Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson discuss life, love and legacy in a fundraiser for the embattled Wonthaggi Life Saving Club WHO wouldn’t want to sit in on a conversation between Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson?
Australia’s favourite bards are headed to Wonthaggi to perform in Dead Men Talking with veteran actors Max Cullen and Warren Fahey.
The two-man, one-act stage musical, devised and scripted by Cullen and Fahey, has won over critics and audiences since it was first performed in 2014.
Australia’s favourite bards are headed to Wonthaggi to perform in Dead Men Talking with veteran actors Max Cullen and Warren Fahey.
The two-man, one-act stage musical, devised and scripted by Cullen and Fahey, has won over critics and audiences since it was first performed in 2014.
The local staging is a fundraiser for the Wonthaggi Life Saving Club, which suffered catastrophic damage to its Cape Paterson clubrooms during a hail storm in May.
It’s been organised by a new local, Sally Bird, who explains: “I live in Langwarrin South and recently bought a holiday house in Cape Paterson, a part of the world I love. So I’ve been aware of the plight of the life saving club since the hailstorm.
“I know Max Cullen and three years ago talked him into bringing his show Dead Men Talking to Pearcedale and I put it on at the Pearcedale hall. It was a huge success and I over sold the tickets and had to put on a second show.
“When they were touring again this year they contacted me to see if I wanted to put it on again. It was just after the hailstorm so I thought I’d put it on in Wonthaggi and raise funds for the life saving club.”
The lively one act show finds the two legendary literary figures having a casual drink at the Leviticus Bar & Grill, Heaven's Gate, and yarning about their legacies. Slightly cantankerous, yet grateful for their old friendship, Lawson (Max Cullen) and Paterson (Warren Fahey) discuss their lives, recite poems, sing songs and generally banter, including about their famous 'War of Words' in The Bulletin.
Fahey says Lawson and Paterson should be remembered as the world increasingly succumbs to “one world culture”.
“It’s vital that small nations like Australia fight back to show their uniqueness. Our national identity was born in the bush and is one of feistiness and determination where pioneers battled with bushfires, floods, droughts, insect plagues and, quite often, authority and the banks.”
He says Lawson and Paterson emerged at a time when we needed masterful storytellers who would talk to us in our own language and at our own level.
“They both took the old bush stories and songs and gave them back to us in a colloquial literary catalogue that bridged the gap between bush and city. They gave us a unique voice that still rings true blue today.”
There will be two performances at the Wonthaggi Union Theatre, at 2pm and 6pm on Monday October 28. Tickets are $39 or $34 concession. Book at https://www.trybooking.com/BEWKO. Inquiries: Sally Bird on 0427 293 464.
It’s been organised by a new local, Sally Bird, who explains: “I live in Langwarrin South and recently bought a holiday house in Cape Paterson, a part of the world I love. So I’ve been aware of the plight of the life saving club since the hailstorm.
“I know Max Cullen and three years ago talked him into bringing his show Dead Men Talking to Pearcedale and I put it on at the Pearcedale hall. It was a huge success and I over sold the tickets and had to put on a second show.
“When they were touring again this year they contacted me to see if I wanted to put it on again. It was just after the hailstorm so I thought I’d put it on in Wonthaggi and raise funds for the life saving club.”
The lively one act show finds the two legendary literary figures having a casual drink at the Leviticus Bar & Grill, Heaven's Gate, and yarning about their legacies. Slightly cantankerous, yet grateful for their old friendship, Lawson (Max Cullen) and Paterson (Warren Fahey) discuss their lives, recite poems, sing songs and generally banter, including about their famous 'War of Words' in The Bulletin.
Fahey says Lawson and Paterson should be remembered as the world increasingly succumbs to “one world culture”.
“It’s vital that small nations like Australia fight back to show their uniqueness. Our national identity was born in the bush and is one of feistiness and determination where pioneers battled with bushfires, floods, droughts, insect plagues and, quite often, authority and the banks.”
He says Lawson and Paterson emerged at a time when we needed masterful storytellers who would talk to us in our own language and at our own level.
“They both took the old bush stories and songs and gave them back to us in a colloquial literary catalogue that bridged the gap between bush and city. They gave us a unique voice that still rings true blue today.”
There will be two performances at the Wonthaggi Union Theatre, at 2pm and 6pm on Monday October 28. Tickets are $39 or $34 concession. Book at https://www.trybooking.com/BEWKO. Inquiries: Sally Bird on 0427 293 464.