A medieval faire is being set-up: Welcome to the small, very fictional, market town of Cross Roads; under the guidance of Doppelgangster’s resident historian, an expert in the Civil War of England and Normandy, 1138-1153. Then an arrow whizzes through the theatre and the fragile pretense of order descends into, well, you know, you read the title didn’t you? The performers are climbing a siege tower, crashing through castle walls, attempting necromancy, and someone (at least) will be tortured (strictly medieval methods).
The Anarchy (1138-53) follow the dark forest path of the artists’ prior works:'To Die Will Be An Awfully Big Adventure' (Theatre Works, 2024),‘Doppelgangster’s TITANIC’, ‘Cold War’, and ‘Puntila/Matti' - works which have generated walkouts, physical fights, cancellations by venues less open to risk than where ever this is playing now (TheatreWorks? Ok great!), along with cult followings and critical acclaim. It’s part shocking anticomedy, part historical folk-horror, part pagan ritual, and part pyschedelic experimental performance.
Galloping in on hobby horses and centaurs and the hand-forged armory of the nerdiest of folk events, Doppelgangster drag the limited storytelling of modern Medieval/Renaissance Fairs and reconcile them with the darkest of pasts.
1hr 30min. No Interval.
3rd September, 2025
13th September, 2025
Theatre Works Theatre Works is wheelchair accessible for audience members and performers. We have step-free access except to the seating bank. Our seating bank has 16 stairs to the top of the rafters.
GETTING TO THE VENUE
BY TRAM: Tram routes: 12, 16 & 96.
BY BUS: Bus routes: 600 Southland Shopping Centre to St Kilda Station / 623 Glen Waverley to St Kilda Station / 246 Elsternwick to Clifton Hill.
BY CAR: There is limited street parking available - it is advisable to arrive early to avoid disappointment.
"A show that rips up all the rules" - The Age (for Dopplegangster's Titanic)
"If you’ve ever thought theatre is boring, or tired, or recycling old ideas — then dammit, you owe it to yourself to see this" - The Music (for Dopplegangster's Titanic)
★★★★★ “What the hell did we just watch?” – Eventalaide (for Cold War)
★ “If you’re a die hard punk you MIGHT enjoy this.” – Eventalaide 2.0 (for Cold War)
"Wildly experimental and wildly entertaining" – Daily Review (for Puntila/Matti)
"Awkward, perplexing, even distressing... Sensations inherent in any true and radical emancipation" – SuzyGoesSee (for Puntila/Matti)
COLLABORATORS
Tobias Manderson-Galvin
Kerith Manderson-Galvin
Dr Tom Payne
Pat Fielding
Chelsea Hickman
& More
The Anarchy (1138-53) runs for 1hr 30min. No Interval.
The Anarchy (1138-53) is at Melbourne's Theatre Works, which is located at 14 Acland Street, St Kilda, Melbourne, 3182.
The Anarchy (1138-53) tickets start at $25.
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