PUBLISHED: 13 / October 2025
DNA BY DENNIS KELLY – A Contemporary Thriller
After the near-sellout success of the Arthur Miller classic The Crucible, Hunter Drama returns to The Playhouse at Civic Theatre Newcastle with another searing examination of group guilt, power, and moral collapse, only this time, the witches have been replaced by teenagers.
DNA is a razor-sharp psychological thriller that peels back the darkness of the teenage mind. As with Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, it asks: When fear takes over, who will stay silent? Who will lead? And who will break?
A terrible act. A dead boy. A pact that can’t be broken.
When a group of teenagers commit an unspeakable crime, panic drives them to cover it up. But the lie they create begins to mutate, twisting their friendships, warping their morality, and dragging them into a chilling spiral of manipulation and control.
Directed by James Chapman (Love & Information, War Of The Worlds, Now & Then) and performed by Hunter Drama’s powerhouse Actors Company ensemble, this production promises to leave audiences breathless – and haunted long after the lights go down. James draws direct parallels between this modern thriller and Arthur Miller’s classic:
“Just like with The Crucible, DNA is really about what happens when fear takes over. When people’s paranoia makes them lash out at the people they were friends with.”
“DNA doesn’t sugarcoat anything. It’s dark, it’s messy, and it feels really real. You watch these kids make one bad decision and then just keep digging themselves in deeper.”
“From the get-go we wanted to make it clear – none of these kids are innocent. They’re all complicit in the death of a friend and rather than come clean, they argue about who is more to blame.”
The playwright, Dennis Kelly, is one of the most celebrated contemporary British playwrights, known for his razor-edged writing and unsettling examinations of morality. His works include writing the book/libretto of Matilda the Musical (music & lyrics by Tim Minchin), Osama the Hero, and the BAFTA-winning BBC series Utopia. Since its premiere, DNA has become a staple of school syllabi and professional stages alike, praised for its raw authenticity and psychological intensity.
“We selected DNA because it’s such a highly regarded script, it’s relatively short and it exposes our Actors Company ensemble to the exploration of dark, mature themes, preparing them for acting work beyond Hunter Drama,” said James.
Hunter Drama’s acclaimed Actors Company ensemble includes: Lisa Hesketh, Ari Lambropoulos, Anna Lymbery, Olivia McTiernan, Hedda Morely-Kaeding, Lena Mueller, Addison Raftery, Lucienne Roberts, Sophie Russ, Elijah Stove, Devan Tarranza, Chanelle Wilson, Hugh Wilson, Bella Wyman and Cooper Youman.
“I wanted our version of DNA to feel grounded – like it could be happening just outside your school or down the street. It’s unsettling because it’s so believable.”
Presented at The Playhouse, Civic Theatre Newcastle for four performances only, November 20-22. Recommended for ages 12+.