Performances

Their lives could have been written so differently: the story of Henry Lawson and Mary Gilmore’s lost love.

Still revered across Australia, Henry Lawson is one of the nation’s favourite writers and poets. His contemporary, Mary Gilmore, was a literary icon and radical socialist.
Both were heroes of literature that had enormous influence over each other.
Both were secretly betrothed to each other.

At the end of the 19th Century, Mary Gilmore was introduced to the young Henry Lawson. As their friendship developed, Mary found herself caught in the midst of an intense relationship between Henry and his formidable mother, the suffragette Louise Lawson.
What followed was the beginning of a love affair, soon thwarted by a devastating deception.
Taken from excerpts from the couple’s surviving letters, this is the first time Henry and Mary’s forbidden relationship has been brought to the professional stage.

Portland Arts Centre
Friday 16 March, 10:30am & 7:30pm
Adult: $35, Concession: $30, Under 16s / Student: $20

Duration: 100 minutes including interval

TICKETS: www.portlandartscentre.com.au

Comedy / Drama

Oedipus Schmoedipus is about death: real death, fake death, and the Western theatrical canon. It’s joyful and dark, stupid and smart, hilarious and confronting.

An ambitious epic and an intentionally impossible task, Oedipus Schmoedipus takes dozens of the great theatre classics, picks out the death scenes, mixes them together and hands them back to the people.

For this mammoth undertaking of gore, laments and requiems, post are joined by a new cast of 25 locals for each performance. It’s a democratic theatrical extravaganza – there really isn’t anything quite like it.

Anyone can register their interest to be part of this dark hilarious performance - no experience necessary!

More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/348597948952833/
Register interest: https://goo.gl/forms/S0RtJWkPbbdTfNjy1

Portland Arts Centre
Wednesday 21 March, 7:30pm
Adult: $40
Concession: $35
Under 16s / Student: $20
Duration: 1 hour
Warning: Strong language

TICKETS: www.portlandartscentre.com.au

Mission Songs Project is an initiative to revive contemporary Australian Indigenous songs from 1900 to 1999, focusing on the Christian missions, state-run settlements and native camps where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were relocated in the early 20th century.

Searching for the secular songs that were sung after church, Mission Songs Project looks to explore the day to day life of the mission days, from cultural identity to love and loss. These unique songs consist of almost forgotten stories that can now shed light on the history of our Indigenous elders, families and communities.

Portland Arts Centre
Friday 23 March, 7:30pm
Adult: $35
Concession: $30
Under 16s / Student: $20
Family: $90
Duration: 60 minutes. No interval

More Info
TICKETS: www.portlandartscentre.com.au

“We hit Cairo like a train! … Every dirty little alley, every dusty back room bar - the pyramids are marvellous, but I could spend the rest of my days quite happily in the arms of your temptation.”

Based on the State Library of NSW’s jaw-dropping collection of First World War diaries, photographs and letters, A Town Named War Boy brings to life the personal accounts of the young men that set sail for the far side of the world.

Award winning playwright Ross Mueller shows his extraordinary talent in this funny and moving play that sold out in its premiere Sydney season and provides “the most moving Anzac experience of all.” – The Australian

Developed and presented in partnership with the State Library of NSW.

Portland Arts Centre
Monday 16 April, 7:30pm
Tuesday 17 April, 10:30am
Adult: $40
Concession: $35
Under 16s / Student: $20
Duration: 75 minutes. No interval.

Tickets: www.portlandartscentre.com.au