Acclaimed musical The Sunshine Club is set to warm up the Moncrieff Entertainment Centre with a performance on Saturday 23 September.
Set in 1946, the show tells the story of Aboriginal soldier Frank Doyle who has just returned home to Brisbane after serving in World War II to find that while the world may have changed, some attitudes and prejudices remain the same.
This realisation fills Frank with a strong desire to change things for the better and so he sets up The Sunshine Club, a place where everyone and anyone can gather to laugh and dance the night away.
Created by HIT Productions with assistance through the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body, The Sunshine Club is touring around the country, having originally opened at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in 1999.
Since then it has been heralded as a “brilliant new landmark in Australian musicals” by The Australian and achieved a range of accolades including a Matlida Award and a Deadly Award for Excellence.
Writer and Director Wesley Enoch said that while the original show had been tailored for touring, the message remained the same.
“I initially wrote this as a way of bringing people together, especially in the reconciliation movement, this notion of black and white dancing together and the stories of our history, especially post World War II,” Wesley said.
“In this post or living with COVID world, it’ll be even more important to see that cultural bonds can be formed by gathering as groups and dealing with social issues together.”
The production builds on HIT's work with First Nations artists and is a great successor to The Sapphires.
The cast includes five performers from the 2022 QPAC season alongside experienced acting veterans.
Garret Lyon stars as Frank Doyle with Claire Warrillow playing the role of Rose Morris.
The show also features a live five-piece band as well as over twenty original songs.
The Sunshine Club
When: 23 September, 7.30 pm
Where: The Moncrieff Entertainment Centre
Cost: $39 (adult), $35 (concession), $20 (child u/20)
Book your tickets here.
