The Cleanse





Booking Details
Event details
A bold new piece of contemporary Epic Theatre, inspired by the themes of The Crucible.
In a not-so-distant future, a revolutionary wellbeing program is sweeping through schools – promising unity, trust, and radical honesty. Each day, students gather for “cleansing” sessions: a safe space to confess mistakes, call out those who’ve wronged them, and pledge to do better. Every thought, and every feeling is monitored. All in the name of Care.
At first, it feels like real connection. But then the accusations begin. Stories twist. Friendships fracture. What begins as a movement towards truth spirals into a performance of wellness – where honesty becomes a weapon, and the cost of speaking out is social exile. Set in a chillingly familiar dystopia, The Cleanse is a gripping exploration of teenagers, truth, the ethics of surveillance and the human need for connection in a world ruled by fear and suspicion.
Key learning outcomes
Curriculum Links
Themes: Youth Issues, Consequences of Actions, Mental Health Awareness, Individuality, Truth and Perception, Peer Pressure, Surveillance and Privacy, Morality and Manipulation, Conscience vs Compliance
English: Australian texts, Language, Literature, English – Unit 1: Perspectives and Texts, Intertextuality
Drama: Performance techniques, Storytelling, Unit 1: Share – Youth Issues, Unit 3: Challenge, IA2 Stimulus, Exploring and Responding, Developing Practices and Skills, Epic Theatre
Dramatic Forms & Styles: Epic Theatre, Theatre of Social Comment, Physical Theatre, Ensemble, Satire, Hybridity of Form
General Capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, Ethical understanding, Personal and social capability
Additional Information
Booking Details
Duration: 50-minute performance + 10-minute Q&A
Setup: Actors require access to the performance space one hour prior to showtime.
Space Requirements: Minimum 7m × 7m indoor area with access to power.
Cost: $9.90 per student (including GST)
A minimum performance fee applies.
Inclusions: Teacher Resource Kit provided.
About the Artist
Shake & Stir has an outstanding national reputation for touring excellence. The company has been a finalist, four-times, for PAC Australia’s Tour of the Year, winning the Award in 2014 & 2015. It has been nominated for five Helpmann Awards including multiple nominations for Best Presentation for Children and Best Regional Tour. Shake & Stir has received 60+ Queensland Matilda Award nominations and won 15. In 2020, Shake & Stir was awarded the coveted Gold Matilda Award (for the second time) at the Queensland Theatre Awards, for its vast contribution to the sector.