The
Cardinal
Rules
''The Cardinal Rules already feels timeless...''
Tadgh Mackay, Art Murmurs, NZ
''The performance of Maher was truly magnetising to watch, across all ages, states of humanity and topics. Their performance was outstanding and I find myself draining thesaurus.com for synonyms to excellent.''
Tadgh Mackay, Art Murmurs, NZ
''...The script is beautifully acted. All three performers are superb.''
James Redwood, Theatreview NZ
Tadgh Mackay, Art Murmurs, NZ
''Together they weave an ethereal web of story, commentary and comedy to deliver a message that’s more relevant than ever...''
Elliot Lam, Wellyott Reviews, NZ
Thoroughly relatable humour, staggering humanity...and pushy Aunties from the ancestral plane!
An enthralling ride through one woman's personal awakening as she realises that things are not always as they seem. The Cardinal Rules is a funny, touching and occasionally confronting memory play, gliding between reality and the surreal.
It ushers the audience through the devastatingly relatable struggle to either speak up an change things forever, or stick to the comfort of the status quo.
With the help of two mysterious Aunties from the ancestral plane, The Cardinal Rules is a genre bending celebration of life...and a rallying cry to stand up for what we believe in.
Content Warnings: this show infers suicide and child sexual abuse. 16+.
Concept /Co-writer/Performer Rose Maher
Co-writer/Performer Alison Bennett
Director Jo Turner
Performer Martelle Hammer
Production Designer Andrea Espinoza
Lighting Designer Chloe Weeks
Sound Designer Gail Priest
Movement Director Cloé Fournier
The first two seasons of The Cardinal Rules were devised and performed with Ali Gordon as director and Jane Phegan as performer. Their contribution to this work was crucial and permeates every performance. Thank you for everything Ali & Jane, especially the heart to hearts...and the nachos.
Special thanks to Maddie Baghurst & Nick O'Regan for their contributions in the early days.
The Cardinal Rules was first developed in 2020 under Kate Champion, through the MERRIGONGX & Performing Lines Digital Arts Residency. MERRIGONGX has supported two further developments (2021 & 2022-2023), the MERRIGONGX Performance season in 2024 & Made In Wollongong at Sydney Fringe in 2025. The Cardinal Rules was also supported through the Theatre and Performance Studies Artist Residency at the University of Sydney, The Greenhouse National Artists Residency at HotHouse Theatre, Erth Visual & Physical Inc. & Shopfront's Open Shop Program.
We acknowledge Dharawal Country on which significant periods of development of this work took place.
