Up the Road

Production still for "Up the Road". L-R: Margaret Harvey as Susan Lockerbee, Lillian Crombie as Aunt Sissy, Irma Woods as Liddy. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Up the Road

By John Harding

08 March 1997 – 29 March 1987 Merlyn Theatre

Playbox Theatre Company, Company B Belvoir,

Theatre Co-Production

John Harding's play is set in the remote Aboriginal community of Flat Creek, where life is pretty uncomplicated that is until Ian Sampson, Canberra bureaucrat, returns home. High spirited, irreverent and moving, Up the Road is a celebration of life, love and family.

First produced in Melbourne by the Ilbijerri Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Theatre Co-operative in 1991. It was then work-shopped at the 1995 Australian National Playwrights' Conference.

This production's season began at Belvoir Street Theatre in 1996, then opened in 1997 in the Playhouse Theatre as part of the Festival of Perth (19 February - 1 March). After the Merlyn season it traveled to the Alexander Theatre in Clayton (1-5 April). In 1998 it toured to The Space in Adelaide and The Playhouse in Canberra.

Production still for "Up the Road". L-R: John Moore as Ian Sampson, Lillian Crombie as Aunt Sissy. Photographer: Jeff Busby
Production still for "Up the Road". L-R: Irma Woods as Liddy, Margaret Harvey as Susan Lockerbee. Photographer: Jeff Busby
Production still for "Up the Road". L-R: Paul Blackwell as Greg Hidcombe, Margaret Harvey as Susan Lockerbee. Photographer: Jeff Busby
Production still for "Up the Road". L-R: Margaret Harvey as Susan Lockerbee, John Moore as Ian Sampson. Photographer: Jeff Busby
Production still for "Up the Road". L-R: John Moore as Ian Sampson, Irma Woods as Liddy. Photographer: Jeff Busby
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Production still for "Up the Road". L-R: John Moore as Ian Sampson, Lillian Crombie as Aunt Sissy. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "Up the Road". L-R: Irma Woods as Liddy, Margaret Harvey as Susan Lockerbee. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "Up the Road". L-R: Paul Blackwell as Greg Hidcombe, Margaret Harvey as Susan Lockerbee. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "Up the Road". L-R: Margaret Harvey as Susan Lockerbee, John Moore as Ian Sampson. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "Up the Road". L-R: John Moore as Ian Sampson, Irma Woods as Liddy. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Cast

Paul Blackwell

Paul Blackwell

Actor (Perth and Melbourne seasons)

John Moore

Actor

Irma Woods

Actor

Geoff Kelso

Actor (Sydney and Alexander Theatre 1, 3 and 4 April)

Wayne Freer

Actor (Adelaide and Canberra seasons)

Creatives

Neil Armfield

Neil Armfield

Director

Mark Howett

Mark Howett

Lighting Designer

Brian Thomson

Designer

Anna Borghesi

Designer

Wayne Freer

Composer

John Harding

Playwright

Francesca Smith

Dramaturg

Tanya Bennett

Stage Manager

Acknowledgements

Production still for "Up the Road". L-R: John Moore as Ian Sampson, Lillian Crombie as Aunt Sissy. Photographer: Jeff Busby