The Coconut Children

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 Information for schools Book your performance Performance Time* Select a time Sat, 21 Nov 2026 – 7:30pm – Preview Session Sun, 22 Nov 2026 – 6:30pm – Preview Session Tue, 24 Nov 2026 – 7:30pm – Community Preview Wed, 25 Nov 2026 – 7:30pm – Opening Night (Invite Only) Thu, 26 Nov 2026 – 7:30pm Fri, 27 Nov 2026 – 11:30am – School Performance Sat, 28 Nov 2026 – 2:00pm Sat, 28 Nov 2026 – 7:30pm Sun, 29 Nov 2026 – 5:00pm Tue, 1 Dec 2026 – 6:30pm – Q&A Following Performance Wed, 2 Dec 2026 – 11:30am – School Performance Wed, 2 Dec 2026 – 6:30pm Thu, 3 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Fri, 4 Dec 2026 – 11:30am – School Performance Sat, 5 Dec 2026 – 2:00pm Sat, 5 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Sun, 6 Dec 2026 – 5:00pm Tue, 8 Dec 2026 – 6:30pm Wed, 9 Dec 2026 – 6:30pm Thu, 10 Dec 2026 – 1:00pm Thu, 10 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm – Queer Night Fri, 11 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Sat, 12 Dec 2026 – 2:00pm Sat, 12 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Sun, 13 Dec 2026 – 5:00pm Tue, 15 Dec 2026 – 6:30pm Wed, 16 Dec 2026 – 6:30pm Thu, 17 Dec 2026 – 1:00pm – Unwaged Performance Thu, 17 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Fri, 18 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Sat, 19 Dec 2026 – 2:00pm Sat, 19 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Sun, 20 Dec 2026 – 5:00pm STUDENT TICKETS* Teacher Tickets* YEAR GROUP Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 School* School Postcode* School Phone* Contact Email* Contact Teacher Name* Contact Number (Mobile)* Teaching Subject Drama English Entertainment Aboriginal Studies Textiles & Design Other Send me the Education eNews (tick to opt in) MESSAGE (Please provide any additional information you feel might be useful) * 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. Fri, 27 Nov 2026 11:30am 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 +61 (2) 8396 6241 EMAIL EDUCATION 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 Performance Time* Select a time Sat, 21 Nov 2026 – 7:30pm – Preview Session Sun, 22 Nov 2026 – 6:30pm – Preview Session Tue, 24 Nov 2026 – 7:30pm – Community Preview Wed, 25 Nov 2026 – 7:30pm – Opening Night (Invite Only) Thu, 26 Nov 2026 – 7:30pm Fri, 27 Nov 2026 – 11:30am – School Performance Sat, 28 Nov 2026 – 2:00pm Sat, 28 Nov 2026 – 7:30pm Sun, 29 Nov 2026 – 5:00pm Tue, 1 Dec 2026 – 6:30pm – Q&A Following Performance Wed, 2 Dec 2026 – 11:30am – School Performance Wed, 2 Dec 2026 – 6:30pm Thu, 3 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Fri, 4 Dec 2026 – 11:30am – School Performance Sat, 5 Dec 2026 – 2:00pm Sat, 5 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Sun, 6 Dec 2026 – 5:00pm Tue, 8 Dec 2026 – 6:30pm Wed, 9 Dec 2026 – 6:30pm Thu, 10 Dec 2026 – 1:00pm Thu, 10 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm – Queer Night Fri, 11 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Sat, 12 Dec 2026 – 2:00pm Sat, 12 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Sun, 13 Dec 2026 – 5:00pm Tue, 15 Dec 2026 – 6:30pm Wed, 16 Dec 2026 – 6:30pm Thu, 17 Dec 2026 – 1:00pm – Unwaged Performance Thu, 17 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Fri, 18 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Sat, 19 Dec 2026 – 2:00pm Sat, 19 Dec 2026 – 7:30pm Sun, 20 Dec 2026 – 5:00pm STUDENT TICKETS* Teacher Tickets* YEAR GROUP Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 School* School Postcode* School Phone* Contact Email* Contact Teacher Name* Contact Number (Mobile)* Teaching Subject Drama English Entertainment Aboriginal Studies Textiles & Design Other Send me the Education eNews (tick to opt in) MESSAGE (Please provide any additional information you feel might be useful) * Required fields Sign up to our Education eNews Stay in the loop with our Education eNews for the latest events and offers. 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