Commentary

Helpmann Award-nominated writer Ash Flanders’ Commentary is a sharp, provocative play that interrogates the ethics of artmaking, accountability, and memory in an era of public reckoning. The story centres on Nick, played by Gyton Grantley (Underbelly, House Husbands), a once-promising filmmaker turned university lecturer, whose controversial debut feature Low is being resurrected for a retrospective screening at the local International Film Festival. The film, co-created with his former best friend Hamish (now disgraced and presumed dead), is dogged by allegations of abuse and exploitation linked to its production and content.

As Nick prepares a director’s commentary and public appearance, the past begins to resurface through a chorus of women — his student and lover Gen, his wife Mish, former muse Saskia, and a teenage girl named Frankie. Frankie’s re-emergence catalyses a chain of revelations, betrayals, and reckonings that culminate in Nick’s fall from professional and personal grace. The play’s narrative cleverly mirrors the fragmented form of a DVD commentary track — non-linear, reflexive, full of contradiction, omission, and performance.

CONTENT
Course language, adult themes, sexual references and partial nudity.

RUN TIME
90 minutes, no interval.

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Single Ticket Prices

Tickets from $89.00
All bookings incur an $9.90 transaction fee.
Visit the Ticket Price page for the full list of subscription and single ticket prices.

Audio Described Performances and Pre-Show Briefing for blind and vision impaired patrons
Saturday, 29 August, 1.00pm (briefing), 2.00pm (performance)
Monday, 31 August, 5.30pm (briefing), 6.30pm (performance), with a post-show Q&A

Captioned Performances for deaf and hard of hearing patrons
Wednesday, 2 September, 11.00am
Wednesday, 2 September, 6.30pm

Wheelchair access & Companion Cards
Wheelchair accessible seats, companion cards and other accessible bookings can be made via phone on 08 8415 5353 (Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm), or via email at tickets@statetheatrecompany.com.au.

Visit the Access page for more information on our Access Program.

Subscriber Briefing
2026 Subscribers are invited to join us for an exclusive Subscriber Briefing to learn more about the creation of the show.
– Monday, 17 August, 6.00pm

Post Show Q&As
We hold Q&As with our artists and creative teams so that you can ask questions about the production.
– Monday, 31 August
– Wednesday, 2 September (matinee performance)

A Date with State
Supported by the Office for Ageing Well and Seniors Card, join us for our 2026 A Date With State program, with pre-show tea and coffee before the performance and a post-show Q&A.
– Wednesday, 2 September, 10.00am (pre-show tea and coffee), 11.00am (performance)

State Theatre Company South Australia is offering one school performance as part of our season of Commentray. Visit the State Educate resources page for the Study Guide and What to Expect.

School performances
Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre

• Thursday 27 August 11:00am

Check performance availability here

Complete booking form here

Venue Access

This show will be performed at the Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre.

The recommended Dunstan Playhouse and Space Theatre drop off zone is at the northern end of the Riverbank Footbridge on War Memorial Drive (walk across the Footbridge to Dunstan Playhouse) or at the Intercontinental Hotel (walk north between the Intercontinental Hotel and Railway Station along the laneway to the Riverbank). There is also a drop off area and two accessible car spaces on lower Festival Drive, accessible from the west via Montefiore Road.

Getting to the Venue

Adelaide Festival Centre is easily accessible by public transport, including the tram (stop at Railway Station), trains, buses and a free bus service that operates on a loop throughout the city and North Adelaide with stops on the corner of King William Road and North Terrace.

For more information visit https://adelaidemetro.com.au/

For information about parking near the Adelaide Festival Centre, please click here.

Dining Options

Malt Shovel Taphouse
Located at the Adelaide Festival Centre at the end of the Adelaide Oval footbridge
Open Wednesday 3pm-11pm and Thursday – Sunday 11.30am-late

The Strathmore Hotel
Located 5 minutes from the Dunstan Playhouse at 29 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Open 7 days, 11am – 3am