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A Bright and Crimson FlowerA Celebration of Survival |
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The captivity of 22,000 young Australians after the fall of Singapore and the battles of Timor, Ambon and Java in 1942 lasted for three and a half years under appalling conditions. One in three died but the others made it back home. It is the greatest feat of endurance in the history of modern Australia. Yet we have largely ignored this extraordinary story, or else have seen it as a sideshow to the 'real' war, remembered principally for its horror and cruelty, and therefore best forgotten. Official interviews with survivors were geared to accounts of atrocities committed by the Japanese; the rest was disregarded. Families were advised not to discuss the experience with the men. The process of forgetting had begun. But the experience of the men and women was one of a stubborn will to survive, of wit and ingenuity, comradeship and care, even in the worst of times, qualities that never go out of fashion - and that's what this play is all about. Six Aussie blokes, young and not so young - Doug, Blue, Wag, Ray, Snow and Spud - held prisoner by the army of a people whose language and customs they know almost nothing about: their world has vanished. To survive they have to re-invent themselves! They take classes in everything from advertising to vitamins, they scrounge, pilfer, improvise, build and conceal radios, and quite apart from building the Burma Railway under horrendous conditions, they organize sports carnivals, mount theatrical productions and create everything from false teeth to surgical instruments - and end the war by playing a cricket match! Written by Richard Davey from interviews and writings, diaries and letters by Prisoners of War, published and unpublished. |
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NATIONAL TOUR 2009 FUNDRAISING FOR LEGACY In most locations the play is being presented in association with Legacy Clubs and a proportion of all ticket sales will be donated to Legacy to assist families of ex-servicemen. LEGACY DISCOUNT You can also help Legacy raise additional funds by obtaining a Donation Voucher from Legacy for a discount on any one ticket purchased at the Box Office. You can also help to promote the Legacy Discount to family friends and co-workers. Contact your local Legacy for details. |
TASMANIA |
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Fri July 24th Mon July 27th Tue July 28th |
8.00 pm 7.30 pm 8.00 pm |
Hobart Burnie Launceston |
Theatre Royal Bookings: (03) 6233 2299 www.theatreroyal.com.au Civic Theatre Princess Theatre |
VICTORIA |
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Fri Jul 31st & Sat Aug 1st Mon Aug 3rd & Tues Aug 4th Wed Aug 5th |
7.30 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm |
Hamilton Bendigo Benalla |
Hamliton Performing Arts Centre Bookings: (03) 5573 0429 hamilpac@ansonic.com.au The Capital, Bendigo's Performing Arts Centre Benalla Performing Arts & Convention Centre |
NEW SOUTH WALES |
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Thur Aug 6th Sat Aug 8th Mon Aug 10 Tue Aug 11th Thur Aug 13th Fri Aug 14th & |
7.30 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm 12.30 pm |
Wagga Wagga Cowra Orange Bathurst Tamworth Armidale |
Civic Theatre Bookings: (02) 6926 9688 www.civictheatre.com.au Civic Theatre Orange Civic Theatre Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre Capitol Theatre Armidale Ex-Services Memorial Club |
QUEENSLAND |
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Wed Aug 19th Thur Aug 20th Fri Aug 21st & Sat Aug 22nd Tue Aug 25th Wed Aug 26th Thur Aug 27th Sat Aug 29th Tue Sep 1st Thur Sep 3rd Fri Sep 4th Sat Sep 5th |
7.30 pm 2.00 pm & 8.00 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm |
Toowoomba Brisbane Nambour Proserpine Ayr Townsville Mackay Rockhampton Bundaberg Maryborough Caloundra |
Empire Theatre Bookings: 1300 655 299 www.empiretheatre.com.au Roundhouse Theatre Nambour Civic Centre Proserpine Entertainment Centre Burdekin Theatre Civic Theatre Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre Pilbeam Theatre Moncrieff Theatre Brolga Theatre The Playhouse at the Events Centre |
NEW SOUTH WALES |
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Tue Sep 8th Fri Sep 11th & Sat Sep 12th Tue Sep 15th Fri Sep 18th & Sat Sep 19th |
7.30 pm 7.30 pm 8.00 pm 7.30 pm | Port Macquarie Coffs Harbour Newcastle Wollongong |
Glasshouse Arts Centre Bookings: (02) 6581 8888 www.glasshouse.org.au Jetty Memorial Theatre Civic Theatre Newcastle IPAC Gordon Theatre |
VICTORIA |
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Wed Sep 23rd Thur Sep 24th Fri Sep 25th |
7.30 pm 7.30 pm 8.00 pm |
Shepparton Ballarat Dandenong |
Westside Performing Arts Centre Bookings: (03) 5832 9511 www.riverlinksvenues.com.au Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts Drum Theatre |
PO Box 170, Strahan TAS 7468 Australia Phone: 61-3-64717700 Email: enquiries@roundearth.com.au |
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