A gripping true story comes to the Civic Playhouse

A century after the events that inspired it, Radium Girls is coming to Newcastle for four performances at the Civic Playhouse.

From Thursday, 5 November to Saturday, 7 November, Hunter Drama’s Actors Company and Knock And Run Theatre will bring D.W. Gregory’s historical drama Radium Girls to the stage.

Set in the 1920s, the play follows young women employed to paint luminous watch dials using radium, which at the time was celebrated as a breakthrough of modern science.

They were told the paint was safe. When workers began developing serious illnesses, dial painter Grace Fryer took on the U.S. Radium Corporation in a fight to have the truth heard.

Directed by Knock And Run Theatre Artistic Director James Chapman, the production looks at corporate power, scientific ambition and what happens when ordinary people are forced to fight to be believed.

Chapman describes the play as dark, funny and fast-paced, with questions around trust, corporate interests and ignored warnings that still feel familiar 100 years later.

The Newcastle production features a large local ensemble and runs for approximately two hours and 15 minutes, including interval. It is recommended for ages 10 and over.

Radium Girls

When: Thursday, 5 November – Saturday, 7 November 2026
Where: Civic Playhouse, 375 Hunter Street, Newcastle
Time: Thursday 7:00pm; Friday 7:00pm; Saturday 2:00pm and 7:00pm
Cost: Opening Night $55; Standard $59; Concession $49
To book, visit Radium Girls