Bendigo theatre group Synchronicity will present politically-incorrect farce Australia Day on Friday.
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The Jonathan Biggins play follows a fictional local council’s Australia Day committee as its organises this year’s celebrations.
With a number of contrasting personalities and political views, debacles and mayhem ensue.
Director Wendy Collishaw said audiences would find the characters very familiar.
“It follows the big personalities in this small town and is about the nature of groups and how people in groups find place or don’t find a place.
“That’s what the play talks about, how people identify in a group.”
Biggins has drawn on his experiences as an Australia Day ambassador in small country towns, to create very recognisable characters that express attitudes we have all cringed at at one time or another.
“(We liked) the fact of how relevant the play is,” Ms Collishaw said.
“It talks about attitudes to Australia Day, people’s attitude to politics in general and a lot to the personalities of small towns.”
The ensemble cast is led by Iain Wilson as town mayor Brian Harrigan and Sharon Newth as local Greens councillor Helen McInnes.
Craig Sheppard plays loud mouth tradie Wally and Lisa Martin has been cast as CWA president and gossip Maree.
Geoff Collishaw plays loyal deputy mayor Robert Wilson and Jhanelle Mistica, in her first performance, plays Australian-born Filipino Charlie.
“We can all recognise Wally as someone we know, and we know a character like Maree,” Ms Collishaw said.
“We're introducing young Jhanelle who is 14 and very new. She is playing a really strong 18-year-old character and doing a fabulous job.”
Synchronicity are continuing to grow their group of followers and are considering expanding their theatrical horizon in 2019.
“Next year we are thinking about a few very different plays and might branch out to a musical,” Ms Collishaw said.
“We have somebody who is keen to direct musical but we are also looking at some British plays. We love the droll sense of humour that comes with British plays like The Importance of Being Earnest that we did a few years ago.”
Synchroncity’s production of Australia Day is at the Engine Room on June 1, 2, 8 and 9 at 7.30pm and June 2 at 2pm.
Visit www.thecapital.com.au/Whats_On for tickets.