Image: TEG Dainty
Have you ever wondered why people join cults, how high-control groups manage to gain such a powerful hold over their members, or what it really takes to break free?
Well, there’s a gripping new live show exploring the psychology behind some of the world’s most notorious cults heading to Adelaide this December, promising to take audiences deep inside a world of manipulation, coercion and control.
The Psychology of Cults, hosted by internationally recognised criminal investigator and true-crime personality Mike King, will arrive at Norwood Concert Hall on Monday, December 7th as part of a country-wide tour.
Presented by TEG Dainty, the national tour will also visit Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney throughout December, bringing Mike’s decades of experience in criminal investigation, behavioural analysis and public safety to the stage.
The live show will explore the psychology behind how these groups form, why seemingly ordinary people become involved and the tactics used to keep members under control.
Audiences can expect to hear about notorious groups including Jonestown, Heaven’s Gate and NXIVM, alongside lesser-known organisations and cases.
The show will also look beyond the sensational headlines to examine how coercion and abuse can appear in everyday life.
From relationships and workplaces to wellness communities and social movements, The Psychology of Cults will explore the warning signs of high-control environments and how manipulation can happen without looking anything like the stereotypical image of a cult.
Through real-life cases, expert insights and interactive discussions, Mike will unpack the red flags audiences should look out for, while exploring why people can become susceptible to powerful influence.
Mike is a criminal investigator, author and public safety strategist who has spent 28 years working in law enforcement before retiring as Chief of Staff at the Utah Attorney General’s Office.
During his career, he worked across violent crime, cold cases, terrorism and victim services, while also being trained by FBI profilers in behavioural analysis.
Mike went on to co-chair the FBI’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Program National Advisory Board and developed the Utah Criminal Tracking and Analysis Project, which helped coordinate homicide and missing-person investigations.
His career has since expanded into public safety technology, academia and true crime, with Mike becoming the creator and host of Profiling Evil and Mapping Evil with Mike King.
He has also authored several books, including Deceived, an investigative memoir about the Zion Society Cult, Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing and Predators.
For Adelaide audiences fascinated by true crime, psychology and the darker side of human behaviour, the upcoming show offers the chance to go beyond the headlines and explore the forces that can make high-control groups so powerful.
General public tickets go on sale Thursday, August 13th at 10am local time.
The Psychology of Cults – Australia 2026
PERTH – Astor Theatre, Tuesday 1 December
MELBOURNE – Hamer Hall Thursday 3 December
ADELAIDE – Norwood Concert Hall Monday 7 December
BRISBANE – Tivoli Wednesday 9 December
CANBERRA – Playhouse Theatre Thursday 10 December
SYDNEY – Enmore Theatre Monday 14 December
The Psychology of Cults
When: Monday, December 7th
Where: Norwood Concert Hall
For more information, click here.
