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'A young girl hits a ball against the tin wall of her family’s home with a frying pan. This is where it all began for Evonne Goolagong. Hers is a quintessentially Australian story about a girl from the bush who dared to dream, and with the unlikely support of an outback farming town, rose to become the No. 1 tennis player in the world, and a household name by the age of 19.
'Evonne Goolagong’s heartwarming story is a celebration of spirit and passion over adversity, and a tribute to a woman whose sporting prowess continues to inspire a nation, giving hope to thousands of young girls across the country. With its distinctively Australian sensibility and humour, Sunshine Super Girl asks us to consider our nation’s future and the part we can play for the next ‘Goolagong’ waiting in the wings.'
Source: Publisher's blurb.
Production Details
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Presented by Melbourne Theatre Company at the Sumner, Southbank Theatre, 20 November - 19 December 2020.
Director: Andrea James.
This production was one of only two productions (along with Girls & Boys) that was not initially cancelled as part of Melbourne Theatre Company's COVID-19 response.
Presented as part of Sydney Festival at Sydney Town Hall, 8-17 January 2021.
Director: Andrea James.
Movement Director & Additional Choreography: Katina Olsen.
Composition & Sound Designer: Gail Priest.
Lighting Designer: Karen Norris.
Video Media Designer: Mic Gruchy.
Set & Costume Designer: Romanie Harper.
Dramaturg: Louise Gough.
Mentor: Paige Rattray.
Original Choreographic Concept & Initial Movement Direction: Vicki Van Hout.
Cast: Tuuli Narkle (Evonne).
Ensemble: Luke Carroll, Jax Compton, Katina Olsen, and Kyle Shilling.
Presented as a Performing Lines production by the State Theatre Company of South Australia at the Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre, 2 - 17 September 2022.
Director: Andrea James.
Movement Director & Additional Choreography: Katina Olsen.
Set & Costume Designer: Romanie Harper.
Lighting Designer: Karen Norris.
Composition & Sound Designer: Gail Priest.
Dramaturg: Louise Gough.
Mentor: Paige Rattray.
Presented (as a Performing Lines production) by Merrigong Theatre Company at Wollongong Town Hall (Main Auditorium), 26 - 29 October 2022.
Director: Andrea James.
Movement Director & Additional Choreography: Katina Olsen.
Set & Costume Designer: Romanie Harper.
Lighting Designer: Karen Norris.
Composition & Sound Designer: Gail Priest.
Dramaturg: Louise Gough.
Mentor: Paige Rattray.
Presented by Melbourne Theatre Company, 9 November to 14 December 2022, at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner.
Director: Andrea James.
Movement Director & Additional Choreography: Katina Olsen.
Set & Costume Designer: Romanie Harper.
Lighting Designer: Karen Norris.
Composition & Sound Designer: Gail Priest.
Dramaturg: Louise Gough.
Mentor: Paige Rattray.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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[Review] Sunshine Super Girl
2022
single work
review
— Appears in: The Saturday Paper , 19-25 November 2022;
— Review of Sunshine Super Girl 2020 single work drama'Melbourne Theatre Company’s newest work is an adventurous and relentlessly upbeat portrayal of the life of Evonne Goolagong Cawley. By Robert Reid.'
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Sunshine Super Girl Review – a Warm Celebration of Evonne Goolagong Cawley
2022
single work
review
— Appears in: The Guardian Australia , 7 September 2022;
— Review of Sunshine Super Girl 2020 single work drama 'Writer-director Andrea James brings the tennis court to the stage in a warm and imaginative celebration of the Wiradjuri champion' -
Aboriginal Theatre Maker Andrea James Continues to Tell Vital First Nations Stories in Her Tribute to Tennis Legend Evonne Goolagong
2022
single work
column
— Appears in: ABC News [Online] , June 2022;'Yorta Yorta/Gunaikurnai theatre maker Andrea James has been thinking a lot about her parents lately.'
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READing & VIEWing
2021
single work
column
— Appears in: English in Australia , vol. 56 no. 2 2021; (p. 60-66) -
Sunshine Super Girl to Play Sydney
2021
single work
column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 13 January no. 742 2021; (p. 1, 9) 'Despite the many challenges presented by COVID-19, the 2021 Sydney Festival launched last week and features numerous events and exhibitions by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.'
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Queen of the Court
2020
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 3 October 2020; (p. 4)
— Review of Sunshine Super Girl 2020 single work drama -
Sunshine Super Girl Review – a Warm Celebration of Evonne Goolagong Cawley
2022
single work
review
— Appears in: The Guardian Australia , 7 September 2022;
— Review of Sunshine Super Girl 2020 single work drama 'Writer-director Andrea James brings the tennis court to the stage in a warm and imaginative celebration of the Wiradjuri champion' -
[Review] Sunshine Super Girl
2022
single work
review
— Appears in: The Saturday Paper , 19-25 November 2022;
— Review of Sunshine Super Girl 2020 single work drama'Melbourne Theatre Company’s newest work is an adventurous and relentlessly upbeat portrayal of the life of Evonne Goolagong Cawley. By Robert Reid.'
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Tennis Champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley Celebrated in New Australian Play
2019
single work
column
— Appears in: ABC News [Online] , September 2019;'A new play based on the life of Australian tennis champion and Wiradjuri woman Evonne Goolagong Cawley will take centre court at Melbourne Theatre Company next year — literally: the Southbank theatre will be transformed with stadium-style seating banks on either side of the stage.'(Introduction)
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Milestones
2019
single work
column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 2 November 2019; (p. 26)'Celebrating 50 years of QTC, Stables and the people's playwright, David Williamson'
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Sydney Festival Review : Sunshine Super Girl Is Destined to Become a Legacy Piece of Australian Theatre
2021
single work
review
— Appears in: The Conversation , 13 January 2021;'Evonne Goolagong Cawley is one of Australia’s greatest sportspeople. She was the top woman tennis player in the world in 1971 (a feat she repeated in 1976), becoming the first Indigenous woman to achieve national and international prominence.' (Introduction)
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Sunshine Super Girl to Open on Country
2020
single work
column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 12 August no. 732 2020; (p. 29) -
Sydney Festival 2021 Bringing First Nations' Stories to the Stage through Dance and Song
2020
single work
column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 2 December no. 740 2020; (p. 2)
Awards
- 2021 nominated AWGIE Awards — Stage Award
- 2020 shortlisted Victorian Premier's Literary Awards — Prize for Drama
