By Cameron Scott
Luigi Pirandello’s 1921 metatheatrical piece, 6 Characters in Search of an Author, makes its new home in Brisbane’s iconic 210 Petrie Terrace, now Ad Astra’s Galaxy Theatre.
The production begins with The Family intruding on a troupe of Actors who are rehearsing Pirandello’s 1918 work The Rules of The Game. The Characters are led by the patriarch, only known as The Father, who is closely followed by The Step-Daughter, The Mother, The Son, The Boy, and The Girl. This band of dark, mournful characters informs The Director that they are in search of an author, someone who can convey their sorrowful tale.
Gregory J. Wilken brings a measured and stoic dominance to the deeply flawed and cruel father, which is skilfully contrasted by Emma Kidd who plays his step-daughter. Kidd is an absolute standout in this piece, bringing a chaotic, yet deeply authentic energy to The Step-Daughter. Her portrayal of a young woman who is so deeply scarred by her step-father is haunting yet gripping.
When viewing such an old playscript, as an emerging theatre-maker myself, I always ask the question, ‘why this play? why now?’ As an answer, this production opens with a tongue-in-cheek remark that they are staging older works as there are no new Australian works; a humorous and resonant remark to any creative currently working within the Australian theatre scene. Yet, the production quickly discards this idea to delve into a discussion of naturalism in acting and if an actor can ever truly embody a character. Ultimately, I feel that over its 100-minute runtime the play never finds a singular identity, oscillating between a truthful character drama and a metatheatre commentary. In addition, with 21 performers involved in the production, where 18 of those actors occupy the stage for most of the show, I felt my attention stretched thin between the emotional truth of The Characters and the audience of Actors. In the end, the play shoots for two distant moons and lands somewhere in the stars.
It is so incredibly valuable and significant that Ad Astra chose to platform and cast so many young Queensland artists and performers. With the dominance of touring shows, internationally and from different states, it is so heartwarming to see young Queensland performers perform on Queensland stages.
This play was extremely enjoyable and kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire duration of the piece. The tension between Wilken and Kidd is wickedly captivating. Humour and comedic relief are granted by way of Nathan Turner, Jules Berry, and the rest of The Actors, offering a refreshing break to The Family’s dark and dramatic story. This production is for anyone needing a slice of local Brisbane entertainment with a side of Italian metatheatre.
Author Bio:
Cameron Scott is actor, writer, and stage manager hailing from the mountains of North Brisbane. As an actor he is currently in his 3rd year in QUT’s BFA (Acting) and previously trained in NIDA’s Open program.
With credits in Platform (2025), Underground Theatre Company’s How To Vote (2024) and The Velvet Collective & Travelling Rose Theatre’s Crow’s Nest (2025). The latter earned him (as a part of the Crow’s Nest Company) a nomination for Best Emerging Artist at the 2025 Matilda Awards.
When he’s not acting, Cameron enjoys writing strange poetry, sampling various beverages in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley and getting mad at West Ham United.