Let’s get one thing straight: We’re All Gonna Die! is not a polite, sit-back-and-golf-clap kind of theatre show. It’s a full-throttle, Brisbane-flavoured monster movie that’s burst off the screen and onto the stage—bin-bag monsters, couch cars, Brissie rock playlist and all. And somehow, amid all the chaos, it still manages to sneak in a gut-punch of truth about the utter hot mess we’re making of the planet.
La Boite Theatre and Dead Puppet Society (DPS) have teamed up to create a spectacle that’s part eco-thriller, part schlock horror, part live-action comic book, and all heart. Directed by DPS’s David Morton and La Boite’s Courtney Stewart, this world premiere is an ambitious blend of cutting-edge puppetry, digital wizardry, and some good old-fashioned physical comedy.
The story follows Theo (played with impressive straight-faced tenacity by Milena Nesic), a Brisbane student who realises something monstrous is stirring beneath the waters. Predictably, no one listens until it’s way too late, and the monster starts trashing the city. Classic. What follows is a wild, hilarious, and unexpectedly moving romp through Brisbane’s iconic landmarks as Theo and a rotating cast of side characters (all played by a small but mighty ensemble of Louise Brehmer, Ngoc Phan, Anthony Standish, and Hsiao-Ling Tang) scramble to save the day.
One of the show’s greatest joys is watching these actors play character-hopscotch, sometimes switching personas multiple times mid-scene, having conversations about the two characters they’re simultaneously playing. It’s chaotic in the best possible way, and the cast absolutely revels in it. They all take turns stealing scenes from each other, without ever upstaging the story itself. It’s gloriously joyous to watch.
But the real MVP of We’re All Gonna Die! might just be the design. DPS has gone to town with their signature intricate puppetry, giving us a cutout Brisbane skyline that morphs from sun-drenched postcard to storm-ravaged apocalypse. The monsters—which are essentially glorified bin bags with googly eyes and long, menacing tentacles—somehow manage to be both terrifying and weirdly adorable, thanks to clever puppeteering and expressive movement. You’d be surprised how much empathy you can feel for a monster when its eyes shift nervously and the actors treat it like a living, breathing character. (I deliberately didn’t include images of the monsters here because discovering them on stage is a real joy).
For this production, DPS has seriously upped the ante, experimenting with shadow puppets, digital overlays, and even robotic enhancements that breathe new life into their creatures. It’s a wild mash-up of old-school craftsmanship and high-tech wizardry, where a flickering shadow can loom larger than life, and a twitch of a mechanical limb makes a monster feel unsettlingly alive.
The show’s tech elements are no slouch either. Brady Watkins’ sound design and Dean Hanson’s gloriously Brisbane soundtrack (think The Go-Betweens, Powderfinger, The Veronicas, and a touch of sci-fi synth) do a lot of heavy lifting in setting the mood—whether it’s the calm-before-the-storm hum or the full-throttle chaos of a city under siege. Ben Hughes’ lighting design also deserves a shoutout, especially during the apocalyptic scenes where Brisbane’s iconic Wheel and skyline seem to crumble in a flash of lightning and colour.
Special mention goes to my personal favourite prop: the couch-car hybrid. Yes, it’s literally a couch with headlights on the armrests and wheels, and it’s as brilliantly ridiculous as it sounds.
Despite all the slapstick and monster mayhem, We’re All Gonna Die! lands its punches when it comes to its message. Maddie Nixon’s script is razor-sharp in its wit, but it’s also a sobering commentary on generational responsibility: a love letter to Brisbane, but also a wake-up call about what happens when we ignore the consequences of our own waste. It’s Gen Z framed as the planet’s reluctant superheroes, fighting battles they didn’t create, and it hits home without getting preachy.
In the end, this is a show that doesn’t try to be subtle and that’s exactly why it works. It’s loud, proud, messy, and inventive, and beneath all the monster mayhem is a heart that’s very much in the right place. You’ll laugh, you’ll cheer, you’ll probably leave with a new favourite Brisbane band on your playlist, and you might even think twice about where your rubbish ends up.
WHAT: We’re All Gonna Die!
WHEN: 30 July–16 August 2025,
WHERE: La Boite Roundhouse Theatre, 6 – 8 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove.
TICKETS: www.laboite.com.au
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
