WITNESS

REVIEW

Says Heather Kroll of the preview at St Albans on 3rd Oct 26:

"What a triumph!

Over the October long weekend, I was lucky enough to see the Come You Spirits theatre company perform Othello at St Albans in the historic barn, sponsored by the Settlers Arms - St Albans Pub NSW. The audience was enthralled from start to finish and were still buzzing about it the next day.

Josephine Mayer’s direction brought the story vividly to life. She used the barn’s limited space with great skill, drawing the action close to the audience and creating an intense, immersive experience.

The early colonial setting gave the production a distinctive Australian character without distracting from the tragedy at its heart.

Othniel Mani was brilliant as Othello, capturing his strength, tenderness and vulnerability.

Charles Mayer was riveting as Iago, holding the audience rivetted through every stage of his deception.

The strong six-member ensemble also featured wonderful performances by Charlotte Edwards as Desdemona & Roderigo, David Halgren as Cassio & Brabantio, Josephine Mayer as Emilia, and Erica Dixon as Bianca.

It was a privilege to enjoy this powerful and memorable production in a remarkable setting."

with

Charles Mayer as Macbeth

Josephine Mayer as Lady Macbeth & Second Witch

David Halgren as Banquo

Ciarán O'Riordan as MacDuff

Willa King as First Witch

Ella Havelka and Erica Dixon as Third Witch

with

Lighting Design and Sound by Adam Applebaum

Design by Art Director Letitia Hodgkinson

Following the 2025 season of sold-out performances, our ★★★★★ production hailed as "THE Macbeth for our times: raw, relentless, and deeply human" (Sydney Arts Guide) returns in 2026 to ignite audiences once again.

This powerful adaptation dives into the heart of Shakespeare’s most haunting work, reminding us that, even in the darkest moments, we always have a choice. Themes of ambition v destiny, power v paranoia, love v duty, and the duality of the human spirit crash together in a story that challenges us to confront our shadows and seek redemption.

This Macbeth distills the play to its essences, told through the central characters — Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Banquo, Macduff, and The Witches. Audiences are immersed in Shakespeare’s language, dramatic tension, and ethical questions in a way that sparks analysis, discussion, and empathy. A "Captivating" (SMH) element of our production is Wiradjuri dancer Ella Havelka (The Australian Ballet, Bangarra Dance Theatre) as the Second Witch. As a passionate advocate for First Nations storytelling through dance, Ella brings a unique and powerful energy to the stage, weaving ancient wisdom with contemporary artistry, expanding the theme of "there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

We have added a very special one-off moonlit performance in the wild, “upon the heath” in the moon-shadow of Maquarie Lightstation. Expect full immersion as the witches emerge from the heath, the banquet draws you in, swords clash inches away. And beyond it all, the cliffs of Vaucluse drop into a dark void of limitless ocean.

As Lyn Belvedere for Sydney Arts Guide says, “This production is a triumph for the ages, THE MACBETH, that is psychologically penetrating, and theatrically bold. With powerhouse performances, innovative staging, and relentless emotional intensity, this is Shakespeare at its most vital.” 

Othniel Mani as Othello

Charles Mayer as Iago

Charlotte Edwards as Desdemona and Roderigo

Josephine Mayer as Emilia

David Halgren as Cassio

Ella Havelka and Erica Dixon as Bianca

Directed by Josephine Mayer

with

Lighting Design by Adam Applebaum

Costume Design by Josephine Mayer

and

Music by Nicholas Pang and Uncle Col Lyons

Darling Quarter Theatre

Darling Harbour

Thu 19 Nov 2026

11.00am & 7.00pm

PREMIERE

Goulburn Performing Arts Centre

Fri 19 Feb 2027 11.00am & 7.00pm

The Roxy Theatre, Leeton

Wed 17 March 2027 11.00am

Darling Harbour DQT

Wed 26 May 2027 11.00am

Thu 27 May 2027 11.00am

Fri 28 May 2027 11.00am

Sat 29 May 2027 7.00pm

Warners Bay Theatre, Lake Macquarie

Fri 11 Jun 2027 11.00am

Sat 12 Jun 2027 7.00pm

We are proud to unveil a brand new production of Othello, starring new troupe member Othniel Mani (63 Globes, Gibber) opposite Charles Mayer as Iago, set in the transformative landscape of early colonial Australia. This adaptation reframes Shakespeare’s most searing tragedy within a world of first encounters, shifting power, and cultural collision, where love and jealousy unfold against the backdrop of devastating change.

The heart of the story sees the man Othello navigating leadership, trust, prejudice, and betrayal — whose deception and downfall echo the power struggles of the young colony. The redcoats' rivalries in camp are surrounded by timeless country where the hope of harmony weaves through the story, a vision of coexistence and the beauty of learning from ancient perspectives.

Audiences are invited to consider how Shakespeare’s exploration of race, loyalty, and justice connects with Australia’s history, and how theatre can challenge us to reckon with the fractures that still shape our society.

Performed with the raw intensity of a six-character ensemble, this new adaptation immerses audiences in Shakespeare’s language while opening pathways for deep discussion around influence, violence and human frailty.

The role of Bianca is shared between two First Nations dancers and performers — Ella Havelka (Australian Ballet, Bangarra Dance Theatre) and Erica Dixon (Naisda Dance College, Garwoeidhamin Mayan)— each bringing their own raw intensity to the stripped-back ensemble across different performances.

This is more than a retelling of a classic play — it is a transformative theatrical experience that is uniquely Australian, urgent, and profoundly human.

With consistent ★★★★★ reviews for their touring productions in the wild and in Performing Arts Centres across the country, this is a rare opportunity to catch Come You Spirits and meet the Principal cast. See for yourself why they are hailed as

"Captivating" Sydney Morning Herald

"The best of the best" Sydney Arts Guide

"Nourishment for the eyes, ears, nose and tongue, and offered a weight off the heart and kinship with your fellow human beings" Arts Hub

“Come you Spirits will take you to a place just between the human and the ethereal, to demonstrate just how close we are through language and our connection to the natural world. Utterly Indistinguishable from magic" Theatre Travels

Photography and Videography by Syl Marie Photography