Thank You, Mistress (Radio Play)–REVIEW–15Oct2026

RADIO PLAY

Written by Louisa Panucci, Working Title Prod.

Melbourne Fringe Festival 2026

At Motley Bauhaus, Carlton

 Fringe online & in theatre until 18 Oct 2026

Reviewer: Kate Herbert

Stars: 3

This review is published only on this blog. I presented a radio review on Arts Weekly, 3MBS, Sat 17 Oct 2026. KH

Louisa Panucci & Marc Optiz in live production of Thank you, Mistress. Image supplied.

 

The title of Louisa Panucci’s radio play, Thank you, Mistress, should give you a clue to the narrative.

 

Mistress Violet (Louisa Panucci) is a 25-year-old medical student, who dominates her clients to make a living while she studies. She has a needy boyfriend (Aiden Gale Miranda) who calls her often – too often. Enter Henry (Marc Opitz), a middle-aged CEO and Violet’s latest client, who is a submissive in Violet’s “dominatrix dungeon” (which doubles as her one-bedroom flat,) but is a dominant, power figure in his corporate life.

 

Henry’s arrival heralds not only a new client for Violet, but a burgeoning, personal relationship between this unlikely couple.

 

In this radio play version that is adapted from the live production, there is plenty of slightly salacious dialogue that is probably depicted more graphically and physically in the live production. Photos of the live version show action that is described for radio. It relies too heavily on narration, explication and detail-laden dialogue which would more effectively be physicalised on stage.

 

The beauty of a radio play is that it can transport a listener to multiple locations, evoke atmosphere and mood with only sound.

 

The first half of Thank you, Mistress feels like a dialogue rather than dramatic narrative, until quite close to the end when the subtext of the story is revealed. There is a conflict and there is a victim – and it turns out to be neither Violet or Henry.

 

By Kate Herbert

 

This 42-minute radio play was part of the Melbourne Fringe 2026, ran until Sun 18 Oct. The live version had the same season.

 

Cast

Louisa Panucci – Mistress Violet

Marc Opitz - Henry

Aiden Gale Miranda – the boyfriend

 

Creative Team

Director: Dax-Camay-Hanrahan

Writer: Louisa Panucci