The Spare Room at Belvoir Street Theatre

Belvoir presents a gripping adaptation of Australian literary icon Helen Garner’s award-winning novel The Spare Room, starring Aussie screen legend Judy Davis in her first on-stage role in almost 15 years.

Directed and adapted by Eamon Flack, Belvoir’s artistic director, and featuring Elizabeth Alexander (Netflix’s Clickbait, STC’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf), alongside the three-time Emmy Award-winner, The Spare Room is an emotionally nuanced depiction of two old friends confronting the burden of illness, inspired by Garner’s own experiences caring for a friend with cancer.

When Helen’s old friend, Nicola, comes to town for treatment, it only makes sense she should stay in the spare room. Nicola has put her faith in a shady alternative cancer clinic, and Helen is determined to be her brilliant friend and carer no matter what. But as the sleepless nights rack up, a short stay in the spare room becomes a loving, maddening battle for life.

From frustration and rage to love and honesty, this tour-de-force of modern Australian theatre is not to be missed.