VCE PLAYLIST 2026: BREAK OF DAY

Sometimes you get stuck with the cards you’ve been dealt, but Pam is determined to shuffle the deck for her daughter.

Out on the edge of a satellite city lies Burra Creek, home to the world’s largest online retail warehouse. Tonight, Pam is working the nightshift while her daughter, Rae, is also pulling an all-nighter – for very different reasons.

City folks drive the highway to Burra Creek for the op shops, Biryani and famous kebab. But for the kids, there’s not so much to do except hang with someone who makes you laugh, dances with shopping trolleys, and who you wouldn’t mind kissing.

Pam catches three buses to her graveyard shift, but she sees a better life for her daughter – and she’ll stop at nothing to secure it. Sometimes you’ve got to break the rules to break the cycle. And while Rae is at the top of her class, it’s hard to climb the rungs of opportunity when you live in a place the NBN forgot.

This world premiere sees director Sarah Goodes and Australian powerhouse performer Kat Stewart together again, creating a world where humour is armour, grit is generosity, and the universal struggle between a mum and her daughter is everything.

VCE THEATRE STUDIES PROMPT PACKS

Malthouse Theatre provides pre-show and post-show Prompt Packs that explore the script and themes to help the students gain a deeper understanding of the production.

PROMPT PACK A (PRE-SHOW)
Available here, mid-July 2026

PROMPT PACK B (POST-SHOW)
Available here, mid-August 2026

SCRIPT

Complementary PDF scripts will be emailed to teachers upon booking confirmation, to be shared with students for educational purposes only.

DATES & TICKETS

EDUCATION MATINEES

11am Tuesday 18 August
11am Thursday 20 August
11am Tuesday 25 August
11am Thursday 27 August

DURATION

Est. 90 minutes, no interval
+ 30-minute optional Q&A at education matinees

PRICES

Metro schools: $45 (per student)
Regional & low-ICSEA schools: $35 (per student)
Accompanying teachers: Free (max. 2 per group)
Additional teachers: $55

POST-SHOW Q&A

All education matinees are followed by a Q&A session with select cast and creatives, facilitated by the Malthouse Education team.

REVISIT THE PLAY

Revisit the Play is our acclaimed digital workshop aimed at preparing students for their VCE Theatre Studies written examination. With production footage excerpts, facilitated analysis and curriculum-focused provocations, this on-demand session in an invaluable revision opportunity for your class. Bookings can be made at the same time as show ticket bookings, or separately at any stage via the button below.

This workshop will be available from 14 September 2026.

BOOK REVISIT THE PLAY

ADVICE FOR SCHOOLS

Recommended for ages 15 and older.

This production is currently under development, therefore revised content information will be made available closer to the season. However it is anticipated to contain depictions or mentions of mental health issues, frequent coarse language, family violence and/or intimate partner abuse, sexism and/or misogyny, addiction, poverty and class-based discrimination, and partial nudity (one instance, rear only).

For more information about the play, its script, curriculum links, or specific content, please contact Malthouse Education Coordinator, Lyall Brooks, at lbrooks@malthousetheatre.com.au. 

For all ticket and booking enquiries, please contact education@malthousetheatre.com.au.

BOOK TICKETS