What's On

Theatre Works and Montague Basement present

The Great Australian Play
By Kim Ho

Australia, 1930. As the Great Depression tightens its grip on a hungry, fledgling nation, Harold Bell Lasseter charms everyone with his story of a fabulously wealthy “reef” of gold, hidden in the vast interior. Brave adventurers set off in search of riches and salvation… but the expedition descends into a nightmare.

Australia, 2020. Relentless funding cuts have left the arts community weary and desperate. Looking for commercial and critical acclaim, five storytellers uncover the legend of Lasseter’s Reef and figure it’s a sure-fire win. It’s got everything; vanishing conmen, sweeping adventure, even a Nazi German dingo scalper.

An ingenious new satire from Kim Ho, winner of the Patrick White Award, The Great Australian Play is a psychedelic romp through the myths of our glorious nation’s past, present, and imagined future. This dazzling, kaleidoscopic work is the epic Australia’s been waiting for!

Montague Basement is a Sydney-based independent theatre company launched in 2014. Like so many independent companies Montague Basement began as a name to stick on a Fringe show but has grown to encompass new Australian work, devised adaptations of classics and films, immersive productions and much more. Since 2014 Montague Basement has remained a continued presence in Sydney independent theatre - both as a platform for emerging artists and as a home for Imogen Gardam and Saro Lusty-Cavallari’s continued collaboration. In 2018 the company presented its first interstate show, The Public Domain Opera as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. They are thrilled to continue their work in Melbourne with The Great Australian Play at Theatre Works.

This production is proudly supported by Theatre Works, Creative Victoria and the City of Port Phillip.

Written by Kim Ho
Directed by Saro Lusty-Cavallari
Dramaturgy by Carissa Lee
Performers include Tamara Bailey, Sermsah Bin Saad, and Jessa Koncic
Produced by Imogen Gardam
Set Design by Carmody Nicol
Costume Design by Claudia Mirabello
Lighting Design by Nick Moloney
Image by Jack Dixon-Gunn

19 – 29 February, 2020
Tues – Sat 7:30pm, Sun 5pm
Preview 19 February 7:30pm
Tickets: $20
Bookings: (03) 9534 3388 or online at www.theatreworks.org.au/program/the-great-australian-play/
Venue: Theatre Works - 14 Acland St, St Kilda
www.theatreworks.org.au

Show Duration 2 hours + interval
Suitable for ages 15+
Please note: this show contains adult themes, coarse language, sexual references, smoking on stage, smoke machine, haze machine, loud noises, and strobe effects