Sevenfold Theatre Company are excited to announce a one-off Concert Reading of Zoë Harlen’s brand new Australian musical, This Means War. This Concert Reading will be brought to you following a two-week creative development as part of the La Mama Residency program.

Adapted from the middle-grade science fiction book The Cockroach War (written by Jonathan Harlen), the musical uses a mixture of Australiana nostalgia and absurdist comedy to explore themes of connection, conflict, protest and power. This is an opportunity to be among the first to hear the script and score for This Means War ahead of Sevenfold’s mounting of a full production in 2026. Post concert, there will be the chance to network with the creatives. Sevenfold are looking for collaborators, partnerships and supporters for the future of This Means War.

Plot Synopsis:

“When the Cadwalladers win over half a billion dollars in the lottery, they turn from nice and normal into the Neighbours From Hell. For Toby Judge and brainiac sister Emma, this means war, so they hatch a plan to fight back. How? By creating a creeping, crawling, remote-controlled insect army, of course! Because when you discover the real pests are your filthy rich, nasty neighbours, cockroaches aren't a problem... They're the solution.”

PRODUCTION TEAM

Writer / Co-Director / Narrator - Zoë Harlen (she/they)

Co-Director / Producer - Zachary Dixon (they/them)

Producer - Karli Rae Riesen (she/her)

Pianist - Kristie Thai (she/her)

Marketing Manager - Jessica Fanwong (she/her)

Stage Manager - Frankie Lupton (he/him)

CAST

Lucy May Knight (they/she)

Nicole Rammesh (she/her)

Elle Sejean-Allen (she/her)

Jaron Why (he/him)

Tristan Sicari (he/him)

Tilly Legge (she/her)

Jackson Cross (he/him)

Chelsea Hyde (she/her)

Stephanie Beza (she/her)

Emerson Brophy (he/him)

Hayden Rodgers (they/them)