Brisbane review: 8 More Years: thoughtful, honest and thoroughly enjoyable

By David Wilson

Written and produced by Amelia Slatter

Directed by Calum Johnston

Presented 10-12 December 2025 as part of the Toucan Club Festival through November and December 2025

https://piptheatre.org/2025-8-more-years/

https://piptheatre.org/toucanclub/

Tickets start at $33, or a 2 show deal for $60

PIP Theatre Milton

There’s something genuinely charming about 8 More Years — the kind of show that sneaks up on you with its humour, heart and unmistakably Brisbane flavour. Performed at PIP Theatre, it’s a compact, one-hour story set in 2024, right as the city is gearing up (and stressing out) over the looming 2032 Olympics. While the world talks about stadiums, infrastructure and legacy, this play zooms in on a single suburban family just trying to hold onto the things that matter.

Front and centre is Tracey Baxter, played by writer-performer Amelia Slatter, who brings the exact mix of spunk, sweetness and teenage stubbornness that makes Tracey instantly loveable. Slatter has that rare ability to flip from hilarious to heartfelt in a breath — one minute firing off dry one-liners, the next letting you in on the quiet fears sitting underneath her bold exterior. She holds the whole show together with an energy that feels completely lived-in, like she’s someone you grew up with down the street.

Sam Herbertson as Jason gives us a beautifully awkward older-brother performance — all muscle, ambition and good intentions wrapped in teenage uncertainty. His scenes with Slatter strike that familiar sibling tone: equal parts “don’t talk to me” and “I’d fight anyone who messes with you.” He brings a softness to the character that makes his Olympic dream more than a plot point; it actually feels like something worth cheering for.

Meryn Cooper (Mum) is a standout — grounded, warm, and quietly delivering some of the funniest lines simply through her reactions. She captures that particular Australian-mum combination of utter exhaustion and absolute determination. You can see the mental load she’s carrying without her ever needing to say it out loud.

And then there’s Hayden Burke as the Coach, who bursts onto the stage with pure enthusiasm. He injects a chaotic charm into every scene he’s in — the type of coach who could genuinely inspire you or accidentally exhaust you just by talking too quickly. He gives the show a fun jolt every time he appears.

The story itself is small in scale but big in feeling. Tracey’s favourite park is under threat of redevelopment, her brother’s training is taking over the household, and the Olympics — even eight years out — are already shaping their lives. What the show does well is remind us that big changes in a city don’t just happen “somewhere else.” They happen in backyards, in families, in tiny pockets of green space that hold memories.

The tone is light and funny, but there’s real warmth underneath. Director Calum Johnston keeps things moving with a lovely rhythm, giving the play room to breathe without ever letting it drag. Even with a prop gun making an appearance (handled sensibly and without drama), the show stays grounded and character-focused rather than sensational.

What I enjoyed most is how real it all feels. There’s no attempt to over-inflate the stakes. Instead, the play invites you into a slice of suburban life — the kind of life many Brisbane locals will recognise immediately. It’s heartfelt, funny, and full of the small details that make everyday stories worth telling.

8 More Years isn’t trying to be a grand Olympic commentary. It’s much better than that: it’s a warm, very human look at what happens when a city changes and ordinary people have to figure out how to change with it. With a strong ensemble and especially bright performances from Slatter and Cooper, it’s a lovely addition to Brisbane’s indie theatre scene — thoughtful, honest and thoroughly enjoyable.