Scary Goats Theatre has built a reputation for daring independent work that refuses to sit neatly in any one genre. With A Twist of Fate, their anthology of short plays, the company has found a winning format: sharp, self-contained stories that lure the audience into familiar territory before pulling the rug out from under them with a devastating or darkly comic twist. Season 3 continues this tradition and, in many ways, feels like the most confident and cohesive season yet.
What makes A Twist of Fate so engaging is its variety. Each short play has its own voice, its own style, and its own unnerving surprise, but together they weave a tapestry that explores unsettling corners of human experience. The anthology is unified not by plot but by tone a balance of eerie suspense, social commentary, and a streak of camp humour that keeps the evening from ever becoming too heavy.Season 3 moved between themes of identity, morality, and human frailty. None of the plays overstayed their welcome; they were brisk, tightly written pieces that delivered maximum impact within their brief runtime. That economy of storytelling is one of Scary Goats’ strengths the audience is constantly kept on their toes, leaning forward in anticipation of the inevitable twist.
The production was staged with admirable restraint. Directors trusted the stories to live and die by their performances rather than spectacle. Sets were minimal, often suggestive rather than literal, with atmosphere conjured through lighting shifts, sound cues, and the actors’ presence. This sparseness worked in the show’s favour, focusing attention on the human drama at the centre of each play while giving the evening a cohesive aesthetic.The pacing of the night was sharp. Transitions between plays were quick, keeping momentum without losing clarity. Tonal shifts were managed deftly, allowing the audience to laugh in one moment and shiver the next. Programming four distinct stories in a single evening without jarring dissonance is no easy feat, but Season 3 flowed naturally, with each play complementing the others.
The night was anchored by two exceptional performances.Liliana Braumberger in Mr Id was a force of nature. From her first moment on stage, she commanded attention with a raw, unsettling energy. Her performance was layered and complex: intimidating one moment, almost fragile the next. Braumberger captured the contradictions of the character, exposing the uncomfortable tension between desire and destruction. It was acting that made the skin crawl while still pulling you closer, a reminder of why live theatre can be so electrifying.On the other end of the spectrum, Cassandra Hart in Bestow offered a masterclass in restraint and control. Where Braumberger thrived on volatility, Hart drew power from silence, stillness, and nuance. Her performance was quietly devastating, filled with small choices that spoke volumes. Every pause felt deliberate, every look charged with unspoken meaning. Hart brought dignity and gravity to Bestow that lingered long after the piece ended, leaving the audience with a profound unease that was impossible to shake.These two performances stood out not only for their brilliance but also for the way they embodied the anthology’s breadth: Braumberger explosive and visceral, Hart precise and haunting.
What makes A Twist of Fate so compelling is not just the individual plays or performances but the cumulative effect. By the end of the evening, the audience has been pulled through a carousel of emotions laughter, dread, discomfort, and reflection. The twists may be the hook, but it’s the human stories beneath them that give the show staying power.Season 3 is proof that Scary Goats Theatre has found a niche worth cultivating. It’s theatre that entertains but also unsettles, theatre unafraid to take risks while still keeping a sense of play. Above all, it’s theatre that showcases performances like those of Liliana Braumberger and Cassandra Hart that remind us of the intimacy and immediacy only live performance can provide.
Independent theatre in Melbourne is alive and well and audiences would do well to take the twist-laden ride while they can.
