By the show’s writer, Geoffrey Sykes of Stanwell Tops
Special performances of Australia Felix (The Life, Tales, Trials, Sentencing and Execution of Clarke the Flying Barber) will be presented at Stanwell Park’s CWA Hall on Friday and Saturday, 26 and 27 April, at 7pm. Australian theatre and history are re-imagined in this independent production following seasons at The Richard Wherrett Studio, Roslyn Packer Theatre and Chippen Street Theatre.
This story of runaway convict George Clarke and his tale of a fabulous river and a fertile inland influenced Thomas Mitchell, the Surveyor General of NSW and the first person to set up a solid residence in Stanwell Park. Mitchell set off on his first expedition based on the convict’s tale.
Clarke’s life story is told by a travelling theatre company of the time, on the eve of the execution of the convict. Clarke rustled cattle and horses for hungry Aboriginal people excluded from their traditional homeland by pastoral farming. Genres are inverted, history upended.
The show includes encounters between Mitchell and Clarke that resonate with current issues. There will be a Q&A following performances.
I have lived at Stanwell Tops for over 30 years and wrote the first version of this show when I lived in Sydney. We are not presenting the show at Stanwell Park because I am local. There is a remarkable link through the life of Mitchell.
Mitchell lived at the end of Stanwell Ave. It was a holiday home – he already had an impressive Gothic home on Sydney Harbour. Mitchell named the prominent geographical feature at Stanwell Park, Mt Mitchell, after himself, and built the bullock track at the side of the mountain.
Remains of that track can be found today on the Wodi Wodi track.
The show has a professional cast, with Mark Alexander, Rick Butler, Tisha Kelemen, Freya Moore and Melissa Glinn. Songs are by Steve Wood with musical direction by Kate Stewart. Visual design is by local graphic artist Aschara Pothmann. We hope to tour the show regionally and interstate.
Book tickets via Trybooking
