What's On

Theatre Works presents

Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
By Heather McDonald
Directed by Nadia Tass

This July, Theatre Works proudly brings Nadia Tass’s production of acclaimed playwright Heather McDonald’s Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity to the stage, a haunting and urgent production that interrogates the cost of survival and the endurance of art in the face of devastation.

Set within the crumbling walls of a war-ravaged museum turned makeshift prison, the story follows three women forced into an uneasy alliance: a soldier hardened by violence, a nurse guarding deep secrets, and an art restorer desperately fighting to preserve the last remnants of beauty.

Directed by the legendary Nadia Tass, Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity is a tense, poetic, and unflinching examination of what endures when everything else is lost. In a world once again torn by conflict and division, it asks a powerfully relevant question: “When history is erased, who will remember what made us human?”

Playing as part of the By Theatre Works programming, don’t miss the opportunity to see this compelling Australian premiere inspired by the 2001 UNESCO proclamation of the same name. Running for a limited time, it promises to be yet another compelling addition to the 2026 Theatre Works in-house season.

Based in St Kilda, Theatre Works has been home to bold, independent theatre for more than 40 years. They give artists the space, support, and freedom to take risks, and audiences the chance to discover powerful new stories. Each year, they present dozens of productions across their three venues, created in partnership with some of the country’s most exciting theatre makers, solidifying their reputation as a vital ecosystem for independent artists.

Other 2026 By Theatre Works productions include Australian Open, Savages, Beyond The Neck, Mara, Red Sky Morning, Lazarus, The Wolves, and Lord of the Flies.

Praise for the 2019 American season directed by Nadia Tass:
“… the type of theatre one longs for—it shakes you up and leaves you incoherent with grief and hope and determination.” – Maryland Theatre Guide
“Under Tass' direction even a first-time theater attendee to this kind of show will be taken in.” – Broadway World
“Under the penetrating direction of Nadia Tass, Masterpieces is bracing and unsettling.” – Annandale Today
“The final minutes of Masterpieces rank among the most breathtaking I have experienced in theatre.” – DC Theatre Scene

Directed by Nadia Tass
Performed by Jane Montgomery-Griffiths, Kate Cole and Laila Thaker
Lighting design by David Parker
Sound design by Daniel Nixon
Set and costume design by Ishan Vivekanantham
Produced by Theatre Works
Publicity by Sassy Red PR   

21 July to 1 August 2026
Tues - Sat 7:30pm
Previews: Tues 21 and Weds 22 July 7:30pm
Opening Night: Thurs 23 July 7:30pm
Tickets: $55 Full, $48 Concession, $40 Preview
Bookings: www.theatreworks.org.au/2026/masterpieces
Venue: Theatre Works – 14 Acland Street, St Kilda
www.theatreworks.org.au

Duration: 95 minutes no intermission
Age suitability: 15+
Warnings: Moderate violence in fight sequence
Accessibility: Theatre Works is a wheelchair-accessible venue. A full-access guide will be available closer to the date