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y separately published work icon Australia Day single work   drama  
Issue Details: First known date: 2012... 2012 Australia Day
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Australia Day: A day off work, an excuse to fire up the barbeque, an opportunity to drink copious amounts of beer and, most importantly, a celebration of our national identity... whatever that is.

'For the members of the Australia Day committee in the small country town of Coriole, the issue of cultural identity is prickly to say the least. If they could agree on what kind of Australia they are celebrating, they might be able to tackle the really big questions: Does a sausage sizzle code as monocultural? And should the special needs kids be forced to perform their dance routine on the national day?

'Suffice to say that with a committee comprising of an ambitious Liberal Mayor, a Greens Councillor, a bigoted builder, an Australian-born Vietnamese school teacher and a member of the CWA, rolling out the Australia Day celebrations will be as complex and controversial as carbon pricing.

'This wickedly funny new play from stalwart of political satire, Jonathan Biggins, was inspired by his own experiences as an Australia Day Ambassador, and will be realised by the comic genius of veteran director, Richard Cottrell.

'In a period when political correctness has overwhelmed us, Biggins' fearlessness is refreshing, but even when he is pointing out our ugliest features he does so with affection and quintessentially Aussie good humour.' (Source: Sydney Theatre Co. website)

Notes

  • 2013 Helpmann Award nominations include:

    Valerie Bader : Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play

Production Details

  • A co-production by the Melbourne Theatre Company with the Sydney Theatre Company and Allens Arthur Robinson, 21-26 April 2012 at the Playhouse, Arts Centre, Melbourne.

    Director: Richard Cottrell.


    Also produced at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, NSW, 22 August 2012 and Drama Theatre (Sydney Opera House) Sydney, NSW 7 September - 27 October 2012.


    Produced by the Queensland Theatre Company, Playhouse, South Brisbane, QLD 25 January - 16 February 2014.

    Director: Andrea Moor.

    Designer: Simone Romaniuk.

    Lighting Designer: David Walters.

    Sound Designer: Tony Brumpton.

    Assistant Director: Margi Brown Ash.

    Assistant Sound Designer: Imogen Millhouse.

    Cast: Chris Betts (Wally), Paul Bishop (Brian), Louise Brehmer (Helen), Barbara Lowing (Marie), Lap Phan (Chester), and Bryan Probets (Robert).


    Produced at Brown's Mart Theatre, Darwin, NT 10 July - 14 July 2015.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 2012
    • Rose Bay, Sydney Eastern Harbourside, Sydney Eastern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales,: David Spicer Productions , 2015 .
      image of person or book cover 8906090581387436969.jpg
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Extent: 98p.
      Description: illus., ports
      Note/s:
      • Published 1 January 2012
      ISBN: 9780994347305

Works about this Work

Indigenous Community Condemns Australia Day Play by Satirist Jonathan Biggins Ben Nielsen , 2018 single work column
— Appears in: ABC News [Online] , August 2018;

'Members of the Indigenous community in the New South Wales and Victoria border towns of Albury and Wodonga have condemned a local theatre company's plans to stage a play by satirist Jonathan Biggins, best known for The Wharf Revue by the Sydney Theatre Company.'  (Introduction)

Heart to Heart Hilary Simmons (interviewer), 2017 single work interview
— Appears in: Books + Publishing , May vol. 96 no. 4 2017; (p. 25)

Melanie Cheng's Australia Day is a' bittersweet, beautifully crafted collection' about the conflicts and realisations that occur when people of different backgrounds are brought together. She spoke to interviewer Hilary Simmons. (Summary)

Fair Dinkum Satire : Play Targets Australia Day Celebrations 2015 single work review
— Appears in: NT News , 4 July 2015; (p. 24)

— Review of Australia Day Jonathan Biggins , 2012 single work drama
'Australian Society is known for its complexities surrounding issues such as multiculturalism and political policy, often targeted in the performing arts for satirical purposes...'
QTC Chief Denies Censorship 2014 single work column
— Appears in: The Australian , 6 Februay 2014; (p. 13)
Laugh Mask Serious Intent of QTC's Latest Phil Brown , 2014 single work review
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 3 February 2014; (p. 35)

— Review of Australia Day Jonathan Biggins , 2012 single work drama
Not Just a Day of Bad Tattoos and Jingoism Tim Douglas , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian , 20 April 2012; (p. 14)

— Review of Australia Day Jonathan Biggins , 2012 single work drama
Sacred Cows Skewered into Wince Meat Elly Varrenti , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: The Saturday Age , 28 April 2012; (p. 24)

— Review of Australia Day Jonathan Biggins , 2012 single work drama
National Day is Always Good For a Laugh Martin Buzacott , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian , 30 April 2012; (p. 14)

— Review of Australia Day Jonathan Biggins , 2012 single work drama
A National Affair Ron Cerabona , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 25 August 2012; (p. 16)

— Review of Australia Day Jonathan Biggins , 2012 single work drama
More Aussie Satire Than You Can Poke a Stick At Peter Wilkins , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 31 August 2012; (p. 7)

— Review of Australia Day Jonathan Biggins , 2012 single work drama
A New Generation Delivers Clare Morgan , 2011 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 20 October 2011; (p. 4)
A Chance to Wax Parochial Steve Dow , 2012 single work biography
— Appears in: The Saturday Age , 6-7 April 2012; (p. 20-21)
Actor Earns His Stripes Joanne Sim , 2012 single work column
— Appears in: Melbourne Weekly , 25 April 2012; (p. 9)
Stage Is Set for a Microcosm of Aussie Views Ron Cerabona , 2012 single work column
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 30 August 2012; (p. 8)
By Jingo, a Leftie Takes Back Australia Day Steve Dow , 2012 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 5 September 2012; (p. 12)
Last amended 22 Nov 2018 13:16:45
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