The Robot Dog

1  —  19 MAR 2025

Southbank Theatre, The Lawler

A cheeky comedy set in an all-too-believable future, The Robot Dog sinks its teeth into some of the most provocative and challenging questions of our time.

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The Robot Dog is part of our acclaimed Education & Families Program.

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WINNER 2022 Bruntwood Playwriting
Prize International Award

Roshelle Yee Pui Fong
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‘Intriguing and unexpected from beginning to the end.’

Peril Magazine on Nomnomnom by Roshelle Yee Pui Fong

ABOUT THE SHOW

Bark meets byte in this thrilling tale exploring technology, language and culture in a fast-evolving world.

It’s 2042 and Australia is more automated than ever before. Janelle, a woman of Cantonese heritage, and her partner Harry, a First Nations man, move back into Janelle’s family home after the death of her mother. As they attempt to navigate their work, relationship and job seeking requirements, they find themselves assisted by the quirky AI controlling their home and a robotic therapy dog. Janelle and Harry are quickly swept into a world of augmentations, restrictions and chaos. Does their new hi-tech life help them connect to culture and each other, or does it hinder it?

The Robot Dog is an intercultural sci-fi comedy with a big, beating heart. A collaboration between Hong Kong-born multidisciplinary artist Roshelle Yee Pui Fong and Luritja writer and technologist Matthew Ngamurarri Heffernan with director Amy Sole (Blak in the Room), The Robot Dog promises to be a relatable, imaginative and highly theatrical production full of humour and humanity.


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Commissioned and developed through Melbourne Theatre Company’s NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program, with the support of our Playwrights Giving Circle.

Presented in association with
ASIATOPA Primary logo black 2024 eordtz

Asia TOPA is a joint initiative of Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sidney Myer Fund, supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, Playking Foundation and the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair Accessible

  • Hearing Assistance

  • Audio Described

  • Tactile Tour

  • Open Captioning

  • Closed Captioning

Performance Type Performance Date(s)
Audio Described
by Vision Australia
Thursday 6 March at 1.30pm
Tactile Tour
at venue
Thursday 6 March at 1.30pm (Tactile tour commences at 1pm)
Open Captioning Please email mtcticketing@mtc.com.au for more information
Closed Captioning Please email mtcticketing@mtc.com.au for more information
Roshelle Fong

Roshelle Fong

Writer

Artwork for Matthew Ngamurarri Heffernan

Matthew Ngamurarri Heffernan

Writer

Artwork for Amy Sole

Amy Sole

Director

The Lawler

140 Southbank Boulevard

Southbank, Victoria 3006