Notes from the Director’s seat – with Wesley Enoch

The gloriously entertaining “The Sunshine Club” is heading to Glen Street Theatre in August, guided by legendary Australian Director and proud Noonuccal Nuugi man, Wesley Enoch.

Enoch first wrote and directed the play in 1999 to great acclaim with the production winning multiple awards including a Matilda for Wesley for book, lyrics and direction, and a Deadly Award for Excellence – Theatrical Score for Enoch and John Rodgers.

“I initially wrote this as a way of bringing people together, especially in the reconciliation movement,” says Enoch. “This notion of black and white dancing together and the stories of our history, especially post World War II. 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.”

With Wesley at the helm, the 2023 tour is taking his play further than ever before with almost all the locations, including Glen Street Theatre, presenting the work for the first time. 

Set in a 1940s Brisbane dance club, The Sunshine Club revolves around Aboriginal serviceman Frank Doyle, who has come home from war to find that although the wider world may have changed, attitudes in Australia haven’t. Fuelled by a passion to create a better life, Frank opens The Sunshine Club, a place for black and white to socialise and dance. It is here Frank dreams of a bright future with white girl next door, Rose. Featuring a live five-piece band and more than twenty original songs, this joyful, reflective musical is unmissable. 

“Based on the real-life clubs during and after WWII,” says Enoch. “The Sunshine Club looks at the history of our country and was the idea of black and white dancing together as a metaphor for living together in this country, battling racism, and creating a place to be together. These clubs were instrumental in what would become the 1967 Referendum that changed the lives of many Indigenous Australians.”

The Sunshine Club is a celebration of our history, but also reflective of the many challenges Indigenous Australians have faced and continue to endure and is particularly resonant currently as Australia deliberates on The Voice to Parliament.

“The Sunshine Club is travelling around the country at the same time we are being asked to consider another Referendum that could enshrine the right for our First Peoples to be heard in the halls of power and policy making. The Voice is a strong and valuable tool to help address institutional injustice and historic unfair treatment as well as helping recognise the unique position of our First Australians.”

Running 9-13 August, Glen Street Theatre is proud to offer this stirring piece of theatre – with fantastic music numbers, and an exciting cast including experienced and up and coming First Nations artists, this uplifting and reflective musical will have you tapping your feet and leave you with a feeling of community and joy.