Guaranteed to be very silly and extremely gay, New Theatre presents the world premiere of The Frogs: In Hell They Sing Show Tunes by Alex Kendall Robson (after Aristophanes).
The world is on fire, people are dying. There’s war and plague. And cuts to arts funding. It’ll take a bloody miracle to save humanity!
Dionysus, the god of theatre, teams up with his trusty sidekick Xanthias on an odyssey to the Underworld, hoping to resurrect a dead playwright to save the world of the living.
On the road to hell, however, they meet a colony of frogs, not only seemingly happy about the chaos above, but singing show tunes to celebrate.
It would be funny if it wasn’t so damn sad. The classic of Ancient Greek comedy is given a bold, outrageously camp and hilarious new interpretation in a uniquely Australian voice. Why be banal when you can bacchanal?
“A lifetime ago, I auditioned for my high school’s production of The Frogs. I had never been in a full-length play before. To my utter astonishment, I was cast as Dionysus; and the god of theatre and wine hasn’t left me since. I am a lover of history and Greek mythology, of meta-theatre and dick jokes, so this play is very me,” said Alex Kendall Robson.
“When Alex Kendall Robson pitched the idea to us of a new adaptation of Aristophanes’ classic comedy, we knew it was just the shot in the arm that a bleak Sydney winter would need,” says New Theatre Artistic Director, Louise Fischer.
“We’re thrilled to have him and his exuberant directing style back at New Theatre, previously seen in his production of Homos, or Everyone in America for us during Mardi Gras in 2024, and most recently, Ophelia Thinks Harder at KXT on Broadway.”
“Who knew frogs could be so mean? Sure, they sang well, and it was kinda funny, but fuck it was bleak!”
Director: Alex Kendall Robson | Featuring: Zachary Aleksander, Dani Bainbridge, Meg Bennetts, Axel Berecry, Max Fernandez, Sebastyen Filipinski, Pat Mandziy, Eddy O’Leary, James Robin, Nic Starte, Larissa Turton | Set Designer: Tom Bannerman | Lighting Designer: Holly Nesbitt | Costume Designer: Josh Carter | Sound Designer: David Wilson | Music Director: Zachary Aleksander | Choreographer: Dani Bainbridge | Assistant Director: Eddy O’Leary | Stage Manager: Christopher Starnawski | Assistant Stage Managers: Heidi Nesbitt, Ruby Hawken
The Frogs: In Hell They Sing Show Tunes
New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown
Season continues to 6 September 2025
Information and Bookings: www.newtheatre.org.au
Image: The Cast of The Frogs: In Hell They Sing Show Tunes – photo by Bob Seary