A BOGAN AND BOURGEOIS BATTLE FOR A SUBURBAN BACKYARD
The summery embrace of an Aussie family Christmas. Familiar characters pop the cork on mid-range bubbly for a raucous celebration of festive traditions. But, all is not well.
As adult kids regress to the parental homestead, Mum and Dad’s apparent wealth is waning. They’ve sold the Audi. There are fewer presents. They’re even renting out the back shed to supplement their income.
There’s a bunch of yobbos in the backyard!
Following a Christmas dinner invitation, ocker antics start to infect the house. First, it’s the tracky dacks. Then, it’s the durries. Before you know it, the working class are treading their unsophistication all over the polished floorboards…or so it may seem.
Zoey Dawson pries open social divides with incisive comedy and exacting satire. Directed by Janice Muller, the cast members shine twice, each playing two characters—one bourgeois, one bogan.
Australian Realness fast-forwards from the dawn of the Howard era to revel in the shattering of expectations and artificial class divisions.
"HILARIOUSLY INTELLIGENT...DAMN GOOD COMEDY"
"AN INCREDIBLY THOUGHTFUL AND CHALLENGING WORK...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"
PRODUCTION PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS
Commissioned by Malthouse Theatre through the support of the Malcolm Robertson Foundation. Australian Realness was developed with assistance from the Monash University Centre for Theatre and Performance, Artist in Residence Program.
Key image: Zan Wimberley
Images: Pia Johsnon
BY / | Zoey Dawson |
DIRECTION / | Janice Muller |
CAST / | Linda Cropper, André de Vanny, Emily Goddard, Walter Henry Phillips, Chanella Macri, Greg Stone |
LIGHTING DESIGN / | Amelia Lever-Davidson |
SOUND DESIGN & COMPOSITION / | James Paul |
SET & COSTUME DESIGN / | Romanie Harper |
STAGE MANAGER / | Josh Sherrin |
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER / | Cointha Walkeden |
DRAMATURG / | Declan Greene |
VIDEOGRAPHY / | Einwick |
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Event & ticketing details
Accessibility
Dates & Times
PREVIEWS | 7.30pm Fri 16 Aug, 7.30pm Sat 17 Aug, 6.30pm Mon 19 Aug, 6.30pm Tue 20 Aug |
OPENING NIGHT | 7.30pm, Wed 21 Aug |
TIME TO TALK | 6.30pm, Tue 27 Aug |
MONASH MEETS MALTHOUSE | 1.30pm, Sat 7 Sep |
AUSLAN INTERPRETED | 1.30pm, Sat 31 Aug |
Location
Merlyn Theatre
The Malthouse, 113 Sturt St, Southbank 3006
Get directionsTrain
Any train to Flinders Street, then a 12-minute stroll through Melbourne’s sparkling Arts Precinct.Tram
The No. 1 South Melbourne tram goes right past our door. Get off at Stop 18. Any tram down St Kilda Road—jump off at Grant Street, Stop 17 and take a 3-minute walk.Event notes
DURATION /
Approx. 90 minutes (no interval)
WARNINGS /
Contains coarse language, sexual references, herbal cigarettes and some violence.