Stray Dogs Theatre Company

12/04/2026

THE WHISPER
by Carl Caulfield
Presented by UpStage at the Playhouse
6 - 15 August 2026

12/01/2026

A reminder - Stray Dogs Theatre Company is seeking expressions of interest to audition for a role in Carl Caulfield’s new play, The Whisper, which will be part of UpStage at the Playhouse in Newcastle in August 2026.
Two roles have been pre-cast and there are three roles up for grabs: Norma, aged in her 50s, Cassie, in her late teens early 20s, and Ned, 70s/80s.
Please send expressions of interest to [email protected] with your name, age, and a brief summary of your theatre experience.
Auditions will be held on Saturday, Jan 31, venue TBA.
We are excited by the response to the first call out for EOIs!

21/12/2025

Stray Dogs Theatre Company is seeking expressions of interest to audition for a role in Carl Caulfield’s new play, The Whisper, which will be part of UpStage at the Playhouse in Newcastle in August 2026.
Two roles have been pre-cast and there are three roles up for grabs: Norma, aged in her 50s, Cassie, in her late teens early 20s, and Ned, 70s/80s.
Please send expressions of interest to [email protected] with your name, age, and a brief summary of your theatre experience.
Auditions will be held in the new year, by arrangement with the producers.
Click on the link to find out more about this exciting new work!

26/09/2025

Chookas to our friends Civic Theatre Newcastle for tonight's opening of This is Not Journalism by Ross Mueller. We love a newsroom street fight!

07/08/2025

The Play That Goes Wrong is making its way to Newcastle for a strictly limited season at the
Civic Theatre Newcastle from 19 – 31 August!

04/08/2025

30/10/2024

Come along to this work-in-progress free presentation on Callaghan campus, Shortland Building - exploring Newcastle convict artist Joseph Lycett. Great cast including Richard Murray as Captain James Wallis, Derek Fisher as convict artist Joseph Lycett, Samantha Lambert as female convict Beth Kettle and Jeffrey Cutts as Burigon.

28/10/2024

So, it's a wrap for Karma Kafé. Now that the dust settles - we can now look back at such a great experience and relish in the after-glow. Many thanks finally to such a fine cast, band & company & back-stage crew - but also here's to the warm & appreciative local audiences. This one will linger in the memory. Here's to the next Stray Dogs enterprise.

10/10/2024

Karma Kafé - 3 more shows to go - Civic Playhouse - tonight Friday 11th at 7:30pm - and the final Saturday 12th October at 2pm and 7:30pm. Images here by Elena Gan.

Heres' what our audiences have been saying:

Genevieve Costelloe
Such a great show! Loved the music and the play/musical!
I had a great big smile the whole time.😊
Definitely recommend to go see it!! It is on until the 12th November❤️🎼🙏

Kelly Brien
Congratulations Team Karma Kafe and beautiful cast ❤️

Sharen Richards
My family and I saw the show on opening night and we loved it! The name on the diploma on the shelf and the brown paper bag reference brought titters throughout the audience.
The cast were brilliant and believable. So glad we saw this production. It's 4 stars 🌟 from me...

Jamie Mitchell
Incredible show. Awesome musos, very nostalgic set and really authentic and sincere writing.

Anousha Victoire
Great show! Well done! Everyone should come see this one, very entertaining especially for those who’ve spent time haunting some of our local coffee shops over the years…

Dani Leigh
Enjoyed this very much tonight! Bravo 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

Goldbergs Coffee House
Do yourself a favour and head down to the Civic Theatre this week and enjoy a brilliant local play by Carl Caulfield - Karma Kafe.

Ron G Brown
Great Show. Congratulations to all involved. A topical tail that brings us all together. Each member of the cast contributed that little bit extra that made the whole bigger than the parts.

Alysson Watson
What a fantastic night at the theatre! Congratulations Carl Caulfield on a great show. I strongly encourage locals with a love of Newie to join the fun and stick it to the developers! And yes the Jack Russell Rex is in the play.

Rosalind Halton
Congrats to all cast, musos and of course Deus ex Macchina Carl
A damn good night out!

Hunter Community Forum
A special show that gets to the heart of what Newcastle is all about. The Story, the Music, the Voices and the Dancing are all simply the best. Well done to everyone involved. The audience and the cast merged together in a fitting finale as we celebrated what Karma Kafe stands for and means to us all here in Newy.

07/10/2024

07/10/2024

Still a chance to come & see our new musical Karma Kafé. Our first week went incredibly well with fantastic audience response. Shows this week at 7:30pm from Tuesday October 8th, Wednesday October 9th, Thursday, October 10, Friday October 11th and two shows on the final Saturday the 12th October ( and 7:30pm) Civic Playhouse on Hunter Street.
Here's a couple of great production stills by Elena Gan.
Come along & enjoy the Karma Kafé vibe with fun, heart, great cast and Gareth Hudson's exciting live music & band!

https://whatstheshow.com.au/karma-kafe-a-big-hearted-show/

06/10/2024

Karma Cafe is a new indie musical set in Newcastle, but it could be any town in Australia that faces the barrage of constant change and development. Writte...