Review by Markus Hamence – Till The Stars Come Down. Performance date: Thursday 28 May 2026. Holden Street Theatres, Hindmarsh, South Australia.
Beth Steel’s Till The Stars Come Down offically opens at Holden Street Theatres as a slow-burning thunderstorm, beginning with the familiar chaos of a family wedding before peeling back layer after layer of hurt, class tension, buried resentment and fierce love. Under the direction of Adelaide’s talented Nick Fagan, this South Australian premiere feels intensely alive, balancing sharp British humour with emotional blows that land square in the chest. Fagan’s keen eye understands the rhythm of family dysfunction perfectly, allowing scenes to simmer naturally before erupting into moments of raw confrontation that feel almost uncomfortably real. Making it more of an intimate experience, the play is held in the round with the audiences surrounding the entire stage, essentially we are a part of the wedding and the dramas that unfold. Clever.
“A stunning collision of family chaos, buried truths and unforgettable performances.”
Markus Hamence
The production thrives on its ensemble chemistry, with every cast member creating a world that feels fully lived-in from the second guests begin arriving for the wedding celebration. Theatre darling, Martha Lott brings tremendous emotional gravity to Hazel, grounding the family dynamic with warmth and steel in equal measure. Michelle Nightingale delivers beautifully restrained work, while Krystal Cave and Spencer Scholz inject scenes with electricity and emotional unpredictability. Jo St Clair (Aunty Carol is a total bonkers crack-up) and Brendan Cooney capture the exhausting push-and-pull of family loyalty, and Brant Eustice and Steve Turner adds a rugged emotional honesty that keeps the production grounded.
The younger energy brought by Laura Lines and Millie Fagan helps fuel the production’s shifting emotional temperature, while Steve Turner and Laura Lines add depth to the sprawling family portrait. What makes this cast so compelling is that nobody feels secondary. Every character arrives carrying years of history, private disappointments and tiny emotional scars that slowly surface throughout the night. Side note: All the accents are spot-on and flawless. Nick and the team have certainly brought together not only the cream of Adelaide’s talent but also wonderfully selected those actors who fused together creatively. Credit.
“Till The Stars Come Down shines brightest in the moments where love and dysfunction become impossible to separate.”
Markus Hamence
Fagan’s direction never allows the drama to become melodrama. Instead, he leans into the intimacy of Beth Steel’s writing, letting silences, awkward glances and unfinished thoughts speak volumes. The production captures the strange emotional exhaustion of family gatherings where love and pain exist side by side. One minute the room bursts with laughter, music and dancing and the next it spirals into emotional warfare. That unpredictability gives the production its pulse.
Visually, the production embraces realism while still allowing the emotional atmosphere to dominate. The wedding setting becomes more claustrophobic as tensions rise, trapping the audience at the table alongside the family as relationships begin to fracture. There is nowhere to hide inside this world, and that’s exactly what makes it so gripping.
“Holden Street Theatres once again proves why intimate theatre can hit the hardest.”
Markus Hamence
Till The Stars Come Down is messy, funny, bruising and deeply human theatre. Holden Street Theatres continues its reputation for presenting emotionally fearless work, and this production proves why Nick Fagan is rapidly becoming one of Adelaide’s most exciting directors to watch. By the time the final moments arrive, the audience is left emotionally wrung out, carrying the feeling that they haven’t simply watched a family gathering – they’ve survived one. Get your tickets and ensure you experience this wonderful offering of theatre.
Till The Stars Come Down
Until 13 June 2026
The Studio – Holden Street Theatre
Tickets
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