What happens when a whole town is offered a fortune — but at a terrible moral cost?
Blackwood Players’ final production for 2025, The Visit, is a powerful and unsettling classic by Swiss playwright Friedrich Dürrenmatt, directed by Greg Elliott. The play explores morality, justice, and the price of greed in a darkly satirical story that’s both gripping and disturbingly relevant.
When the fabulously wealthy Claire Zachanassian returns to her impoverished hometown, the locals welcome her with open arms. But their joy quickly turns to unease when she makes an outrageous offer: she’ll make them rich — if they agree to deliver what she calls justice. What follows is a wickedly clever mix of comedy, suspense and social commentary, as the townspeople’s morals slowly bend under the weight of temptation.
“The Visit is a more serious drama than our first two productions,” says director and Blackwood Players’ President, Greg Elliott.
“We’re using the hall in a more adventurous way, bringing the audience closer to the action,” he says.
“It’s shaping up to be a great show and we are hoping to get some solid houses of theatre lovers from Blackwood and beyond.”
The cast features Erin McAllister as Claire Zachanassian, whom Blackwood audiences may remember from her powerhouse performance as Carla Pepperbloom in the Players’ production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Comic Potential earlier this year. Alongside Erin will be some other return actors for Blackwood Players, including The Government Inspector alumni Fabiola Calderon and Kenya Styles, and Matthew Chant, who appeared with Blackwood Players in Comic Potential. Also joining the cast are Nic Betts as Anton Schill, Elisabeth Entraigues as the Mayor, plus Laura Tregloan, Rob de Kok, Doug de Souza, Annelise Fuller, Felicity Stanway, and Katie Adams.
The Players are pleased to welcome back Janet Jauncey who is well known in local theatre circles, and will step up behind the scenes as Stage Manager, while also appearing on stage as several of the colourful townsfolk.
“Erin McAllister will be fabulous as Claire, and the whole cast is embracing the challenge of this extraordinary play,” Greg adds.
Following the success of both Comic Potential and The Government Inspector in 2025, which followed a changing of the guard and a new direction for the Blackwood Players committee, the group, which celebrates its 75th year in 2026, looks forward to welcoming audiences back for another thought-provoking and entertaining production.
“We want to be known as a theatre group that’s not afraid to take creative risks,” says Greg. “The Visit is one of those plays that makes you laugh — and then think. We can’t wait to share it with the community.”
Performance Details
Blackwood Memorial Hall, 21 Coromandel Parade, Blackwood
Fridays 21 & 28 November – 8pm; Saturdays 22 & 29 November – 2pm & 8pm
Tickets: $25 Adult | $20 Concession | $15 Student. Book now via TryBooking: https://www.trybooking.com/DFMTK
(Please note: seating for The Visit is general admission (auditorium style). Ticket holders may sit anywhere in the hall.)