Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson left extraordinary legacies to Australia and they should never be forgotten. As the world increasingly succumbs to the never-ending and somewhat inevitable pressure of ‘one world culture’ it is 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. They also fought loneliness and despair but somehow-or-other came out the other side to build this great nation.
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.
‘Dead Men Talking’ was devised by Max Cullen and scripted by Max Cullen and Warren Fahey incorporating songs, poems and yarns woven into a lively and sometimes irreverent performance piece that craftily brings these two literary bards together.
The one act show centres on a repartee between these two legendary figures which takes place at the ‘Leviticus Bar & Grill, Heaven’s Gate’. Slightly cantankerous, yet grateful of their old friendship, Henry Lawson (Max Cullen) and A. B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson (Warren Fahey) swap tales and observations of their lives, including their famous ‘War of Words’ in The Bulletin.
‘Dead Men Talking’ hits a solid nostalgic note with audiences who delight in seeing Lawson and Paterson brought to life in such an unexpected and amusing way, while paying homage to their achievements as masters of prose, responsible for some of our most beloved poems, stories and songs which are such an important part of the Australian character and culture.
The 2016 season includes a special visit to Melbourne (as well as select Victorian regional locations).
(New) Victorian Trades Hall Auditorium, Lygon & Victoria Streets, South Carlton
Fri 22 April (8.00PM)
(Donating $5 from every ticket to the Asylum Seekers Research Centre)
Melbourne Tickets $39 – www.deadmentalking-melbourne.floktu.com
Other shows include Sat April 16, Flinders Island; Mon 18 April Geelong Grammar, Wed 20th April Sovereign Hill @ Ballarat, and Thurs 21st Pearcedale Hall.
Max Cullen is a celebrated Australian actor for stage and screen. He is best known for roles in Skippy, The Flying Doctors, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, My Brilliant Career and The Great Gatsby. In November 2015 he takes a two-moth break from Dead Men Talking to join Geoffrey Rush in the STC production of King Lear. He has won more awards than you can poke a stick at including a Logie, Sydney Theatre Critics Award, Film Critic’s Circle Award and several AFI Awards. Born in Wellington, NSW, and now living in Gunning, he has a great affinity with the bush and the stories that contributed so much to the Australian identity.
Full bio – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Cullen
Warren Fahey has been collecting and performing Australian bush traditions for nigh on 50 years. He is a regular on ABC radio and television. Author of 30 books, including the centenary edition of A.B. Paterson’s Old Bush Songs (ABC Books 2005). Founder of the pioneer and feisty independent Larrikin Record label he was Australian Music Person of the Year (2000). He has been honoured with the Order of Australia, Prime Minister’s Centenary Medal, The Bush Laureate Lifetime Achievement Award and, in 2010, Australia’s highest prize for lifetime service to music, The Don Banks Music Award. He prefers to say he is a graduate of the Dingo University of the Outback.
Full bio – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Fahey
Rouseabout Records has released a ‘Dead Men Talking’ CD and DVD
(Distributed MGM)
Facebook page for news updates:
https://www.facebook.com/deadmentalkingshow
Web page – http://www.warrenfahey.com/performance/dead-men-talking-stage-play/
