Type – Drama
If you liked – Rebel Without A Cause (film), David Williamson plays, Crunch Time, The Club
First, Do No Harm: What happens when maybe the doctor doesn’t know best? This new Australian play explores this seminal Freudian conflict.
The tiny KXT Theatre is an unlikely spot for theatrical excellence – tucked neatly on the busy Broadway street in Ultimo – but they have really carved out a special niche in Sydney’s theatre scene for cutting edge subjects and admirable acting.
First, Do No Harm by Grace Malouf is no different. While ostensibly about medical ethics – which may sound rather a dry topic – this production is a deeply visceral, unsettling and often funny exploration of the age-old, possibly OG plotline of the son needing to break from the control of the parents. The play presents as a sophisticated exploration of many contemporary concepts – gender roles, medical dilemmas, power and politics – but at its core it grapples with this seminal Freudian conflict. The clash comes when the son (Nineteen and on the threshold of adulthood) wants a medical procedure done that his parents utterly disagree with. Thus the drama ensues. No spoilers.
It’s great to see NIDA supporting the transition from school to stage for its young talent. This is the third production I’ve seen in the last week or so created by young, fiercely talented theatremakers (Macbeth at QPAC, Shooting Hedda Gabler at Seymour) that makes my old theatregoing heart thrill with the joy of seeing what a wealth of skill and creativity is being nurtured in Australia. First, Do No Harm can be added to the list with the three main components of a fine production being well executed here: direction, acting, and the physical production elements.
Charley Allanah’s direction has to deal with the theatre’s layout which has two banks of seats with the rectangular stage in the middle. Allanah keeps the action moving, and uses a central invisible pivot point around which the actors circulate. Production designer Holden Jane Cohle, lighting designer Theodore Carroll and sound designer Ellie Wilson have created an evocative and visceral environment that heightens the drama for the audience.
The set is spare and modern, with a clinical feel to emphasise the medical themes, and a couple of stunning effects that jolt the audience. The lighting and sound are a tangible and vital component of the power of the production. With unsettling, almost unidentifiable sounds, interspersed with highly emotive music, you can literally feel it in your bones. The lighting lifts the play out of a ‘kitchen sink’ drama to a conceptual and dramatic high. With some gorgeous use of spots, fades, and silhouettes, Carroll enhances the raw emotion and leaves us with memorable images.
Kate Bookallil as the mother, the ambitious Dr Melissa Annous has the right balance of chilly ruthlessness and icy control when she makes a momentous decision in the final act. Richard Hilliar as the father, ex Olympian medallist Robert Robertson who gives up his career to be the homemaker, can evokes some empathy from his puzzlement and disbelief in his dogmatic and brutal behaviour; he just doesn’t understand. Josh Merten, as the son Alexei, shows great potential and inhabits his difficult character with presence and nuance. Shan-Ree Tan as the complicated surgeon is always a joy to watch, and his natural presence and authority fits the role well.
Is First, Do No Harm Worth Seeing in Sydney?
The ensemble all carry the load of the minor characters as well. Some of the pacing can be a tad rushed at times, and a few key words might be lost in the sound. However, this is a tight, well written and executed production that is well worth seeing, and not least to support a young, talented troupe of theatremakers who have created a highly dramatic and stunning piece of theatre.
Tickets and Practical Info for First, Do No Harm in Sydney 🎟️
By Grace Malouf
Directed by Charley Allanah and Grace Malouf
Presented by NIDA, in association with bAKEHOUSE theatre and Tahlia M-K
KXT Theatre, 181 Broadway
Until 4 July 2026
Tickets: here
Cast
Melissa Annous: Kate Bookallil
Robert ‘Robbo’ Robertson: Richard Hilliar
Alexei Annous: Josh Merten
Ian Marney: Shan-Ree Tan
Ethics Head: Barry French
Creatives
Directors: Charley Allanah and Grace Malouf
Production Designer: Holden Jane Cohle
Lighting Designer: Theodore Carroll
Sound Designer: Ellie Wilson
Stage Manager: Bianca Dreis
Marketing: Alexander Holiday
Assistant Director: Jack Calver
Original Dramaturg: Brett Sheehy AO
Dramaturgy: Jordan Shea
Fight Choreography: Tim Dashwood
Publicity Images: Alexander Holiday
Producer: Talia M-K
