The Authenticator

2 Aug — 4 Sep 2027

Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

Zindzi Okenyo (Destiny) directs this comedy-infused mystery-thriller about the past that won’t stay buried.

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This is rated 4 out of 5 stars

‘Riveting from start to finish.’

All That Dazzles
This is rated 4 out of 5 stars

‘Tense, talky [and] quietly incendiary.’

Broadway World
This is rated 4 out of 5 stars

‘Disarming but ebullient.’

The Guardian UK

ABOUT THE SHOW

What happens when a house reveals secrets that force you to rethink who you are?

Eccentric artist Fenella Harford has just inherited the stately mansion that’s been in her family for centuries. She’s a direct descendant of Henry Harford, whose Jamaican plantation was a fecund source of wealth and who, to Fenella’s knowledge,  had been a staunch abolitionist. When she discovers a cache of diaries, she enlists fledgling scholar Marva and her accomplished mentor, Abi, to confirm their authenticity. But in disturbing what’s been laid to rest, the trio unleash secrets darker than they could ever have imagined. 

Penned by award-winning playwright Winsome Pinnock – dubbed ‘the godmother of black British playwrights’ (The Guardian) – and directed by Zindzi Okenyo (Destiny), The Authenticator is a gripping, comedy-infused Gothic thriller.

This pacy yet pensive three-hander, starring Chika Ikogwe (Heartbreak High), Mandy McElhinney (Paper Giants: Magazine Wars ) and Brigid Zengeni (The Artful Dodger), is a refreshingly topical, entertaining theatrical experience for audiences hungry to uncover hidden histories.

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair Accessible

  • Hearing Assistance

  • Audio Described

  • Tactile Tour

  • Open Captioning

  • Closed Captioning

  • Auslan Interpreted

Performance Type Performance Date(s)
Audio Described
by Vision Australia
Saturday 21 August at 2pm
Tuesday 24 August at 6.30pm
Tactile Tour
at venue
Saturday 21 August at 2pm (Tactile tour commences at 1pm)
Open Captioning
via screen
Saturday 28 August at 2pm
Closed Captioning
GoTheatrical App
Saturday 28 August at 2pm
Auslan Interpreted More information here.
Artwork for Chika Ikogwe

Chika Ikogwe

Marva

Artwork for Mandy McElhinney

Mandy McElhinney

Fen

Artwork for Brigid Zengeni

Brigid Zengeni

Abi

Artwork for Winsome Pinnock

Winsome Pinnock

Writer

Artwork for Zindzi Okenyo

Zindzi Okenyo

Director

Artwork for Sophie Woodward

Sophie Woodward

Set & Costume Designer

Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

140 Southbank Boulevard

Southbank, Victoria 3006