This July, Theatre Works proudly brings Nadia Tass’s production of acclaimed playwright Heather McDonald’s Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity to the stage, a haunting and urgent production that interrogates the cost of survival and the endurance of art in the face of devastation.
Set within the crumbling walls of a war-ravaged museum turned makeshift prison, the story follows three women forced into an uneasy alliance: a soldier hardened by violence, a nurse guarding deep secrets, and an art restorer desperately fighting to preserve the last remnants of beauty.
Directed by the legendary Nadia Tass, Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity is a tense, poetic, and unflinching examination of what endures when everything else is lost. In a world once again torn by conflict and division, it asks a powerfully relevant question: “When history is erased, who will remember what made us human?”
Playing as part of the By Theatre Works programming, don’t miss the opportunity to see this compelling Australian premiere inspired by the 2001 UNESCO proclamation of the same name. Running for a limited time, it promises to be yet another compelling addition to the 2026 Theatre Works in-house season.
Based in St Kilda, Theatre Works has been home to bold, independent theatre for more than 40 years. They give artists the space, support, and freedom to take risks, and audiences the chance to discover powerful new stories. Each year, they present dozens of productions across their three venues, created in partnership with some of the country’s most exciting theatre makers, solidifying their reputation as a vital ecosystem for independent artists.
Other 2026 By Theatre Works productions include Australian Open, Savages, Beyond The Neck, Mara, Red Sky Morning, Lazarus, The Wolves, and Lord of the Flies.
