8 More Years
10–12 December 2025
PIP Theatre, 20 Park Road Milton
Brisbane’s upcoming Olympic Games has inspired a new Australian Play to be premiered at PIP Theatre’s annual Toucan Club Festival.
8 More Years is a quintessentially Australian comedy with relatable flavour. The classic suburban family with petty dramas set against the backdrop of the Olympic countdown.
Playwright Amelia Slatter said she wanted the piece to be a conversation starter.
“I wanted to tell a story from a local and timely perspective. Something relatable, funny and silly, but also one that looks at how the upcoming Olympics will change Brisbane,” she said.
“News stories kept popping up about Queensland gearing up for the Games, with large scale developments on the cards. Specifically, the new Olympic stadium being built at Victoria Park and locals protesting against the development. Public transport, congestion, cost of living, and housing affordability are all things that will change how we live in the lead up to the games. Back in 2024, it got me thinking, what would Brisbane be like in 8 years’ time?”
Slatter said the play isn’t intended to be a political stab.
“I’m not opposed to the Olympics. It’s intended to hold up a cheeky mirror to our home, our habits and the hilarious chaos that ensues with change. It is intended to spark a conversation about navigating change, not only socially and economically, but within a family unit.”
The play touches on some very real challenges faced by everyday Australian families, set against the backdrop of a fundamental part of our national identity – sporting culture. It begs the question, how do we navigate progress and change?
Slatter will also star in the production, as Tracy Baxter, a precocious 8-year-old who isn’t happy about her favourite park getting bulldozed. Sam Herbertson will star as the 14-year-old Olympic potential Jay-sun Baxter, Hayden Burke as Coach and Meryn Cooper as Mum.
Award winning actor, theatre maker and puppeteer, Calum Johnston will direct the production, with lighting design by Noah Milne, and sound by Cam Cahill.
For ticketing and further information, visit the PIP Theatre website
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