Season 5 – Power and Resistance

The season theme is Power and Resistance with plays that ask, “What would you do?”

Southbank Theatre Company is proud to announce its fifth season, featuring three powerful mainstage productions and the world premiere of a new play selected through the company’s “Making History” playwriting contest. Continuing its commitment to thought-provoking, history-inspired theatre, Southbank’s 2025–26 season brings together political intrigue, moral reckoning, and urgent social questions, all of which will be staged at Shelton Auditorium on the campus of Butler University.

The season opens with Equivocation by Bill Cain (September 11–21, 2025). In this smart, fast-paced drama, Shakespeare is commissioned to write the official government version of the Gunpowder Plot. As he digs into the assignment, he’s forced to choose between the truth and his survival – or a third option, equivocation. A clever blend of historical fiction and contemporary resonance, Equivocation explores censorship, power, and the responsibility and integrity of the artist.

Next, Southbank presents The Crucible by Arthur Miller (October 23–November 2, 2025). Miller’s iconic tale of the Salem witch trials remains chillingly relevant, as it examines the dangers of hysteria, scapegoating, and the fragile line between justice and vengeance. Set in 1692 and written during the height of McCarthyism, The Crucible continues to speak powerfully to modern audiences.

In the spring, Southbank will present Machinal by Sophie Treadwell (March 12–22, 2026). Inspired by the true story of convicted and executed murderer Ruth Snyder, Machinal is a haunting, expressionist portrait of a young woman trapped by the expectations of her time. A landmark of early feminist drama, the play blends lyrical structure with emotional urgency.

The season concludes with a fourth production—a world premiere selected from Southbank’s “Making History” playwriting contest, which invited playwrights to explore historical subjects through a contemporary lens. The finalists of the contest are Hell’s Bell by Amalia Howard, The Last Days of the Franklinton Historical Village and Shoppe by Ron Burch, and The Brain Thief by Tom Horan. The winning play will be announced in August and will run April 23–May 3, 2026.

Performances run Thursday through Sunday — with the exception of The Crucible, which has a Wednesday performance on October 29 — at Shelton Auditorium. Tickets information will be available soon at southbanktheatre.org.

“In the past, our season themes have been guided by our response to our political and cultural landscape, and this season is no different,” said Artistic Director Marcia Eppich-Harris. “Season 5 reflects our ongoing commitment to stories inspired by history and the impact those stories can have on our current moment.”

Follow Southbank Theatre Company on social media or visit the website for updates and ticket announcements.