Terms and Conditions Apply | Play on Stage
Images: Georgia Haupt
Brisbane families are fortunate to have many choices when it comes to providing opportunities for younger artists to play, learn and grow - including Play on Stage, which is a leading Brisbane youth drama studio and production company. The talented creatives and performers who lead the popular Play on Stage organisation have produced several memorable works, including ‘kids’ performances of Dear Adults and The Playground in the Sky. Terms and Conditions Apply provides audiences with the opportunity to enjoy a new work that is co-created and performed by more experienced Play on Stage performers, Rebecca Day, Virag Dombay, and Gracie Hosie.
Terms and Conditions Apply is a brief window into the lives of three 20-something housemates. With the lease up for renewal, two of the residents are more interested in hosting the next party and expect everyone will sign the new lease. But the paperwork is a catalyst for one of the friends to decide to start a new chapter of their life, and to move out. The 35-minute, one-act, play explores the relationship between the three women, and opens up the question as to whether their relationship will survive the ‘resignation.’
The play is well-structured, and has suitable emotional highs and lows—getting through the awkwardness of the ‘I’m not signing’ news, moving through reminiscences about the first time they saw their share house, and the final implication that the dance and parties are a way in which they will continue to connect. The play is witty, funny and has some great dance moves. My favourite lines of the show are Hosie’s ‘I’m a child of divorce… who is going to be my emergency contact.’ And favourite moves had to be the closing Wild Side dance number.
Unsurprisingly, as Day, Dombay and Hosie are each credited as co-creators and writers, the artists are well-cast and portray each of their characters as believable twenty-something housemates. Laura (Dombay) is the sensible and organised housemate, who introduces whiteboard discipline to the house, and has a burgeoning career and new relationship. Bels (Day) is the witty, fun-loving friend, and Tyler (Hosie) is the person who made the share house dream possible, and happily took on the third choice of bedroom.
Congratulations to the three Terms and Conditions Apply co-writers and performers on this show—and in particular for maintaining their energy and professionalism despite a 40-minute delay in their access to the performance space on the Saturday night. My only constructive feedback is that there were moments when the naturalistic style of speaking meant that I didn’t catch every word. I enjoyed this show, and wonder if the creatives are considering either paring it back for a future Short & Sweet Festival, or working it up to a longer 90-minute show, perhaps by adding in a second act that answers the ‘what happens next’ question.
Terms and Conditions Apply played at Ron Hurley Theatre, Seven Hills from 17-18 October 2025 as part of the 2025 Backbone Festival. The reviewer attended the Saturday 18th October performance.
Images: Georgia Haupt
