Breaking the Castle
23 - 26 July 2025
In the Studio
Theatre
A true story walking the tightrope between heartbreak and hilarity, Breaking the Castle is a dark comedy about falling apart and faking your way through recovery - until you can't.
| Date | Time |
| Wednesday 23 July 2025 | 8:00pm |
| Thursday 24 July 2025 | 8:00pm |
| Friday 25 July 2025 | 8:00pm |
| Saturday 26 July 2025 | 3:00pm |
| Saturday 26 July 2025 | 8:00pm |
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard | $89.70 |
| Australian Senior card holders | $79.70 |
| Full-time Students | $60.00 |
| Groups 8+ To make a group purchase please call +61 2 9250 7700 | $60.00 |
$8.95 booking fee applies per transaction
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
Young people under the age of 15 must be accompanied at all times.
The only authorised ticket agency for this event is Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.
General Public tickets on-sale
9:00am, Monday 17 February 2025
Wheelchair accessible:
There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations in our theatres. To book accessible seating contact Box Office:
Telephone
+61 2 9250 7777
(Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST)
Email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House.
Run time
The duration of this performance is approximately 80 minutes with no interval
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
There is a strict lockout once the performance commences. Latecomers will be admitted after the first scene, approximately 3 minutes into the performance.
Age
Recommended for ages 16+
The performance will contain coarse language, simulated drug use, portrayals of mental illness, and adult themes.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
Arts HubAn extraordinary piece of writing…Cook’s performance is a tour de force
Useful information:
An hilarious, heartfelt true story of human resilience
Breaking the Castle follows the story of David, a struggling actor whose life is a chaotic blend of substance abuse, Shakespearean soliloquies, failed auditions, and debilitating mental health. David takes himself to the brink, until an unlikely lifeline offers hope in the mountains of South-East Asia.
This is not your average tale of addiction. It's a razor-sharp, darkly comic ride through one man’s chaos, full of warmth, laughter, and surprising hope. Think Trainspotting meets Fleabag-raw, real, and unexpectedly hilarious, with a huge heart that will have you leaving the theatre feeling inspired and uplifted.
A genuine work of empathy, Breaking the Castle is a remarkable true story about the indomitable nature of the human spirit.
A portion of the Box Office proceeds from Breaking the Castle will go to the Australian Anti Ice Campaign.
Banner image © Grant Leslie, Grant Leslie Photography
Presented by Cluster Arts Global in Association with BTC Productions
© Katie Bennett (Embellysh)
The New Current LondonA rare production that never lets you go
London Theatre OneA powerful and poignant production
Always Time for Theatre LondonCook’s Performance is Spectacular
Written and Performed by
Peter Cook
Director
Bridget Boyle
Designer
Raymond Milner
Lighting Designer
Ben Hughes
Sound Designer
Kimmo Venonnen
Production Manager
Freddy Komp
Ken Francey
Stage Manager
Rhiannon Tate
Dialect Coach
Linda Nicholls-Gidley
Producer, Cluster Arts
Debbie Wilks
Producer, BTC Productions
Peter Cook
Plan your visit
Venue information
Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer.
Getting here
The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see the Wilson Parking website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six minute walk to the Opera House.
Frequently asked questions
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. Resale restriction applies. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
Please contact Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
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