This August, Holden Street Theatres presents the South Australian premiere of Adam Rapp’s psychologically rich and emotionally compelling drama, The Sound Inside.
Widely regarded as one of the most significant contemporary plays of the last decade, the Tony Award nominated play will captivate Holden Street audiences with its intimate exploration of storytelling, loneliness and the power of words.
The Sound Inside is a razor-sharp psychological thriller that unfolds with the elegance of a gripping novel. The intimate two-hander captures the unlikely connection between two desperately lonely souls: celebrated author and college professor Bella and the brilliant and volatile student Christopher. United by a love of words and books, they are drawn to each other.
As their connection deepens, Bella reveals a secret that forces them both toward an unthinkable decision. A masterclass in restrained, intelligent drama, this is theatre that slips under your skin – and stays there.
Directed by Holden Street Theatres Director in Residence Nick Fagan, The Sound Inside stars two of South Australia’s leading theatrical talents in Michelle Nightingale as Bella Baird and Benji Riggs as Christopher Dunn, who will bring this fiercely intelligent and tension- filled drama to life.
“The South Australian premiere of The Sound Inside is part of the organisation’s ambition to present world-class independent productions that create memorable and accessible experiences for audiences,” said Artistic Director Martha Lott.
“The Sound Inside is gripping, raw and emotionally charged theatre at its very best. I’m excited for audiences to experience the power of Adam Rapp’s extraordinary storytelling for the first time on the local stage.”
Adam Rapp earned a Tony Award nomination for his work on The Outsiders. He is the author of numerous plays, which include Nocturne (New York Theatre Workshop), Finer Noble Gases (26th Humana Festival), The Metal Children (The Vineyard) and Red Light Winter (Barrow Street Theatre), for which he won Chicago’s Jeff Award for Best New Work, an Obie, and was named a finalist for the 2006 Pulitzer Prize.
The Sound Inside received its world premiere at the 2018 Williamstown Theatre Festival and was named one of The New York Times best plays of 2018. It premiered on Broadway at Studio 54 in the fall of 2019 and went on to be nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Play.
His playwriting honours include Boston’s Elliot Norton Award, The Helen Merrill Prize, The 2006 Princess Grace Statue, a Lucille Lortel Playwright’s Fellowship, The Benjamin H. Danks Award, the PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation Award and a 2021 Arts and Letters Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His latest novel, Wolf at the Table, was released last year.
“An intensely quiet play of two lonely people circling one another, each as wary of the other and both seeming to reach out more as instinct than plan.” – Deadline
Director: Nick Fagan | Featuring: Michelle Nightingale, Benji Riggs | Lighting Design: Martin Smith | Stage Management: Heather Jones | Technical Manager: Harry Ferguson
The Sound Inside
Holden Street Theatres, 32 – 34 Holden Street, Hindmarsh (Adelaide)
Season: 13 – 29 August 2026 (previews: 11 & 12 August)
Information and Bookings: www.holdenstreettheatres.com
Image: Michelle Nightingale and Benji Riggs star in The Sound Inside (supplied)