Heartbreak Hotel
After winning the Critics’ Choice Best Play at the 2025 Time Out Melbourne Arts & Culture Awards, 'Heartbreak Hotel' is returning to Melbourne for a strictly limited time from July 14-19 at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Fairfax Studio.
Created by New Zealand theatre company EBKM and directed by Eleanor Bishop, the acclaimed production follows one woman’s journey through heartbreak with humour, honesty and an awesome soundtrack of break-up hits. Performed by Karin McCracken and Simon Leary, the 75-minute show blends memoir, science and music to explore what really happens to our bodies and minds when relationships fall apart.
From synth-backed anthems to sharp observations on love, loss and modern dating, 'Heartbreak Hotel' moves between comedy, realism and surreal moments – including a whirlwind through Berlin’s club scene. Following sold-out performances at Rising and international tours through Edinburgh, London, Toronto and New York, this heartfelt and hilarious production returns to Melbourne for one final week. Find out more and book tickets for here.
Read our five-star review of 'Heartbreak Hotel' from June 2025.
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There’s the sound of gentle sobbing in the audience when Karin McCracken gets her tax return during Heartbreak Hotel. Sitting there, also gently sobbing, I tried to remember who it was that said "There are two certainties in this world: death and taxes". I also wondered if heartbreak should be included as a third certainty, or if 'death' was close enough.
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