The Coconut Children

Đứa Trẻ Trái Dừa

Book Author and Playwright Vivian Pham
Co-Directed by Hannah Goodwin
and Catherine Văn-Davies

The Coconut
Children

  • 21 Nov – 20 Dec 26 Upstairs Theatre

The Coconut Children

Đứa Trẻ Trái Dừa

Book Author and Playwright Vivian Pham
Co-Directed by Hannah Goodwin
and Catherine Văn-Davies

  • Venue Upstairs Theatre
  • Dates 21 Nov – 20 Dec 26
  • Content warning

    Approximate running times of each production are uploaded to the production page as soon as that information becomes available. During the rehearsal period running times are liable to change given the extensive workshopping and development each production undergoes before it reaches the stage.

    Content warnings will also be uploaded to each production page as they are advised.

    Should you wish to speak to a member of staff regarding running times, content warnings or any other show-related queries, our box office can be contacted on 02 9699 3444.

  • Supported by
  • Creative Development supported by

Vivian Pham’s Breakout Novel Comes to the Stage

Vivian Pham’s bestseller was a sensation when published in 2020, now her much-anticipated stageplay comes to Belvoir in an end-of-year treat.

Cabramatta, 1998. Sonny Vuong and Vince Tran are sixteen; they’ve known each other since they were small. Sonny lives in a world of imaginary love affairs and nineteenth century novels. But Vince has done it harder. He’s just out of juvenile detention, he’s seen how close brutality and despair can be when life knocks you off balance. And now they’re back in each other’s lives, thanks to some weird goings-on – a grandma who’s hitting the bottle, a stash of porn at the Cabra Golf Club, and the inevitable secrets from the old country coming to the surface. And just how do you find yourself, when you’re constantly being watched and judged in this loving, maddening community, full of pain and joy?

A story of old values, new possibilities, and coming of age.

Vivian started writing The Coconut Children when she was sixteen, and it instantly became a classic of Australian adolescence. It’s Belvoir heartland material and we’re confident it’s going to bring a charismatic new generation of stars to our stage. It’s funny, it’s utterly familiar, and it celebrates our city in a new and overdue way. – Eamon

Performance Times

Weekly Times

  • tuesday 6.30pm

    Except 24 Nov at 7.30pm

  • wednesday 6.30pm
  • thursday 1pm & 7.30pm

    No 1pm performance on 3 Dec

  • friday 7.30pm

    No 7.30pm performance on 4 Dec

  • saturday 2pm & 7.30pm

    No 2pm performance on 21 Nov

  • sunday 5pm

    Except 22 Nov at 6.30pm

  • image description Preview Session
  • image description Special Performance
  • image description School Performance

Save with Season Tickets!

With 4-play packages starting from $212 plus a range of ticket types and concessions, there is a package to suit everyone!

General release tickets on sale 18 Feb

Join Us

TEAM

  • Vivian Pham
    Book Author and Playwright
  • Hannah Goodwin
    Co-Director
    image description

    Hannah Goodwin (she/her) is a director who lives and works on Gadigal land. She is currently Resident Director at Belvoir Street Theatre. Her work includes Wayside Bride by Alana Valentine (Belvoir), Light Shining in Buckinghamshire by Caryl Churchill (Belvoir), The Sorry Mum Project by Pippa Ellams (National Theatre of Parramatta, Bondi Feast), A Girl in […]

    Read full bio
  • Catherine Văn-Davies
    Co-Director
  • A cast of 12 including

  • Gemma Chua-Tran
  • HaiHa Le
  • Brandon Nguyen

Information
for schools

  • Book your performance

      * Required fields

    TERM FOUR

    See this play for:
    AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY THEATRE PRACTICE
    FROM A YA NOVEL

    Recommended for Years 10 – 12

    Curriculum Links

    Drama
    Stage 5
    • Appreciating Outcomes 5.3.1, 5.3.2
    Stage 6
    Preliminary
    • Improvisation, Playbuilding, Acting (P1.7, P1.8, P2.1, P2.2, P2.6, P3.1)
    • Elements of Production in Performance
      (Outcomes P2.6, P3.1, P3.2)
    • Theatrical Traditions and Performance Styles
      (Outcomes P2.6, P3.1, P3.2, P3.4)
    HSC
    • Individual Project: Performance, Design, Scriptwriting
    • Australian Drama and Theatre: Contemporary Australian Theatre Practice (related text)
    ENGLISH
    Stage 5
    • Viewing, Responding (Drama text)

    Schools Performances

    All schools performances are followed by a Q&A session with the cast.
    • Wed, 2 Dec 2026 11:30am
    • Fri, 4 Dec 2026 11:30am

    Tickets are only $25 per student with one complimentary teacher ticket for every ten students booked.

    Evening and Matinee Performances

    School groups can book any general public performance. Book our Thursday 1pm matinees for the schools performance price of $25 per ticket, or an evening performance from $45 per student.

    What to expect

    Belvoir creates for a wide audience and our productions may contain mature content. Accurate information about productions including running times and content is available once rehearsals have begun.

    Contact Us

    For more information about our education programs, please get in touch.

    Head of Education Jane May
    Education Coordinator Nicola Denton
    +61 (2) 8396 6241

    Book your performance

    Complete this form to request tickets for The Coconut Children
    Want to book multiple productions? Head to our full Schools Booking request

      * Required fields

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