In our first Backstage Blog of 2026, we spoke to Chris Patrick Hansen, Artistic Director of Paracosm and creator of BLACKPILL: REDUX , a bold and total evolution of the smash hit BLACKPILL. which sold out the Explosives Factory and enjoyed widespread critical success in April 2025. As online misogynistic hate communities continue to grow in reach and vitriol, their members are quietly refining methods to recruit and radicalise young boys with alarming precision. Shielded by

ABOUT THEATRE WORKS     Founded in 1983, Theatre Works is one of Australia’s leading independent theatre companies, supporting the development, presentation, and touring of new performance works.    Based in St Kilda on Boon Wurrung Country, Theatre Works operates a multi-venue precinct comprising the Main Theatre, Explosives Factory, TWiSK rehearsal space, and the Black Box Café & Outdoor Stage. Each year, the organisation supports hundreds of artists and presents more than

As I write this, my final season foreword for Theatre Works, I am filled with a deep mix of pride, gratitude, and a sense of completion. After eight years as Executive Director, I will be stepping down in July 2026. Announcing this with a long lead time allows for a careful, considered transition (the kind of transition this organisation deserves) and ensures that the complex, multi-faceted work of leading Theatre Works can be handed over with clarity, stability, and care. Wh