↓ Skip to main content

A Campfire Story
#

Imagine: You are sitting at a campfire. However, before you can get too settled, a mysterious narrator appears. They begin to tell you a family legend, the tale of Jane Mackilgray.

According to this legend, Jane is a farmer who’s struggling after her husband’s demise. Her two sons hate each other. Her daughter-in-law wants to take over her farm. She’s starting to see unexplainable shadows in the corners of her home.

But not everything is as it seems. The deeper the narrator gets into their story, the stranger things become. Wolves howl in the distance. Characters that begin as mere verbal descriptors manifest in the physical space. What starts out as a straightforward campfire story transforms into a fully-fledged, theatrical production.

Come for the campfire. Stay for the marshmallows. Experience a night of theatre that you’ll never forget.

Running Time
#

Two hours with a 15 minute internal.

Praise for A Campfire Story
#

“With creepy but brilliant directing, creative writing, and gut-wrenchingly powerful performances, the entire show is constantly engaging, bringing laughs and tears to the audience.” – Astra Milne, ATYP Reviews

“Loved the show, co-written and directed by Joel Burrows. A Gothic Australian tale about grief, the complexity of family dynamics, fraternal rivalry, denial, and the impolite-to-admit freedom that can come from someone’s death.” – Lipin Tohz, Founder of Lit

“It was so lovely to see a new Aussie work, under the stars, in a gorgeous location. Interesting characters, dark goings on, a campfire, and marshmallows. What more could you want? ” – Suz Mawer Director

Performance History
#

Premier season – Manly Dam, 2022

Second season – Sydney Fringe Festival, 2025

Media Appearances
#

Love A Spooky Story? This Sydney Play Might Be Right Up Your (Haunted) Alley – Buzzfeed
#

In this interview, Joel Burrows gives Buzzfeed a sneak peek of A Campfire Story’s 2025 season. He unpacks what makes this play so spooky and special.

Marshmallows and Theatre: A Campfire Story is back at Manly Dam – Manly Observer
#

In this interview, the Campfire Story cast dives into this work’s nitty-gritty details. Rocco Forrester-Sach and Angela Johnston discuss why A Campfire Story succeeds when performed outside. Meanwhile, Simon Arthur talks about his favorite scene from the play.