How to Plot a Hit in Two Days is a new Australian play by Melanie Tait that transports its audience back to a golden era of television, when free to air was the only option. The play is set in 1985, at the height of A Country Practice, one of Australia’s most loved dramas.

Set in the fictional rural town of Wandin Valley, A Country Practice brought stories of family, community, and rural medicine into living rooms across the nation. At the heart of Tait’s play is one of its most unforgettable storylines: the death of Molly, a character whose warmth and humour made her a household favourite. We are taken into the writers’ room, where the creative team grapple with how to script her final moments. The premise is both funny and deeply poignant, as the decision to kill off such a beloved character weighed heavily not only on the writers but also on the millions of viewers who had welcomed her into their homes.

That cultural impact was palpable on the Friday night I attended. During the post-show Q&A, one woman, teary eyed, shared that she had first watched A Country Practice with her late mother. For her, the play was more than entertainment; it was a reminder of family, community, and the shared ritual of watching television together. That moment captured the spirit of the evening: this was more than a play, it was a collective return to the good old days. Belly laughs rang throughout the theatre, sparked by inside jokes and memories that only those who lived through the 1980s could fully appreciate.

The ensemble cast capture the energy of a writers’ room with sharp timing and playful chemistry, balancing the lightness of comedy with the emotional weight of the task before them. The play moves with a brisk rhythm, keeping the laughs flowing without losing sight of the deeper cultural resonance beneath the humour.

The set design completes the immersion. Mustard yellow and sage green walls instantly evoke the era’s suburban interiors, while a plaid couch with heavy armrests anchors the stage in late seventies and early eighties style. At the centre is a large corkboard, where the writers pin major plot points. More than a prop, it becomes a visual anchor, reminding us that what once sat on such a board could ripple across an entire nation.

This production highlights the strength of Australian theatre, with its ability to tell our own stories with humour, warmth and honesty. Tait shows that revisiting and celebrating our cultural history can be just as powerful as staging international works. It is a timely reminder of how important it is to see more Australian stories brought to the stage.