West Gate Review -By Jake Freeman
It was a day that many of us who were there, will never forget. Just two years into construction of the West Gate Bridge, at 11:50 AM on 15 October 1970, the 112-metre span between piers 10 and 11 collapsed and fell to the ground below. Thirty-five construction workers lost their lives that day along with countless others who were physically and psychologically injured. The roar of the impact, the explosion, and the fire that followed, could be clearly heard for miles. It remains the worst industrial accident to have ever happened in Australia.
Now, more than half a century after that disaster, The Southbank Theatre is set to revisit a moment that reshaped workplace safety laws and changed the lives of countless families. West Gate is written by Dennis McIntosh, who, as an 11-year-old, watched the collapse of the bridge. McIntosh, who had grown up near the West Gate Bridge while under it was under construction, had said during an interview that the collapse left a lasting impression on him as a child. “The West Gate Bridge collapse captured me as an 11-year-old boy. I was fascinated by it,” McIntosh explained. “Having grown up in a working-class family under the shadow of the emerging bridge, I always knew I could tell this story. I just had to work out how.”
While fictionalised, the play draws on years of conversations with survivors and families of those affected, as well as findings from the royal commission that investigated the collapse.
The audience on last Saturday’s opening night was transported to the year 1970. John Gorton is the Prime Minister. Henry Bolte is the Premiere of Victoria. Barry Jones, heavily referenced, is winning all the game shows.
As I make my way to my seat, the first thing that I noticed is the unique set design. On either side of the stage, are lighting rigs that later rise, electrical sparks are flying down from the ceiling, there’s machinery noise and in the very middle, a towering grey concrete pylon. Six workers then take to the stage, speaking to each other and often breaking the fourth wall, speaking to the audience, drawing us into the world of the West Gate Bridge and the early 1970s working class Melbourne.
The cast for West Gate, were from start to finish, simply brilliant. It also was impressive watching all the actors carry the show across over 90 minutes without an intermission and being able to remember all their dialogue. Firstly, we meet plays Victor, (Steve Bastoni) an Italian migrant welder who is hopeful about building a better life for his young family. He is paired up with Young Scrapper (Darcy Kent). Together, they navigate the bridge work and compare their lives, sharing stories, support and developing a friendship. Some of the funniest and most heartfelt moments of the show included the interaction between Young Scrapper and Victor, the antithesis of each other. Simon Maiden plays Vinny, a fellow worker who advocates on the lack safety on the bridge’s construction.
As part of the construction team, Rohan Nichols portrays Pat, the head of the union. Paul English is Mr Stevenson, an engineer representing the consulting firm. Peter Houghton portrays McAlister, a senior imported engineer. Ben Walter plays Cooper, a young, ambitious engineer characterized by arrogance, and a lack of foresight regarding the human cost of the bridge’s collapse.
Daniela Farinacci delivers a powerful portrayal of Victor’s heartbroken wife, Frankie. It is her performance that carries both emotion and strength, while still allowing a glimmer of hope to shine through the sorrow.
From the beginning, West Gate is compelling. The show has a strong Stanley Kubrick like hypnotic feel to it; there is something about it that pulls you in to see where it takes you. You know what’s to come, however while still sitting at the edge of your seats.
West Gate is a masterful production that uses creativity to honour the lives lost that day. As someone who also grew up in the Western suburbs and use to cycle past the West Gate Bridge memorial site, this was a deeply moving and emotional show to experience. It would have been a difficult task to tell a story that also contains humour on such a sensitive subject matter such as the West Gate Bridge Collapse, but Dennis McIntosh really knows how to handle this and be respectful on a tragic accident that would become the turning point for workplace safety in Australia
West Gate is now playing at The Summer at The Southbank until and including Saturday 18 April 2026. It stars Steve Bastoni as Victor, Daniela Farinacci as Frankie, Darcy Kent as Young Scrapper and Rohan Nichol as Pat. It is directed by Iain Sinclair and written by Dennis McIntosh.
The show runs for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, with no intermission. This production contains frequent coarse language, racially sensitive language, mature themes, and occasional loud and dynamic sound effects and is recommended for mature audiences.
To purchase tickets to West Gate, go to West Gate | Melbourne Theatre Company
Photography by Pia Johnson
