Counting and Cracking, the play by Sri Lankan Australian playwright S Shakthidharan and Eamon Flack, has made history by winning seven Green Room Theatre Awards, making it the most awarded South Asian production in Australian history.
The epic three-hour drama first premiered in 2018 at Sydney’s Belvoir St Theatre, and then in 2024 in Melbourne where it opened the Rising Festival and the University of Melbourne's new Arts and Cultural Precinct (UMAC).
It traces a Sri Lankan Tamil family’s journey across five decades, from 1956 to 2004, spanning four generations. Set against the backdrop of key historical events such as the Sinhala Only Act of 1956 and the Black July Riots of 1983, Counting and Cracking explores the lives of four generations of a Sri Lankan Tamil family.
The play delves into themes of family, identity, civil war, and migration. The play also weaves in cultural connections, including an Aboriginal character with Tamil ancestry inspired by the Yolŋu people and the film Ten Canoes, highlighting a dialogue between Indigenous Australian and Tamil histories.
The Green Room Awards are Melbourne's premier, peer-presented, performing arts industry awards. The awards night was held on 5 May 2025, and Counting and Cracking was nominated in seven cateories. Counting and Cracking swept all seven categories, winning:
- Outstanding New Australian Writing - S Shakthidharan with Eamon Flack
- Outstanding Ensemble,
- Outstanding Composition and Sound Design - Stefan Gregory
- Outstanding Set & Costume Design - Dale Ferguson
- Outstanding Direction - Eamon Flack and S Shakthidharan
- Outstanding Performance - Nadie Kammallaweera
- Outstanding Production
This sweep marks a rare feat with the production outshining over 380 shows considered in the 2024 season.
Playwright S Shakthidharan, also known as Shakthi, is a Western Sydney storyteller of Tamil ancestry, who has long championed authentic representation in theatre.
Reflecting on the win, Shakthi said, “When I was younger I so often felt alone in my work. Through the journey of Counting and Cracking I have found my artistic family. I’ve found a way to belong. A way to feel safe.”
This personal reflection underscores the play’s significance beyond the stage, highlighting its role in fostering community and belonging. Indeed, many Sri Lankans who attended the play in Melbourne and Sydney believed it brought about a sense of shared inter-generational understanding, witnessing and healing.
In an earlier interview with SAARI Collective, Shakthi emphasised the play’s core belief, “People are fundamentally good and have reasons for what they do, which means we can make sense of everything.” This ethos permeates Counting and Cracking and its enduring impoact of fostering understanding across divides.
Shakthi’s writing draws on his personal connection to the narrative, with the story rooted in his family’s experiences and the pain of the 1983 riots and the experience of his mother Anandavalli. Althought initially resistant due to buried trauma, Anandavalli now sees the production as a way to reclaim Sri Lankan identity beyond violence.
The play’s achievement marks a significant moment for Australian theatre, showing increased interest in diverse stories. It earned seven nominations and wins in 2025, compared to other major productions Groundhog Day (11 nominations) and Candide (9 nominations). The play was met with sold-out shows, with performances at the University of Melbourne’s Union Theatre (May 31–June 23, 2024) and Carriageworks, Sydney (June 28–July 21, 2024), which amplified its reach.
Counting and Cracking not only celebrates Shakthi’s vision but also paves the way for future productions to prioritise authentic, inclusive narratives, reshaping Australian theatre.
Key team members:
- S Shakthidharan (Playwright)
- Eamon Flack (Associate Writer, Director)
- Nadie Kammallaweera (Performer)
- Dale Ferguson (Set and Costume Designer)
- Stefan Gregory (Composer and Sound Designer)
- Damien Cooper (Lighting Designer)
- Anandavalli (Choreographer)
- Ensemble Cast (including Vaishnavi Suryaprakash, Kalieaswari Srinivasan, Jay Emmanuel, Antonythasan Jesuthasan, Shiv Palekar, Rarriwuy Hick, Rodney Afif, Gandhi MacIntyre, Abbie-lee Lewis)
Dhwani Pathak is a media professional with extensive experience in storytelling, content strategy, and communications. Based in Canberra, with a keen eye for human interest stories, she aims to contribute meaningfully to the evolving media landscape. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
