A searingly funny, high-stakes debut play from The Guilty Feminist podcast creator and author Deborah Frances-White, Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA presents the Western Australian premiere of Never Have I Ever this June at the Heath Ledger Theatre.
Directed by Black Swan’s Artistic Director Kate Champion, Never Have I Ever is a bold, provocative work that explores complex themes through a dynamic mix of social commentary and theatrical thrill.
Set in their boutique restaurant on the brink of bankruptcy, Jacq and Kas invite their closest friends, long-time couple Adaego and Tobin, for a final dinner and a seemingly harmless game that descends into a night of secrets, power shifts, and moral confrontations.
What begins with expensive wine and polite laughter soon spirals into something far more revealing that has had audiences the world over gasping and roaring with laughter.
Champion has assembled a powerhouse cast of four, featuring a standout mix of local and national talent including WA actors Emily Rose Brennan as Jacq, Deep Sroa as Kas and Will O’Mahony as Tobin. They are joined by Sydney’s Ratidzo Mambo as Adaego.
“The casting reflects the play’s diversity and dynamism, and I am excited to bring this fresh, contemporary production to Perth, engaging a wide audience with its powerful exploration of identity, morality, and human relationships,” says Kate Champion.
Bringing international acclaim with her, the Queensland born, London based Deborah Frances-White is a familiar voice to many Australians.
With over 100 million downloads of her hit podcast, The Guilty Feminist, a new book Six Conversations We’re Scared to Have, and a series of sold-out shows across the country – including a live recording at Perth’s Astor Theatre in 2024 – she has cemented her place in the cultural conversation.
Her signature blend of biting wit and fearless feminist commentary is front and centre in this play, her first major work for the stage.
Described as “a salty, volatile cross between Indecent Proposal and a satanic edition of Come Dine With Me” (The Sunday Times), Never Have I Ever is a dinner party gone wrong with deliciously disastrous results. It’s theatre that provokes, entertains, and lingers long after the curtain call.
With themes ripped from today’s headlines – race, money, morality and identity – the play strikes a chord with bold, socially-aware audiences who crave stories that reflect the messy realities of modern life.
It’s the perfect storm of tension and comedy, ideal for discussing at brunch, in gal group WhatsApp chats, panels, post-show conversations, and of course… on podcasts.
Director: Kate Champion | Featuring: Emily Rose Brennan, Ratidzo Mambo, Will O’Mahony, Deep Sroa | Assistant Director: Rachel McMurray | Set & Costume Designer: Bryan Woltjen | Lighting Designer: Lucy Birkinshaw | Composer & Sound Designer: Rachael Dease | Voice & Dialect Coach: Luzita Fereday | Stage Manager: Liam Murray | Assistant Stage Manager: Estelle Gomersall | Stage Manager – Season: Kira Feeney | Writer: Deborah Frances-White
Never Have I Ever
Heath Ledger Theatre – The State Theatre Centre of WA, 174- 176 William Street, Perth
Season: 18 June – 6 July 2025 (previews: 14 – 17 June)
Information and Bookings: www.blackswantheatre.com.au
Image: Will O’Mahony, Ratidzo Mambo, Deep Sroa and Emily Rose Brennan – photo by Joel Barbitta | design by Troy Barbitta