S. Shakthidharan

Major Theatre Upgrades Underway At Adelaide Festival Centre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 4, 2025

​Adelaide Festival Centre CEO Kate Gould has hit the ground running as a bold new chapter for the iconic venue begins. Learn more about the changes to the venue here!

Winners Revealed For the 2025 Green Room Awards
by Stephi Wild - May 6, 2025

Victoria’s theatre industry came together on Monday May 5th at the Comedy Theatre to reveal the winners for the 2025 Green Room Awards and the recipients are still celebrating. Learn more here!

THE WRONG GODS Comes to Upstairs Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Apr 1, 2025

Following the runaway success of S. Shakthidharan’s critically-acclaimed epics Counting and Cracking and The Jungle and the Sea, Belvoir will present the world-premiere of The Wrong Gods.

RISING Unveils 2025 Program In Melbourne
by Stephi Wild - Mar 25, 2025

RISING, Melbourne’s winter festival of new art, music and performance, has announced its 2025 program featuring; 65 events, 327 artists, 15 new commissions, 9 world premieres, 5 Australian and 10 Victorian.

New Musicals GODDESS and THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS Join The Public Theater's 2025 Season
by Stephi Wild - Sep 25, 2024

The Public Theater has announced two additional new musicals that will be part of The Public’s Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 seasons at their landmark Astor Place home on 425 Lafayette Street. The new musicals include GODDESS and THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS.

Photos: COUNTING AND CRACKING Opens Off-Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 13, 2024

Last night, September 12, The Public Theater and NYU Skirball celebrated the Opening Night of Belvoir St Theatre’s COUNTING AND CRACKING, a Sri Lankan-Australian epic written and associate directed by S. Shakthidharan and directed and associate written by Eamon Flack making its North American debut at NYU Skirball. See photos from opening night!

GOOD BONES by James Ijames Extends at The Public Through Late October
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 12, 2024

The Public Theater will begin performances for the New York premiere of GOOD BONES, written by Pulitzer Prize winner James Ijames. The production has been extended. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

Melbourne Theatre Company Unveils 2025 Season
by Stephi Wild - Sep 12, 2024

Melbourne Theatre Company has announced thirteen world-class stage productions for its 2025 season. From classic plays to international hits and world premieres to works that could only have been made in Melbourne, audiences are invited to immerse themselves in stories that ask them to think, feel and reflect in a season that bridges the familiar with the unexpected.

The Public Theater & NYU Skirball to Present COUNTING AND CRACKING in September
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 26, 2024

The Public Theater will present COUNTING AND CRACKING, a powerful Sri Lankan-Australian play exploring themes of family, migration, and identity. Learn how to purchase tickets.

NYU Skirball Reveals Lineup For Fall 2024 Season
by Stephi Wild - May 8, 2024

 NYU Skirball’s Fall 2024 season will open on Friday, September 6 with the North American premiere of Counting and Cracking, a two-week run co-presented with The Public Theater. Learn more about the season here!

RISING And University of Melbourne Arts And Culture To Present Melbourne Debut COUNTING AND CRACKING
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 22, 2024

RISING, the premier festival of new art, music, and performance in the heart of Melbourne today unveils a centrepiece of its 2024 program: S.Shakthidharan's acclaimed Sri Lankan-Australian saga Counting and Cracking, co-presented with University of Melbourne Arts and Culture at the new Union Theatre.

Raghuvir Joshi's International Debut Feature SAHELA Executive Produced By Dev Payel to Make Its South Asia Premiere At Jio MAMI
by Michael Major - Oct 23, 2023

Raghuvir Joshi’s international debut feature ‘Sahela’ executive produced by Dev Payel is set to make its South Asia premiere at Jio MAMI Mumbai International Film Festival 2023. Inspired by real events, the film explores the challenges faced by a married couple when the husband comes out as gay.

Belvoir Reveals Lineup For 2024 Season
by Stephi Wild - Sep 6, 2023

Belvoir has announced the productions that will make up its next season. 2024 at Belvoir will see ten plays with something for everyone – from best-selling book adaptations, returns of incredible work, a 25A show being brought to the mainstage for the first time, a remount of Counting and Cracking, and so much more. Learn more about the season here!

Pilot Theatre Will Tour Malorie Blackman's NOUGHTS AND CROSSES
by Stephi Wild - Mar 29, 2022

Pilot Theatre has announced that from September it will be touring their award-winning 2019 production of Sabrina Mahfouz's exciting adaptation of Malorie Blackman's critically acclaimed young adult novel of first love in a dangerous fictional dystopia – Noughts & Crosses.

Photos: Pilot Theatre Presents THE BONE SPARROW
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 1, 2022

Pilot Theatre has today released production images for the world premiere of S. Shakthidharan (Counting and Cracking, Sydney Festival) adaptation of Zana Fraillon’s award winning book The Bone Sparrow.

The Belgrade Theatre Presents THE BONE SPARROW This March
by Stephi Wild - Feb 21, 2022

This March, the Belgrade Theatre presents the brand new stage adaptation of The Bone Sparrow as part of their Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 programme, running in B2 from Tues 22 – Sat 26 March.