Despite its prevalence in society substance abuse seldom makes for good drama.
The same could be said for first time auto-biographical scripts, but actor Peter Cook has proven the exception with Breaking the Castle, his first-hand account of his descent into addiction, and his long and hard climb out of it.
With sell-out shows in Albury-Wodonga, the Edinburgh Fringe and now the Sydney Opera House, Cook has turned this old trope on its head.
Known for his work on Home and Away, Redfern Now and the stage plays The Removalist and Anatomy of Titus Fall of Rome, among many other roles over years, it was not until Cook began unravelling his earlier years as living from one ice pipe to the next on the streets of Kings Cross.
Adopting the persona of David, Cook’s acute observation of this life, the characters and their language immediately sets this play apart from the usual telling of this milieu who hellbent on a race to the bottom while making feeble attempts at maintaining a normality in chaos.
How Cook gets out of this and to rehab in Thailand is due in part to an ex-addict’s faith that he can make it, but we all have our doubts when he finally gets there.
On the first day of registration Cook encounters an un-united nations of addicts, many of whom he mimics for comic effect.
His one constant contact is his recovery mentor with whom he has a fractious relationship.
As Cook ponders how and why he got there, he reminisces on his previous life as a jobbing actor, with the audition for a Mortein ad showing a depth of stage skills, including impeccable comic timing and physicality.
Another standout moment is when he recounts his family’s career prospects for him as a horse race, all the while as the lure of addiction keeps tugging in the background.
Throughout this 85-minute play Cook keeps seeing humanity and the prospect of redemption in everyone around him, and now his task is to find it in himself.
How he achieves this shows how powerful addictions are and the inner-strength required to overcome them.
A little faith from good people also goes a long way.
Throughout Breaking the Castle, Cook maintains a solid sense of humour, usually at his own expense, which also helps the production from falling into the ‘worthy’ category, while showing the there can be light at the end of the tunnel.
It’s up to you to find it, and I found it in this exhilarating production that also serves to remind us that addiction can happen to anyone.
Breaking the Castle is a co-production with Queensland company Cluster Arts.
Breaking The Castle
Studio – Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
Season continues to 26 July 2025
Bookings: www.sydneyoperahouse.com
For more information, visit: www.btcproductions.com.au for details.
Images: Peter Cook in Breaking The Castle (supplied)
Review: John Moyle