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This show belongs to the Adelaide Fringe 2026 season. This season is now over.

A woman with long blonde hair, wearing a black blazer and red lipstick, stands behind a younger woman with dark braided hair in a white shirt. The younger woman looks away with a sullen expression while the older woman smiles confidently. The background is a bold red.
Adelaide Fringe 2026

The Debate

From the multi-award-winning team behind GROUNDED ★★★★★ and THAT BOY ★★★★★ comes a bold, darkly funny new drama starring award-winning actor Martha Lott.

A mother sits waiting, filled with ambition and pride. Her daughter, exceptional, smart and the state’s top debater, is on the verge of national selection, a rivalry ignites that pushes motherly love to the edge. She understands the power of words; it's her job. 

A campaign for success, personal ambition and political spin collide. A gripping exploration of control, morality, and the seductive power of persuasion — a mirror to our world of curated truths and competitive parenting. 

Darkly comic, sharply intelligent, and heartbreakingly human, THE DEBATE asks: when every story can be spun, what chance does the truth really have?

Presented by: Holden Street Theatres Inc. and Martha Lott

HST and Lott share a long-standing creative partnership built on a commitment to powerful storytelling and high-calibre independent theatre. They first presented the multi-award-winning production of Grounded by George Brant — a defining work that set a new benchmark for intimate, emotionally charged performance. Following this success, Martha wrote and performed her debut original work, That Boy, a critically acclaimed, award-winning production that achieved five-star, sell-out seasons and cemented her reputation as one of South Australia’s most fearless and insightful theatre-makers. Now, HST and Lott reunite to present a new work inspired by true stories and lived experience. Their ongoing collaboration continues to champion strong, deeply human works that resonate with audiences.
Theatre and Physical Theatre • Theatre
South Australia • World Premiere
 
Previous Award Winner
Reviews
  •   13
  •   7
  •   1
  •   9
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Suitability & warnings

Content rating: M
Target audience: High School (15-17)
Mental Health
Coarse Language: Occasional, Mild

Accessibility

 
High audio content

Presenter

Presented by: Holden Street Theatres Inc. and Martha Lott

HST and Lott share a long-standing creative partnership built on a commitment to powerful storytelling and high-calibre independent theatre. They first presented the multi-award-winning production of Grounded by George Brant — a defining work that set a new benchmark for intimate, emotionally charged performance. Following this success, Martha wrote and performed her debut original work, That Boy, a critically acclaimed, award-winning production that achieved five-star, sell-out seasons and cemented her reputation as one of South Australia’s most fearless and insightful theatre-makers. Now, HST and Lott reunite to present a new work inspired by true stories and lived experience. Their ongoing collaboration continues to champion strong, deeply human works that resonate with audiences.