Review by Markus Hamence – The Whale – Performance date: Friday 07 November 2025, Little theatre, Adelaide University, South Australia
Markus Hamence here, channeling my interior designer, rockstar, garden guru, content builder energy and diving into this production with full enthusiasm: The Whale, as staged by the University of Adelaide Theatre Guild (UATG), delivers a deeply felt, raw, and beautifully crafted evening of theatre. Let’s unpack it…
The Whale tells the story of a morbidly obese English teacher who hides from the world.
Charlie cannot stop eating to the detriment of everyone around him, including his long-estranged daughter. Desperate to reconnect, Charlie reaches out to her, only to find a viciously sharp-tongued and wildly unhappy teen.
Big-hearted and fiercely funny, The Whale is the story of a man’s last chance at redemption, and of finding beauty in the most unexpected places.
The 2022 Academy Award winning movie (starring Brendan Fraser) was adapted by Samuel D. Hunter from his 2012 play.
Cast & Creative Team
- Charlie – Sam Wiseman
- Ellie (Charlie’s estranged daughter) – Tianna Cooper
- Liz – Annie Matsouliadis
- Elder Thomas – Liam James
- Mary – Jessica Merrick
- Directed by Geoff Brittain
What Works
This is a production that leans fully into the emotional gravity of Samuel D. Hunter’s text – the story of a morbidly obese English teacher, hiding from the world, seeking a last meaningful connection with his daughter.
Sam Wiseman’s Charlie is the heart-and-soul of it. His portrayal doesn’t shy away from the physical or emotional weight of the character: you see the pain, the self-loathing, the longing, and somewhere underneath, the flicker of hope. With the close quarters of the Little Theatre, you feel every hesitation, every breath.
Tianna Cooper as Ellie brings sharp-tongued, wounded reality. The dynamic between Ellie and Charlie is electric – the pushing away, the desperation to connect, the messy love. It’s potent.
In supporting roles, Annie Matsouliadis (Liz) and Liam James (Elder Thomas) add texture and tension: Liz as the concerned friend/facilitator, Elder Thomas with his own set of complexities, all of which enrich the main arc. Jessica Merrick’s Mary also leaves her mark with quieter but no less important moments.
From a design standpoint: the set, the lighting, the staging in the Little Theatre all contribute to a sense of claustrophobia and intimacy simultaneously. It’s like you’re inhabiting Charlie’s apartment, his world, his viewpoint – which is exactly where you need to be for this story to land.
Highlights
- The emotional stakes are real. You don’t leave thinking it was safe or easy.
- Balance of heartbreak and humour: There are moments of genuine, unexpected laughter – yes – but they land within the drama, not as escapism.
- Space and immediacy: The Little Theatre is small, and this show uses that to advantage. The proximity intensifies the experience.
- The ensemble is committed: Every actor brings something that feels authentic; there’s no slack in the corners.
“There are moments of genuine, unexpected laughter – yes – but they land within the drama, not as escapism…” – Markus Hamence
A few caveats
- The material is heavy. This is not light entertainment. Themes of self-destruction, grief, estrangement, adult grievance dominate. The content warning stands.
- Because the staging leans into intimacy and intensity, some scenes feel unrelenting. If you like to sit back and observe from a distance, you’ll find there’s little distance here.
- The play’s focus is deeply inward – psychological, emotional. If you’re after big spectacle theatre, this is not that. It is quiet but powerful.
Verdict
As a reviewer coming from a place of design-sensitivity and wanting theatre that makes you feel, this production delivered. If you’re willing to let the show push you into uncomfortable spaces and then yield moments of fragile hope, you’ll walk out moved. UATG has produced something that challenges and holds – for a man, for a daughter, for the weight we carry. Bravo 🙂
Rating: A total FIVE STARS – strong, visceral, memorable and definitely one to catch.
The Whale
By University of Adelaide Theatre Guild
7-16 November 2025
Little Theatre, The Cloisters, Adelaide University
Tickets
