STC Opens 2026 With Award-Winning Family Drama ‘Purpose’
Image: Supplied
Sydney Theatre Company (STC) will open its 2026 season with the Australian premiere of Purpose, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award–winning drama by American playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.
Following some major U.S. theatre awards, including the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play, the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, Purpose is being directed by Zindzi Okenyo, an Australian film creative.
The production features Grace Bentley-Tsibuah, Deni Gordon, Markus Hamilton, Tinashe Mangwana, Maurice Marvel Meredith, and Sisi Stringer.
The play focuses on a strong African American family involved in politics, religion, and national leadership. When the family’s youngest son returns home with an unexpected guest, tensions rise, threatening the lives they have created.
The Australian creative team
The creative team for the play’s Australian debut includes designer Jeremy Allen, lighting designer Kelsey Lee, and composer and sound designer James Peter Brown.
“While giving the audience pure entertainment and an incredible showcase for the actors involved, he is a master at social and political commentary. I love this play, it is truly an ‘actor’s piece’, and I know this terrific cast will create extraordinary work,” said Okenyo.
STC’s new Artistic Director, Mitchell Butel, chose Purpose as the work to launch his first season, after catching the Broadway production during a trip to New York in May.
“I had the great good fortune to see the originating Steppenwolf production of the play on my last day in New York after checking in on Sydney Theatre Company’s The Picture of Dorian Gray on Broadway and I was completely blown over,” said Butel.
“Purpose takes a great tradition of American theatre – the family dinner gone wrong – and turns it completely on its head and with savage, genius mischief that explores power, hypocrisy, marital discord but also how to navigate a path towards freedom and truth amidst it all.”
The play has previews from 2 to 5 February 2026. The official season runs from 7 February 2026 to 22 March 2026 at Wharf 1 Theatre in Walsh Bay.
“The play is dark, hilarious and brilliant and I know Zindzi’s fresh take on it will shine just as brightly,” said Butel.
Tickets for Purpose are currently available on the STC website.
You May Also Like
Leave a Reply