Manly Theatre Group Presents: Le Chemin & The Life and Death of Harry Bennett

Buy Tickets

Celebrating the voices of two local playwrights, this premiere season brings together two original new Australian works that explore the search for meaning, identity, and human connection.

In Le Chemin, written by Manly playwright Liz Eastland, four pilgrims embark on the ancient Camino trails of France and Spain. As they journey through breathtaking landscapes and historic villages, the physical trek becomes a deeply personal voyage of self-discovery. Through dreamlike encounters and unexpected revelations, each traveller is challenged to confront the past and uncover what truly matters.

Paired with this is The Life and Death of Harry Bennett, by local playwright Barbara Courtille. Harry Bennett, a celebrated investigative journalist, has spent his life exposing the secrets of others while avoiding his own. When circumstances force him to examine his past, he finds himself navigating a surreal landscape populated by soul guides, celestial beings, and the unfinished business of a lifetime. Blending humour, imagination, and spiritual reflection, the play asks what it really means to live a fulfilled life.

Presented by Manly Theatre Group, this special double bill showcases the creativity and talent emerging from the Northern Beaches theatre community. Be among the first audiences in the world to experience these compelling new works as they make their debut on the stage. Read more

Thu, 16 Jul, 7pm - 10pm AEST

Fri, 17 Jul, 7pm - 10pm AEST

Sat, 18 Jul, 2pm - 5pm AEST

Sat, 18 Jul, 7pm - 10pm AEST

Thu, 23 Jul, 7pm - 10pm AEST

Fri, 24 Jul, 7pm - 10pm AEST

Sat, 25 Jul, 2pm - 5pm AEST

Sat, 25 Jul, 7pm - 10pm AEST

The Sky Theatre
Manly NSW, Australia

*There will be complimentary nibbles folllowing the Opening Night on Thursday 16 July and you are invited to stay and mingle with the cast, crew and audience.

Two playwrights. Two world premieres. One unforgettable evening of original independent theatre.

Two playwrights. Two world premieres. One unforgettable evening of original independent theatre.

We are an independent theatre company that creates accessible, affordable and original theatre for the local community

  • Two women sitting back-to-back on red chairs in front of a painted backdrop. One woman wears jeans, boots, and a scarf, while the other wears a denim dress and boots.

    Acting Workshops

    Acting sessions where we read scripts of short plays and scenes, or more specialised sessions such as improvisation or Shakespeare. Every three weeks.

  • Group of people sitting around a table in an office setting, with snacks and drinks, smiling and giving thumbs up.

    Writers Workshops

    Come to discuss ideas, delve into characters and plot twists. We run monthly drop-in workshops and more formal courses to develop original plays.

  • Group of people posing in front of a Sydney Theatre Company banner with a promotional image of a character from a play on the right.

    Social Events

    Host social events in Manly where everyone is invited to connect and perform. We also plan group trips into the city to enjoy performances by other theatre companies.

What People Say About Us…

“MTG is an amazing group, very inclusive, accepting and supportive... I’ve been able to act, write a script, partake in different workshops and meet a whole range of interesting people with different backgrounds and life experiences.”
“It is incredible what the team [from MTG] created in such a short period of time... From nothing, we now have a short play festival - 10 locally written plays, and all using local actors. It is so exciting to have a vibrant arts and culture scene happening in Manly.”
“Huge THANK YOU to the organisers of the Writing Course... such an enjoyable six weeks which grew a bunch of scripts from our group, even though some of us have never written before. I’ll miss the belly laughs!”
“[MTG] is such an awesome medium for having fun, being silly and creative and meeting new people! ”
“I’ve always felt like an outsider in my life, but since joining MTG, because everyone is so unique, I feel like I finally fit in somewhere.”
“I’ve been involved in community theatre since 1985... this lot really have put the “community” in community theatre”