OBSERVER: Destiny
Melbourne Theatre Company presents Destiny, the intimate family drama of allure and loyalty, until September 13 at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner.
Written by and starring award-winning South African-born actor and playwright Kirsty Marillier and directed by Zindzi Okenyo (Is God Is), Destiny is set against the canvas of world-changing events.
It serves as a potent reminder that the past is always with us.
Set in South Africa in January 1976, Della is 24 and doing her best to stay under the radar – working at the general store, keeping her younger brother Rocky out of trouble, and her dad off the booze.
But when her old flame Ezra arrives with a head full of revolution – and Rocky starts getting ideas – Della’s world will be upended by forces that will echo around the globe. As student uprisings surge and the shadow of apartheid deepens, family ties are tested, old wounds resurface and a generation stands on the edge of change.
Buoyed by the spirit of social revolution that came to a head in the 1970s, this world premiere captures the era’s music, fashion and sense of freedom in a fierce, funny, and unforgettable tale.
Performance Season: August 18 – September 13
Performance Times: Visit mtc.com.au/plays-and-tickets/whats-on/season-2025/destiny/
Venue: Southbank Theatre, The Sumner, 140 Southbank Blvd.
Tickets: From $72.
Bookings: mtc.com.au/plays-and-tickets/whats-on/season-2025/destiny/
Cheryl Threadgold
Pictured: Playwright Kirsty Marillier (Della) and Barry Conrad (Ezra) in Destiny.
Photo: Jo Duck

