Australian Realness

Production still for "Australian Realness". L-R: Linda Cropper, Greg Stone, Emily Goddard. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Australian Realness

By Zoey Dawson

16 August 2019 – 08 September 2019 Merlyn Theatre

Malthouse Theatre,

New Writing Commission Theatre World Premiere

In the home of an upper-middle class family in Fitzroy, familiar characters reunite for a raucous celebration of festive traditions. But, all is not well. 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 takes the familiar trope of a conflict between a bogan and the bourgeois to revel in the shattering of expectations and artificial class divisions. Australian Realness pries open social divides with incisive comedy and exacting satire.

 

★★★★
"HILARIOUSLY INTELLIGENT...DAMN GOOD COMEDY"
— The Music

★★★★
"AN INCREDIBLY THOUGHTFUL AND CHALLENGING WORK...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"
— ArtsHub

Production still for "Australian Realness". Greg Stone. Photographer: Pia Johnson
Production still for "Australian Realness". L-R: Linda Cropper, Greg Stone. Photographer: Pia Johnson
Production still for "Australian Realness". L-R: Emily Goddard, Chanelle Macri. Photographer: Pia Johnson
Production still for "Australian Realness". Emily Goddard. Photographer: Pia Johnson
Production still for "Australian Realness". L-R: André de Vanny, Greg Stone, Chanelle Macri, Emily Goddard. Photographer: Pia Johnson
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Production still for "Australian Realness". Greg Stone. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for "Australian Realness". L-R: Linda Cropper, Greg Stone. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for "Australian Realness". L-R: Emily Goddard, Chanelle Macri. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for "Australian Realness". Emily Goddard. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Production still for "Australian Realness". L-R: André de Vanny, Greg Stone, Chanelle Macri, Emily Goddard. Photographer: Pia Johnson

Cast

Linda Cropper

Linda Cropper

Actor (Mum, Kerry & Host)

Andre de Vanny

Andre de Vanny

Actor (Brother & Jason)

Emily Goddard

Emily Goddard

Actor (Daughter)

Chanella Macri

Chanella Macri

Actor (Partner)

Greg Stone

Greg Stone

Actor (Dad, Gary, Camera Op & Busker)

Walter Phillips

Actor (Baby)

Creatives

Zoey Dawson

Zoey Dawson

Writer

Janice Muller

Janice Muller

Director

Romanie Harper

Romanie Harper

Set & Costume Designer

Amelia Lever-Davidson

Amelia Lever-Davidson

Lighting Designer

James Paul

Composer & Sound Designer

Declan Greene

Declan Greene

Dramaturg

Josh Sherrin

Josh Sherrin

Stage Manager

Cointha Walkeden

Cointha Walkeden

Assistant Stage Manager

Acknowledgements

Commissioned by Malthouse Theatre through the support of the Malcolm Robertson Foundation, and developed with assistance from the Monash University Centre for Theatre and Performance, Artist in Residence Program.

Production Program

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