The Doll Trilogy – The Complete Series

For the first time in 40 years, Red Stitch will present the entire Doll trilogy, performed back-to-back in a single day by one ensemble, just as Lawler intended.

Lauded as a defining monument of 20th-century Australian theatre, Ray Lawler’s The Doll Trilogy charts the transformation of a nation through the intimate lives of Roo, Barney, Olive, Nancy, and those around them.

Lawler’s masterful writing brings working-class Melbourne to life with warmth, humour, and sensitivity, beautifully realised by Red Stitch. From the playful romance of Kid Stakes in 1937, through the war-shadowed years of Other Times, to the shattering finale of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll in 1953, these characters embody idealism, disappointment, and resilience against the backdrop of a rapidly changing Australia.

Whether you’re encountering Lawler’s characters for the first time or revisiting them with fresh eyes, The Doll Trilogy promises an unforgettable theatrical journey – one that speaks to who we were, who we are, and how the past continues to shape us.