REVIEW:
The Children
At Pip Theatre, Brisbane

Reviewed by: Grace Wilson

Date of Performance: 5 June 2025

Three Words: Nuclear. Guilt. Duty

Reason to stay: Terry Hansen’s performance as Rob

Reason to Leave: The licking moment

Watch if you feel like: Reflecting on if you’ve done enough with the time you have left

What My Guest Thought: Loved the post show snacks

How the audience reacted: Dying of laughter, mixed with somber reflection

Acting: Amanda McErlean as Rose gave a strong performance which developed as Rose’s actions became clear, nailing the sinister with the sincere. Julia Johnson as Hazel got her feet as scenes progressed and delivered an emotional performance as a mother longing to stay in the past. Terry Hansen as Rob was the standout, lifting the energy and creating on stage chemistry with limited to no effort. He had the audience howling, and nailed moments of stillness that worked will with the character.

Writing: Kirkwood’s script is a fan favourite, and it’s clear to see why. Attend this show to experience the way Kirkwood balances sincerity with comedy, and keeps her dialogue sharp and hard hitting while doing so.

Directing: Heidi Gledhill’s direction seemed minimal at first, but developed with the space. Characters bouncing between three chairs felt sometimes comical but there was not much room for them to go. However the direction of the final scene was resounding, and left a mark on the audience.

Overall: A strong opening night performance and clearly a show that will get better with more and more performances. If you love a classic theatre show, this is a great night out.

My review in emojis: 💥☢️🫂

Diamond Rating (out of 5): 💎💎💎💎

Runs until: Sat 21 June

Tickets can be bought at: https://piptheatre.org/the-children/