Arts & Culture
15 August, 2026
Carlton captivates with heartfelt performance
It’s little wonder that critics have described Rob Carlton’s latest show, Virgin in a Knife Fight, as unmissable.
It’s little wonder that critics have described Rob Carlton’s latest show, Virgin in a Knife Fight, as unmissable.
The seasoned actor had his audience laughing – and at times crying – for more than an hour on Friday night with a performance delivered with the theatrical professionalism of someone who remains at the top of their game.
It was the masterclass in storytelling the audience had been promised – at times funny, at times sad, but consistently reflective, heartfelt, thought-provoking and brutally honest.
Carlton used four true stories from his own life to touch on everything from friendship and fatherhood to honesty and forgiveness – all delivered with the aid of a single prop, a chair, used to represent everything from a backpack to a steering wheel.
He had more than 200 people captivated from start to finish.
Friday night’s performance at Centennial Vineyards in Bowral marked the official launch of this year’s At Our Table – Highlands Wellbeing Forum.
The forum is hosted by the Highlands Youth Co-Lab – a community led initiative strengthening youth mental health across the Southern Highlands through prevention, early intervention and coordinated local action.
Carlton was invited to Bowral by good friend and manager of the Highlands Youth Co-Lab, Sarah Mangelsdorf, who commented before the show on the number of young people in the audience.
“Some of the content is big – but so is the world,” she said.
Carlton has another link with this year’s forum.
One of the stories in his show mentions a camp he attended in Queensland with his sons.
That camp was run by one of the speakers at this year’s forum, CEO and founder of the Rites of Passage and 2025 Father of the Year, Dr Arne Rubinstein OAM.
Carlton encouraged members of the audience to ‘lean in’ and get involved in the 2026 forum, which runs over three days commencing on August 31.
“A community that sits down and listens is more compassionate and empathetic,” he said on Friday night.
Now in its third year, the forum offers access to internationally-recognised experts and evidence-based guidance to local parents, carers and educators – resources that would otherwise be out of reach.
Besides Dr Rubenstein, the other guest speaker at this year’s forum will be world-leading psychology and education expert, Professor Lea Waters AM, PhD.
The forum will kick-off on Monday, August 31 and will then continue on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4.
For more information or to reserve a seat at one of the sessions, visit http://www.youthcolab.org.au/events
The theme of the event, At Our Table, centres on connection, collaboration and community – an invitation for everyone to come together in a shared effort to strengthen wellbeing across the Southern Highlands.
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