Australia Day

Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company and Allens Arthur Robinson presents: Australia Day, by Jonathan Biggins.

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.

Warning: Contains Strong Language

2 hours, including interval.
Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House.