THE ELEVATOR at Ensemble Theatre turns corporate crisis, motherhood and greenwashing into a funny, thoughtful night of contemporary Australian theatre.
THE ELEVATOR, now playing at Ensemble Theatre in Kirribilli, is a funny, clever and surprisingly thought-provoking world premiere by Australian playwright Eloise Snape. I really enjoyed the way this production combines sharp workplace comedy with some genuinely interesting ideas about greenwashing, motherhood, ambition and identity. Leeanna Walsman is wonderful as Margot, a CEO returning from maternity leave and walking straight into a corporate PR crisis. Di Adams and Shirong Wu bring terrific energy and comic timing alongside her, making the three-strong cast a real pleasure to watch. What I particularly liked about Snape's writing is that it never feels as though the serious themes are being forced upon us. Instead, they emerge naturally through the characters, the situation and plenty of laughs along the way. For me, THE ELEVATOR is an entertaining piece of contemporary Australian theatre that gives you plenty to laugh about — and a few things to think about afterwards.
A Very Clever Premise
I have to say, I really enjoyed THE ELEVATOR.
From the moment I heard the premise, I thought it sounded like great fun.
Margot is a CEO returning from maternity leave, ready to get back to work and deal with an environmental company's PR problems — only to find herself stuck in a lift.
What could possibly go wrong?
Quite a lot, as it turns out.
At Ensemble Theatre in Kirribilli, Australian playwright Eloise Snape takes this wonderfully simple idea and turns it into a funny and increasingly revealing workplace comedy.
I was hooked by the way the situation gradually unravels. The polished corporate world Margot has returned to starts looking rather different once the usual professional niceties begin to disappear.
And there is plenty here that feels wonderfully familiar — particularly when it comes to corporate language and the art of making something sound much better than it actually is.
Leeanna Walsman Is Wonderful as Margot
I really enjoyed watching her navigate the increasingly ridiculous situation while trying desperately to maintain her professional composure.
Margot is ambitious, capable and determined, but Walsman also gives us the vulnerability underneath all of that. She makes her feel like a real person rather than simply a stereotypical corporate boss.
I was particularly interested in the motherhood aspect of her story.
Returning to work after maternity leave isn't simply about walking back through the office door and picking up where you left off. Margot is discovering that things — including perhaps herself — have changed.
Walsman handles that beautifully, giving us plenty of laughs while allowing those quieter moments to register.
Di Adams and Shirong Wu are also wonderful, bringing plenty of personality, energy and very good comic timing to the production.
I loved watching the three performers bounce off each other. Their reactions and expressions often said as much as the dialogue, and there is a lovely rhythm to their interactions.
Where the Comedy Gets Interesting
One of the things I liked most about THE ELEVATOR is its take on corporate spin.
Greenwashing isn't exactly an obvious recipe for comedy, but Snape finds plenty of laughs in the language surrounding it.
We've all heard those polished corporate statements that sound incredibly impressive but somehow don't actually tell us very much.
Snape has a great deal of fun with that.
But the humour also makes you stop and think.
What happens when looking as though you're doing the right thing becomes more important than actually doing it?
That question sits underneath much of the comedy, and I thought Snape handled the balance very well.
The play has something to say, but thankfully it never feels like we're being lectured.
There Is More Going On Here
What surprised me was how much THE ELEVATOR has to say beyond its corporate storyline.
Motherhood, ambition, identity and expectations around work all become part of Margot's journey.
I found myself thinking about how often we are expected to step back into our old roles as though nothing has changed — even when everything has.
There is also something quite universal about the pressure to appear as though we have everything under control.
That certainly isn't limited to the corporate world.
I appreciated that Snape lets these ideas emerge through the characters rather than spelling everything out for us. It makes the more serious moments feel natural rather than heavy-handed.
My Take
For me, THE ELEVATOR is one of those productions where I went in expecting a good laugh and came away with a little more than I bargained for — in a very good way.
The performances are warm, funny and engaging, with Di Adams, Leeanna Walsman and Shirong Wu working beautifully together.
Eloise Snape's writing is sharp without feeling overly complicated, and I particularly enjoyed the way the comedy allows the more serious ideas to sneak up on you.
I laughed at the corporate absurdity, enjoyed watching the relationships unfold and found myself thinking about some of the bigger questions on the way home.
And isn't that what good theatre should do?
Make you laugh, make you think and perhaps make you see something familiar from a slightly different angle.
THE ELEVATOR certainly did that for me.
If you enjoy contemporary Australian theatre with plenty of humour, strong performances and something meaningful underneath the laughs, I think this is well worth a visit.
Event Details
Event Title: THE ELEVATOR
Event Date: 22 September 2026
Event Time: Various performance times
Event Location: Ensemble Theatre, Kirribilli, Sydney
Future Show Dates: Now until 18 October 2026
Reviewed By: Ellie Seymour
Photos By: Ellie Seymour and Prudence Upton