Australia Day
Written & Directed by Jonathan Biggins
2015 – 2016 National Tour
May 19 – October 7 2015 – 21 week tour to 46 venues in VIC, NSW, QLD, NT, WA & TAS
Dandenong, Ballarat, Upwey, Newcastle, Cessnock, Bingara, Barraba, Orange, Tamworth, Armidale, Moree, Glen Innes, Coffs Harbour, Tenterfield, Lismore, Brisbane, Caloundra, Capella, Proserpine, Ayr, Charters Towers, Darwin, South Hedland, Carnarvon, Thornlie, Margaret River, Kalamunda, Albany, Hobart, Traralgon, Drysdale, Ararat, Portland, Warrnambool, Werribee, Frankston, Nunawading, Wangaratta, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Hurstville, Sutherland, Melbourne, South Morang, Mooroolbark, Warragul, Bairnsdale.
February 13 – March 20 2016 – 6 week tour to 8 venues in NSW, QLD & VIC
Nowra, Belrose, Noosa, Mackay, Moonee Ponds, Camperdown, Horsham, Bendigo.
A production by Christine Harris & HIT Productions.
The country town of Coriole is getting ready for Australia Day –a time to crack open a frothy, stick a snag on the barbie and celebrate what it means to be a true blue Aussie. The Australia Day committee is gearing up to put on the town’s biggest party – but they have a few issues of their own to sort out first.
With everyone from the Greens to the local mayor to the CWA wanting a piece of the party pie, it’s proving hard yakka to work out what an Aussie celebration should look like. Nothing is sacred as the national identity is put through the wringer in this thoroughly modern ripper of a comedy!
Will the day be fair dinkum after all? Or are there too many roos loose in the community hall?
Written and directed by acclaimed playwright and Sydney Theatre Company’s artist Jonathan Biggins (The Wharf Revue), ‘Australia Day’ returns in a brand new touring production for 2015.
Reviews
“Christine Harris’s touring production of Australia Day is explosively funny. A terrific ensemble cast bring Jonathan Biggins’ satiricalswipe at our national day institution gloriously to life.
Geoff Kelso imbued Brian with all the selfserving traits of those in local office without being sleazy. David James’s Robert was spoton. Unambitious and happy to be a secondstringer. James played the part in the original Melbourne and Sydney production so he certainly knows where the laughs are buried. Dennis Coard had a fieldday as Wally dropping “F” bombs and calling a spade a spade, while Robyn Arthur’s Marie was a hoot as she tried to understand twitter and facebook and negotiate a walkietalkie. But the lynchpin in this whole scenario was Sharon Davis as the ballbusting Helen. Outwardly fierce, but inwardly tender, her performance had passion and pathos. Ken Moraleda as Chester, the Australianborn Vietnamese had enormous fun sendingup Asian stereotypes and looked appropriately daggy in his Australian flag
Set, costumes, lighting and sound complimented the action, the use of answeringmachine messages voiced by Robyn Arthur during the scene changes added giggles, and preshow, interval and postshow music, which included “Our Don Bradman”, “Waltzing Matilda” and “Gundagai” were a delightfully tongueincheek salute to our Aussie culture.
I’ve no doubt regional audiences will embrace this satiric bit of nonsense with open arms. Bravo Christine Harris and Hit Productions for a fun night in the theatre.”
– Stage Whispers
Cast
Brian Harrigan: Geoff Kelso
Robert Wilson: (2015) David James
Robert Wilson: (2016) Brandon Burke
Helen McInnes: Sharon Davis
Wally Stewart: Dennis Coard
Chester Lee: Kenneth Moraleda
Maree Bucknell: Robyn Arthur
Creatives
Playwright & Director: Jonathan Biggins
Set Designer: Shaun Gurton
Lighting Designer: Jason Bovaird
Sound Designer: Chris Hubbard
Wardrobe Coordinator: Kelsey Henderson