Jonathan Biggins’ Australia Day: Barbecue, bureaucracy, and bitterness: Jonathan Biggins’ sharp comedy Australia Day opens at Therry Theatre
As the sausages sizzle and the flags flutter, the fictional town of Makarrata is about to find out that planning a national holiday is anything but a party. Therry Theatre is proud to announce the upcoming production of Australia Day, the critically acclaimed, razor-sharp satire by Jonathan Biggins.
Playwright Jonathan Biggins takes aim at most of the small-town archetypes in a fictitious Australia Day organising committee. Stacked with pithy one-liners, get ready for social satire and huge laughs at the expense of just about everyone in our sun-drenched country!
Directed by Jude Hines, this bitingly funny play takes a behind-the-scenes look at a small-town Australia Day organising committee. What begins as a civic duty quickly descends into a hilarious battlefield of political correctness, personal agendas, and clashing cultural identities.
The Story
In the heat of a looming summer, six committee members – ranging from a crotchety builder and a progressive librarian to an ambitious politician – gather to hash out the details of the annual celebration. From the choice of ‘Global Food’ stalls to the logistics of the primary school choir, no topic is too small to spark a row. As the heat rises, the ‘fair go’ spirit is put to the ultimate test, exposing the cracks in the contemporary Australian identity with wit and unflinching honesty.
“Biggins has written a play that is as uncomfortable as it is hysterical,” says Director Jude Hines. “It forces us to laugh at our own prejudices while asking the big question: what does it actually mean to be Australian in the 21st century?”
Production Details
- Venue: The Arts Theatre, Angas Street, Adelaide
- Performance Dates: Wednesday 8 (Preview) – Saturday 18 April, 2026.
- Showtimes: 2.00pm / 7.30pm
- Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/DHTFT
The Cast & Creative Team
This production features a stellar local ensemble, including:
Michele Kelsey as Helen McInnes – the interfering city-girl turned regional Greens candidate. Stephen Bills as Brian Harrigan – the conservative, long serving Mayor of Makaratta. Adam Schultz as Robert Wilson – the Deputy Mayor, often politically pragmatic. Ollie Xu as Chester Lee – a progressive schoolteacher and the Australian-born son of refugees. Kristina Kidd as Maree Bucknell – President of the Country Women’s Association. Steve Kidd OAM as Wally Stewart – a local builder and developer, portrayed as a blunt, bigoted, and “old-school” Aussie battler.
Directed by – Jude Hines. Set Design by – Gary Anderson. The set authentically recreates the quintessential Australian community hall, complete with stackable chairs and lukewarm tea. Sound Design & Operation by – Sean Smith. Lighting Design by – Ian Barge. Stage Manager – Larissa Paynter. Costumes by – Gilian Cordell & Sandy Faithfull. Production Manager – Jill Bartlett. Properties – Emma Grieve.
About Therry Theatre
Founded in 1943 by George Duke Walton, Therry Theatre is a premier Adelaide amateur theatre company known for staging high quality stage plays and musicals. We have produced hundreds of shows since 1943, many award winners, including the recent staging of the Broadway musical, Come from Away. Therry Theatre performs on The Arts Theatre Adelaide stage.
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