Ensemble Theatre is delighted to present British theatre director James Roose-Evan’s heartwarming adaptation of Helene Hanff’s timeless memoir 84 Charing Cross Road, from 1st May to 13th June 2026.
Directed by Ensemble Theatre’s Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry and starring Australian stage and screen legends, Blazey Best (The Glass Menagerie) and Erik Thomson (Auckland Theatre Co’s Julius Caesar, Melbourne Theatre Co’s The Speechmaker), 84 Charing Cross Road is a celebration of connection, compassion, and the joy of finding kindred spirits in the most unlikely places.
When a wise-cracking New York writer and a reserved London bookdealer strike up a correspondence over their shared love of dusty old books, neither expects to find a lifelong friend tucked between the pages.
Told through real-life letters, this heartwarming tale unfolds across two decades and an ocean. Amid post-war rationing, royal coronations, and the rise of Beatlemania, their bond only deepens, proving some of the most meaningful relationships are written into existence. Director Mark Kilmurry said, “I am thrilled to be directing this beautiful play, needed more so perhaps particularly with the world raging outside. 84 Charing Cross Road is about communication, kindness, love and, at the core, two people who, despite the forever changing time and life’s challenges, manage to maintain a beautiful correspondence based on trust, humour and love. I can’t wait to bring Helene Hanff’s gorgeous words, through James Roose-Evans lovely adaptation, to the stage with this exciting and extremely talented cast and creative team.”
The stellar cast and crew also features Katie Fitchett (The Odd Couple, Murder on the Wireless), Angela Mahlatjie (Primary Trust, STC’s The Dictionary of Lost Words), and Brian Meegan (The Odd Couple, The Norman Conquests Trilogy), Movement Direction by Julia Robertson (How to Plot a Hit in Two Days, Little Eggs Collective’s Metropolis), set and costume design by Nick Fry (Dial M for Murder, The Heartbreak Choir), lighting design by Matt Cox (Dial M for Murder, The Lover and The Dumb Waiter), and original compositions by Madeleine Picard (Dial M for Murder, Emerald City).
Don’t miss this bittersweet tale of enduring bonds forged through letters, books, and a shared love of words.
May 1 – June 13
BUY TICKETS: https://www.ensemble.com.au/shows/84-charing-cross-road/
