Travelling North
By David Williamson
2008 – 2009 National Tour
August 14, 2008 – November 18 2008 – 14 week tour to 33 venues in VIC, QLD, NSW, ACT, TAS & WA
South Yarra, Brisbane, Proserpine, Mackay, Capella, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Noosa, Redcliffe, Logan, Lismore, Tenterfield, Bingara, Gunnedah, Dubbo, Taree, Woy Woy, Penrith, Tuggeranong, Ringwood, Warburton, Swan Hill, Benalla, Shepparton, Sale, Bayswater, Dandenong, Pakenham, Ballarat, Horsham, Portland, Colac, Hamilton,
February 3 – April 8, 2009 – 9.5 week tour to 16 venues in VIC, NSW & TAS
Devonport, Nunawading, Traralgon, South Morang, Moonee Ponds, Moorabbin, Bendigo, Albury, Parramatta, Griffith, Sutherland, Melbourne, Mildura, Belrose, Nowra & Wagga Wagga.
A production by Christine Harris & HIT Productions
Australia’s Premier Theatre Touring Company, HIT Productions is pleased to announce their 2008, 14 week tour of David Williamson’s Travelling North starring Terence Donovan (Neighbours) as Frank and Sandy Gore (Brides of Christ) as Francis. Joining Terence and Sandy on stage will be an exceptional ensemble cast consisting of Kate Cole, Lewis Fiander, Shelly Lauman, Ross Thompson and Elizabeth Slattery. Travelling North, the award winning play (1987 AFI Award for Best Screenplay) by arguably Australia’s most significant and prolific playwright, David Williamson, is a heart warming play about a twilight love affair. Frank and Frances find a new life, much to the consternation of their conventional children. Their dream takes them both North to the sun but no sooner do they find their idyll than signs of mortality betray Frank’s lion spirit. Travelling North is David Williamson’s tribute to the generation that fought for change in Australia from the 30s to the 70s. Set in the early 70s this beautiful play explores the attitudes of the era with great heart. However there is another dimension to this play and that is, simply, that life is about renewal, growth and moving on.
David Williamson’s Travelling North boasts the accomplished talents of Director Bruce Myles who has recently completed directing the highly successful David Williamson’s The Club.
“While the story does have a serious side and looks at relationships between older people, it does naturally have much comedy, as expected from Williamson, and is I feel a piece that many mature people can and will relate to.“
John Gunn, 3CR’s ‘Curtain Up’, Sundays at One
David Williamson’s Travelling North is produced by HIT’s Founder and CEO, Christine Harris; Adelaide born, award winning actress (Amy Carson in Carson’s Law) and recipient of the 1997 Victorian Entrepreneur of the Year Award and 1999 Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame inductee. David Williamson’s Travelling North is part of over 50 weeks of national touring to be undertaken this year by this prolific company, HIT Productions, which has produced, as part of its 38 touring productions (1999 – 2008), such successes as Hotel Sorrento, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Love Child, Educating Rita, The Club and many more.
“Travelling North is a love story. It is a beautifully written play that has at its centre two wonderfully drawn characters dealing with the complexities of lives well lived. It is a moving homage to age. Frank and Frances demand the right to live a life not defined by children. Surrounding them is an entertaining mix of rich characters – daughters, neighbours, doctors – who push and pull at their idyll. This is David Williamson in top form. Delicious observations of family business! Sharp, spiky dialogue. Themes that are at the heart of all our lives.”
Bruce Myles, Director
David Williamson’s Travelling North will travel for 14 weeks in 2008, to 33 capital city, metropolitan, regional and remote theatre venuesAustralia wide.
Cast
Frank: Terence Donovan
Francis: Sandy Gore
Freddy: Ross Thompson
Saul: Lewis Fiander
Sophie: Shelly Lauman
Helen: Kate Cole
Joan: Elizabeth Slattery
Creatives
Playwright: David Williamson
Director: Bruce Myles
Designer: Shaun Gurton
Lighting Designer: Glenn Hughes
Composition: Andrew Pendlebury