Madelaine Nunn’s W opens this week at the Old Fitz, (her second sports play to debut this year after Shoelace Chaser at Melbourne Theatre Company), and it’s an impressive feat of independent theatre making.

Madelaine Nunn’s W at The Old Fitz. Photo © Phil Erbacher

The play is entirely set in an ALFW locker room over the course of one season, as we sneak an insight into the players’ pre and post-game rituals and disputes. Although we don’t see a pitch, Poppy Lynch’s movement direction (combined with Clare Hennessy’s pulsating sound design), delivers an energetic physicality to the stage despite the tight Fitz space. Just like sports, this is great to watch up-close. Credit must be given to Meg Anderson (set) and Luna Yuet Yee Ng (lighting) who deliver an elevated design world, achieving well beyond the standard of most independent theatre.

Rachel Chant has a good ear for pacy dialogue, and directs a charismatic ensemble of players (Celesté Cortes-Davis, Edyll Ismail, Ally Morgan, Shannon Ryan, Grace Smibert) and coach (TV star Danielle Cormack).

Nunn challenges herself with scope, presenting a script that tries to cover a range...