From stage, to screen, and back to stage again – Tony Briggs' story 'The Sapphires' hits Redland Performing Arts Centre (Queensland) for the first time, this August.
Set a year after the referendum symbolically expanding the rights of Aboriginal people, 'The Sapphires' is one of Australia's best-loved stories. It tells the story of four Aboriginal women from regional Australia (played by Jade Lomas-Ronan, Lorinda Merrypor, Chelsea Hawke and Kaninna Langford) who get the chance to change their tune – and their lives.
Soon, the women find themselves donning sequins, grasping microphones, and doing their part to spread joy during the Vietnam War, under the direction of their manager Dave Lovelace (played by Oliver Wenn, who is also the show's Resident Director).
'The Sapphires' has truth at its heart – inspired by the true story of Tony Briggs' mother. Energetic, fun, and engaging, this iteration is set to be the most intimate telling of the story yet.
Here, Oliver Wenn talks about 'The Sapphires' ahead of its performance at Redland Performing Arts Centre.
Tell us a bit about ’The Sapphires’.
'The Sapphires' is a Yorta Yorta story set in 1968 about four Indigenous sisters from Cummeragunga (NSW), Gail, Cynthia, Kay and Julie, who travel to Vietnam as singers for the soldiers during the war. Inspired by the true story of the writer Tony Briggs' mother, Laurel Robinson, and aunt Lois Peeler, we meet four other hapless characters, all loveable, all with their own stories to tell. There is the tour manager Dave Lovelace, dashing U.S. solider Robbie, the forever cheeky Vietnamese boy Joe, and the long lost love of Cynthia's, Jimmy, a local Cummeragunga man currently serving with the Australian army. 'The Sapphires' touches on many current Indigenous themes but does so in a light hearted and poignant way that when coupled with fantastic soul music of the era, leaves the audience throughly toe tapping and beaming for more.
Why do you think this is an important story to tell?
It's a very important look into the Indigenous women during the '60s, and the role they played during the Vietnam War era, but more than that 'The Sapphires' touches on universal themes of family, following your dreams and standing up for yourself and your culture despite the odds. Because 'The Sapphires' is a joyous celebration of Indigenous life, I think it resonates across all ages and cultures, and although easily accessible theatre, it has a profound message of love and hope, and for that reason it’s a universal and timeless story that ultimately needs to be shared.
Adding to that, what do you think makes it relevant today?
Again it's relevant because it's timeless. It touches on universal themes that we all share, but it’s told through the eye of four strong Yorta Yorta women, during the time of the civil rights era. Also, so many of the themes are about family, which is something we can all share.
Why do you think audiences have loved this story for so many years?
Firstly its a fantastic script, the structure and writing allow for so many memorable scenes and moments, is superbly well written. Coupled with that, the story has a powerful message of resilience, strength, pride and family. Alongside classic soul music played live on stage, it's a story that uplifts everyone that sees it, you can't help but have a great time.
Talk a bit about your role as Dave in the show.
Dave is altogether a bit of a loveable buffoon. Everyone knows a Dave, a guy who tries his best but just somehow doesn’t seem to get it all done, but who is loyal, loveable and when it matters – makes it count. Dave is so much fun to play.
What is the most challenging part about playing this role?
To be honest Dave is challenging from only one perspective, and that is just getting it right every night. But from a spiritual level, Dave is a joy to play. He doesn’t harbour much darkness or multiple layers of meaning, so he’s easy to read and he’s really warm-hearted, so it's easy to settle in and have a great night on stage playing David Lovelace, he's just so much fun.
Is there anything about Dave that you’ve found you relate to personally?
Well. . . I guess all of it. Each character is a reflection of you, in some way magnified and put in a particular box really. I think Dave is such a nice guy and so well-meaning really that honestly I wouldn’t mind being more Dave, but – in a less Dave way, if that make sense!
How are you hoping Redland audiences respond to the show?
Of course we would love standing ovations and repeated encores! No, I hope the audience comes away throughly entertained and uplifted. If nothing else you should feel full of energy and laughter, that would be the wished for response from any of our audiences, and I'm very pleased to say that is the experience we’ve had everywhere we go, so we cant wait to share that same feeling with Redland.
Describe 'The Sapphires' using a song lyric from the show.
“People make the world a better place for us to live in.”
'The Sapphires' plays Redland Performing Arts Centre (Queensland) 27 August.
