Angela Betzien’s award-winning play picks up in the Northern Territory, and across an evening sees ‘six lost souls’ play out tragedy, love-sickness and social breakdown – only it’s not all on a single evening.

It’s a “rollercoaster exploration into human emotion”, with powerful performances and a “thrilling story to tell”, Ms Bates said of the Betzien production, and she hopes Newcastle embraces the thriller’s debut in town.

“It’s all set in one motel room, but it has a number of stories, twists and layers over the top of each other,” she explained. “It’s an interesting format with the overlap of scenes, and I think it’s been interesting to share this journey down a metaphorical dark path.”

“This play has been done before, but it’s new for us and we’re experiencing this thrilling story together. It raises a lot of information about things we [the cast] hadn’t really had experiences of before, and it gets into really quite extreme subject matter.

Ms Bates also revealed she was taking bags of lollies to a lot of the later rehearsals, as the cast began to fully envelope themselves in the dark nature of the story.

“We have been really nice to each other as we work our way through telling this story, it’s a big rollercoaster exploration of human emotion,” she said. “I have been taking lollies for everyone when we’re working just for a bit of a ‘pick-me-up’ so that we are all still keeping those smiles on our faces.”

“That said, it’s incredibly challenging for the actors and for me directing. Everyone involved has really enjoyed the chance to grapple with this fantastic story. I think it’s going to be really great to watch.”

The Dark Room cast also boasts a number of CONDA-winning actors, all of whom have “given it their all”, according to the play’s director.

As well as locals Mathew Lee and Jan Hunt, Sydney’s Mark Pegler made the switch Stooged Theatre for the narrative.

“Pegler brings a lot of long-term experience for the cast, and he combines well with everyone,” Ms Bates said. “We are really lucky to have a lot of passion, and brilliance, in the play. There’s a range of talent and experience and bringing them all together has made it amazing.”

“One thing we do is at every rehearsal we do a warm-up where people share their stories and games and it has added a behind-the-scenes dynamic where we’re all bonded on the journey together.”

Also in the cast is Samantha Lambert (playing Emma), Maike Strichow (Grace) and Neville Williams Boney (Joseph).

The first date for The Dark Room will be Wednesday, August 1 at the Civic Playhouse, with shows running until Saturday evening. All performances will be 8pm, with an added Saturday matinee at 2pm on the weekend.

The play runs for 80 minutes, and tickets are priced from $25. Bookings available online at premier.ticketek.com.au/Shows/Show.aspx?sh=DARKROOM18.