THE CHAIR OF SAINT PETER (& OTHER GAMES)
Role: Director, Founder & Creative Producer
Presented by: Saga Sí Theatre Company
Blue Room Theatre – Summer Nights 2026
TILT Development 2025
About the Work
The Chair of Saint Peter (& Other Games) is a devised, absurdist, ritual-comedy exploring power, belief, and the human need for play.
A papal conclave unfolds not through solemn ritual, but through children’s games: musical chairs, Twister, knife-fights, confession drinking games, and chess played like spiritual combat.
The piece balances satire and sincerity, revealing how fragile and theatrical institutional power can be.
Originally developed for WAAPA’s TILT Festival (2025), the work was selected for a full professional season in The Blue Room Theatre’s Summer Nights 2026 program under the theatre collective Saga Sí, run by Sanna Ansaldo and Orla Poole.
“★★★★★
Director Sanna Ansaldo did not miss her opportunity to set the tongue-in-cheek tone of the piece within the first few minutes.”
My Role
As Director & Creative Lead, I shaped:
The visual and dramaturgical world
The rhythm, structure and “game logic” of the performance
Ensemble devising methods and physical score
Text curation and the overarching narrative
The balance between ritual, absurdity, satire and sincerity
Rehearsal room culture rooted in play, complicité, and responsiveness
This production marks my professional directing debut and the first public presentation of Saga Sí Theatre Company.
Creative Development
TILT 2025 - WAAPA
The work emerged from three core questions:
What happens when sacred ritual collides with childish play?
How can satire avoid parody and instead reveal emotional and political truth?
What final image lingers long after the performance ends?
Feedback, guidance and development support from mentors Jeremy Neideck, Frances Barbe and Teresa Jakovich.
Professional Season
Blue Room Theatre - Summer Nights - Fringe World Festival
Dates: Feb 2026
Venue: The Blue Room Theatre, Northbridge (WA)
The season includes:
In-venue residency and technical support
Professional operator and theatre staff
Full Blue Room Theatre marketing and PR support
Fringe-aligned run
Further development opportunities for Saga Sí
This season marks the transition of the work from a student festival to the professional industry.
Videography credit: Apurva Gupta.
“Each scene brings its own levels of absurdity which the audience audibly adored.”
★★★★★“Bold, laugh-out-loud funny… delivers biting satire.” - Perth Happenings
“Director Sanna Ansaldo sets the tongue-in-cheek tone…” — Magazine6000
“Smart and entertaining… strong physical performance and inventive design.” — Fringefeed
OFFICIAL FESTIVAL LISTING
The Chair of Saint Peter (& Other Games) — Fringe World 2026 View Event Listing
★★★★ Isolated Nation
Howie Ng | 11 February 2026
“Through a clever interplay of choreography, lighting, and sound design… something inherently ridiculous becomes unexpectedly impactful.”
The review highlights director Sanna Ansaldo’s inventive staging and cinematic theatrical language, noting how the Saga Sí ensemble transforms limited resources into moments of unexpected dramatic weight.
Read the full review →
https://isolatednation.com/