Continuity | New Theatre, Newtown | Sydney

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https://newtheatre.org.au/continuity/

Date Reviewed: 29/05/2026

The Ice Is Fake. The Questions Are Real

Bess Wohl's Continuity, directed by Sahn Millington and currently playing at New Theatre in Newtown, is the kind of play that sneaks up on you. What begins as a fast-paced comedy about a dysfunctional film crew shooting the final scene of a climate change blockbuster gradually reveals itself to be something far more thoughtful. Set on an artificial Arctic ice shelf built in the middle of the New Mexico desert, the production cleverly exposes the contradictions of an industry trying to sell environmental awareness while operating within a system driven by money, image and convenience.

The play's greatest strength is its humour. The audience is quickly drawn into the chaos of production delays, creative disagreements and inflated egos. Anyone with experience in film or theatre will recognise the familiar panic that emerges when a project starts slipping out of control. The comedy feels authentic rather than exaggerated, making the characters easy to engage with despite their flaws.

The ensemble cast creates a believable sense of a working film crew, with strong chemistry and natural performances throughout. While the characters often represent larger ideas about ambition, compromise and responsibility, they never feel like simple stereotypes. Their frustrations and insecurities give the story an emotional grounding beneath the satire.

Visually, the production embraces the artificial nature of filmmaking. The set never attempts to convince the audience they are in the Arctic, and that is precisely the point. The visible theatricality becomes a constant reminder that both cinema and society are often built on carefully constructed illusions.

What impressed me most was the way Continuity balances entertainment with commentary. Rather than preaching about climate change, it asks uncomfortable questions about accountability and whether good intentions are enough. The play acknowledges that many people understand the problem yet continue participating in systems that contribute to it.

While the play becomes more reflective in its later moments, it never loses sight of the humour and humanity that make the story so engaging. By the final scene, the laughter has given way to reflection.

At just 80 minutes, Continuity is a witty, intelligent and surprisingly relevant production that offers more than a behind-the-scenes look at filmmaking. Through its sharp humour and thoughtful commentary, it encourages audiences to consider the contradictions that exist between what we say, what we create and how we choose to act. 

By examining the gap between belief and behaviour, the production succeeds as both entertaining and thought-provoking theatre.

Reviewed by Adrianna Janice