Cade Lucas
Winter evenings in Werribee in 2023 are a long way from the sweaty dance halls of post-war Brisbane, but the cast and crew of The Sunshine Club will be doing their best to recreate them when the hit Australian musical plays at the Wyndham Cultural Centre on June 6.
Described by cast member,Trent Owers, as “ Australian history with some glitter on it”, the Sunshine Club tells the story of Frank Doyle, an Indigenous man and returned WWII veteran who uses music and dancing to overcome racial segregation.
“The Sunshine Club is about the main character Frank who creates dance halls for Aboriginal people who couldn’t go to ones across the river in Brisbane” said Owers of Doyle’s response to being denied entry to a white dance hall.
“Aboriginal people couldn’t go over that side but everyone could go over to this side so everyone could dance together.”
This allowed Frank the opportunity to dance with Rose, the girl of his dreams who was white,
at a time when interracial relationships were banned and despite having fought for his country, Frank was not even considered a citizen or allowed to vote.
Written by Indigenous playright, Wesley Enoch and first performed in 1999, the musical was reprised last year for a run at Brisbane’s QPAC theater.
Owers is among the cast members returning for the national tour where he will again play the role of Peter Walsh, one he likens to some famous song and dance men of the past.
“There’s a lot to this character, I’d kind of describe as the music man like Hugh Jackman or Gene Kelly.”
Owers said audiences can expect similar from the rest of the cast and some important local history too.
“Lots of dancing, lots of catchy songs and a local story that happened here in Australia that if people don’t know hopefully they will know”.
Books are available at www.wyncc.com.au/whats_on/the_sunshine_club_
