Theatre is meant to challenge, provoke and evoke a range of emotions and part of its power lies in its ability to surprise and unsettle audiences. At the same time, we want our audiences to be able to make fully-informed decisions about attending our plays. These comprehensive long-form content guides cater to our audience members who seek more in-depth information to ensure their comfort and preparedness when attending a Sydney Theatre Company performance.
4000 Miles
By Amy Herzog
Sydney Theatre Company Content Guide as of 04 Feb 2025
Please be advised that this content guide contains ‘spoilers’, information about plot, characters, themes, etc that when revealed could impact your experience of the production.
Strong language, mature themes, herbal tobacco, drug and alcohol use, complete theatrical blackout.
Strong language
The production contains occasional strong language, including the words ‘fuck’, ‘pussy’ and ‘slutty’.
Mature themes
Aging and mortality
The character of Vera is a ninety-one-year-old woman. The play examines her struggles with both the physical and metal impacts of aging.
References to death and dying, grief and loss
There are several characters in the play dealing with the death of loved ones - friends, family members, and partners.
Leo is dealing with the grief and emotional impact of his friend Micah’s passing. Prior to the action of the play, Leo and Micah were on a cross-country cycling trip together and Micah died in a road accident. In one scene, Leo describes the moments before and after Micah died including Micah being suffocated underneath the truck bed.
Several years prior to the action of the play, Vera’s husband Joe passed away. Vera, Leo (Vera’s grandson), and Lily (Leo’s sister who appears on a Skype call) discuss their various experiences of Joe getting sick and dying, including reminiscing about his funeral.
Vera has a neighbour across the hallway called Ginny. They are a similar age and check in on each other most days via the phone. In the penultimate scene Ginny calls Vera’s landline and Leo picks up. During this conversation, Ginny collapses and passes away. We don’t see or hear her side of the conversation, we only hear a noise from across the hallway indicating that she has collapsed.
Depictions of and references to memory loss, potentially dementia
There are several moments where Vera is confused and has memory loss. These could be symptoms of dementia, but this is not explicitly stated.
In one moment, Vera confuses Leo for her son. She is not visibly distressed by this confusion.
Sexual references, potential incest
There are brief references to Leo’s relationship with his adopted sister Lily. Prior to the events of the play, Leo kissed Lily while they were at a party. He describes the interaction as mutual, but Vera disapproves and reveals that Lily is now in therapy about it.
Discussion of body shaming
In one scene, Vera comments on Leo’s girlfriend Bec’s body, calling her ‘chubby’ and ‘not thin’. Leo refutes this and describes Bec as ‘healthy’ and ‘strong’.
Death of an animal
The truck that causes the road accident that kills Leo’s friend Micah was carrying crates of chickens in cages. Leo recalls the sound of the chickens after the crash.
Political ideologies
Vera and Leo talk about political ideologies, particularly Marxism and communism. Vera and her late husband Joe were both avowed communists.
In one scene Leo comes back to the apartment with Amanda, a girl he has met on a night out. Amanda notices books about communism on Vera’s shelves, and then raises the negative impact that communism has had on Amanda's family in China.
Herbal tobacco
Vera and Leo are depicted smoking from a water pipe and being affected by marijuana. This is simulated onstage by burning herbal tobacco in the water pipe.
Drug and alcohol use
In one scene, Leo and Amanda both have an alcoholic drink.
In a different scene, Vera and Leo are depicted smoking from a water pipe and being affected by marijuana.
Complete theatrical blackout
There are two complete theatrical blackouts – one for approx. 12 seconds at the beginning of the play, and one for approx. 8 seconds at the end of the play.