This May, Kafkaʼs Monkey lands at the Peacock Theatre for a limited season, delivering a bold, emotionally charged theatrical experience.
Starring acclaimed performer and Alexander Technique teacher Penny McDonald, and directed by Hobart-based creative Jacob Golding, this adaptation of Franz Kafkaʼs A Report to an Academy explores the cost of survival, identity, and the human condition through the eyes of a former ape forced to become a man.
Red Peter, once a free ape in the wild, recounts his transformation before a learned academy. Captured, caged, and compelled to adapt, he learns to walk, speak, and behave like a human—not to join society, but to escape it.
Told through a gripping, often darkly humorous monologue, Kafkaʼs Monkey is a chilling meditation on what we sacrifice in the name of assimilation. McDonald delivers a tour-de-force performance as Red Peter, blurring the line between human and animal with raw physicality and deep emotional precision. Known for her decades-long career in performance and international teaching of the Alexander Technique, Penny brings unparalleled depth and discipline to the role. She previously directed and performed in True West and directed This Is Our Youth, two highly praised Tasmanian productions that set a new standard for emotionally driven independent theatre in the state.
At the helm of the production is director and producer Jacob Golding, making his stage directorial debut. Golding co-produced and starred in both True West and This Is Our Youth, and is the founder of GOLDINGcreative, a multidisciplinary production company behind theatre, film, and creative projects throughout Tasmania. His work is defined by an emphasis on truthful, stripped-back storytelling and a deep connection to the Alexander Technique, which he is currently training to teach.
Kafkaʼs Monkey is produced by GOLDINGcreative, the company also behind The SESSIONS Project, Tasmaniaʼs growing platform for live performance and artist development. Known for championing raw, artist-led storytelling, GOLDINGcreative continues to build a strong reputation for delivering powerful and accessible creative works that challenge both performers and audiences alike.
Event Details: 📍 Venue: Peacock Theatre, Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart 📅 Dates: 21-25 May 2025 ⏳ Duration: Approximately 50 minutes (no interval) 🎟 Tickets: $40 Adult / $25 Concession & Student / $200 Group of 6 🎫 Bookings: Available via The SESSIONS Project website. Door sales available (subject to availability).
