pause carries meaning, every glance reveals another layer of Rose’s emotional landscape. There are moments of warmth that draw laughter from the audience, followed almost instantly by moments of heartbreaking vulnerability. She never searches for sympathy, instead allowing Rose’s story to unfold with quiet dignity and absolute authenticity. It is a masterclass in storytelling from an actor who understands that the smallest gestures often carry the greatest emotional weight.
“Noni Hazlehurst doesn’t simply perform Rose Grey—she invites us to remember our own lives through hers, creating theatre that is quietly devastating and utterly unforgettable.”
Markus Hamence
Daniel Keene’s writing is rich without becoming sentimental. His words celebrate ordinary lives and familiar places, reminding us that history is not only found in grand buildings or famous people but also within local pubs, neighbourhoods and the memories they quietly collect. Matt Scholten’s direction allows every word to breathe, never rushing the rhythm or overcomplicating the production. The simplicity of the staging invites audiences to build The Lark themselves through Rose’s recollections, making each memory feel personal.
What makes The Lark so affecting is its universality. While the story belongs to one woman, it ultimately belongs to all of us. It asks what happens when the places that have shaped our lives disappear, and whether memories are enough to keep them alive. As cities evolve and familiar landmarks give way to progress, Rose’s farewell becomes our own reflection on change, loss and the courage required to let go.
Noni Hazlehurst reminds us why she remains one of Australia’s most treasured performers. With extraordinary grace, emotional precision and complete command of the stage, she turns The Lark into far more than a play. It becomes a shared act of remembrance, leaving audiences deeply moved long after the lights fade. It is intimate theatre at its absolute finest and a performance that deserves to be remembered as one of the standout productions of Adelaide’s 2026 theatre season.
Wrap Up: With breathtaking honesty and remarkable grace, Noni Hazlehurst turns The Lark into a celebration of memory, belonging and the extraordinary beauty found in ordinary lives. It is theatre that lingers in your heart long after you’ve left the auditorium.
The Lark
Presented by Adelaide Festival Centre
An Arts Centre Melbourne and Hey Dowling Production
26 June – 5 July 2026
The Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
Tickets
