Breaking The Castle is a powerful and evocative play that explores the struggles of David, a struggling actor consumed by addiction and mental illness. David can’t get enough of anything—alcohol, drugs, women, gambling—using whatever it takes to escape the relentless "black dog" of his depression. Bouncing from audition to audition, he battles debilitating mental health issues, descending into a world of addiction and a pervasive feeling of never belonging anywhere. His days and nights are lived through a thick haze of drugs, alcohol, and Shakespearean soliloquies. This bender could be his last, but he doesn’t care—there are worse things than death.

Then, David is thrown an unlikely lifeline. Finding himself in the mountains of South-East Asia, he is offered a chance at redemption, but to seize it, he must confront his inner demons, traumas, and long-buried secrets. Inspired by true events in the life of the playwright, this visceral, fierce, funny, and uplifting tale features a “tour de force” performance from creator Peter Cook as a man yearning for connection.

Through the story of one man, "Breaking The Castle" illuminates the broader struggles of those who live on the edges and highlights the inequalities in the addiction and recovery cycle in Australia. It underscores the need for men to allow themselves to be vulnerable and seek help when they need it, celebrating the human spirit's ability to prevail through the darkest of journeys. Ultimately, it is an uplifting story of redemption.

In its writing, performance, and production, this play is an ode to the theatre, emphasizing the importance of the arts in overcoming tragedy. A comedy-drama about a human being human, "Breaking The Castle" resonates with audiences from all backgrounds, cutting across race, gender, and class.