Central Coast News

This powerful and still very timely Australian play has had three highly successful productions since it first premiered in 1993 at the Stables Theatre. Now it comes blazing back with the boldest and most innovative production yet, this time at Fringe HQ. (formerly the Old 505 Theatre) in Eliza Street Newtown.

In a genuine coup for the production, legendary veteran director and Les Solomon will be joined by the author of the play Campion Decent as co-director.

One of Australia’s leading playwrights, Campion’s latest work, The Campaign  (his story of homosexuality being made legal in Tasmania), has seen recent Sydney and Melbourne productions and Embers - which enjoyed a critically acclaimed season at the STC - is now studied as an HSC text.

THREE WINTERS GREEN follows eight people through three years of their lives. From school through to drag; from dreams on a coach through to reality in a city; from alcohol through to realisation, each character is on a journey quite separate and yet eventually interlinked by a crisis of – literally - epidemic proportions. Lives are changed, ambitions thwarted, boundaries redefined and a common goal forged between a group of people who have each travelled a separate path to a shared moment in their histories. 

This modern Australian epic features a cast of seven terrific actors:  Samson Alston of Umina (fresh from his great success in Fag Stag, The Credeaux Canvas and The Shape of Things) is both  the dark and mysterious ‘Martin’ and the comic and confused ‘Mick’. 

The lynchpin of the entire story is Garden Suburb (Newcastle) Seb Thornton Walker as ‘Francis’, the loveable but controversial gay schoolboy who becomes a grand drag artist!

Luke Arthur returns from three years training in New York as the emotional heart of the story - the likeable but quietly rebellious ‘Andrew’, while theatre veteran and co-star of the latter season of The Credeaux Canvas, Norah George is the petulant, alcoholic mother ‘Maxine’ who journeys from ‘zero’ to hero. 

Two exciting newcomers – both fresh from theatre work in Canada – are Maddison Silva and Julia Muncs as ‘Jen’ and ‘Beck’ who bring both humour and emotional depth to the story. Joining them is Samuel Welsh (just back from a national tour of 96 Storey Treehouse) who plays the troubled and sexually confused schoolteacher ‘Joseph’. These eight characters take the audience on an emotional journey, full of love, song & dance and sudden bursts of tragedy.

Director Les Solomon said one of the reasons he and Campion wanted to revisit the play had much to do with our current time of Covid adding new relevance.

“The play was always about how a group of friends form a community and find ways to cope with a pandemic. Seeing it in the light of the world we are living in today makes the play both historic and an exercise in bonding. We’re all finding it very helpful and a positive experience in these difficult times. We know audiences will take that same feeling of strength from this play.”

Lambert House Enterprises presents Three Winters Green by Campion Decent

Dates:
6-17 July

Venue:
Fringe HQ (Formerly Old 505 Theatre) – 5 Eliza Street Newtown

Times:
Wed, Thurs 7.30pm   Fri, Sat 6pm & 9pm

Previews:
Tues 6 & Wed 7 July 7.30pm

Opening night:
Thurs 8 July 7.30pm

Tickets:
$50 incl first drink | Conc. $40 incl first drink