SMILE, SMILE, SMILE

By Les Winspear

It’s 1916, World War I is raging across Europe and thousands young men from the far-flung reaches the Empire are leaving home to join the fray. In Tasmania Bernard Bailey’s confidence is quickly eroding as three more of his travelling vaudeville troupe desert him for the Western Front.

As the remnant band of entertainers straggle into a small east coast Tasmanian town Bernard is sure his days as an impresario are numbered and he’ll have to return to the grim life of selling haberdashery in the city. It’s not until he encounters the resilience, creativity and never-say-die attitude of the local community that his dark clouds are turned inside out and his visit to the sleepy town turns out to be the highlight of his theatrical year.

More than a play, this is a night of true variety entertainment, designed to transport you back to the east coast of yesteryear.  A larger-than-life event where professional actors and talented locals roll up their sleeves and pitch in, to pack up your troubles and give you a vaudeville community event to remember.

Director: Les Winspear
Designer: Roz Wren
Lighting Designer: Max Ford
Musical Director: Craig Wood
Cast Includes: Claire Dawson, Iain Lang, Jeff Michel, Katie Robertson and members of the communities of Glamorgan Spring Bay and Glenorchy.

Season:    Hobart: 28 May – 4 June, Thurs – Sun: 7pm

Swansea: 5 June, Fri: 7pm

Buckland: 7 June, Sun: 2.30pm

Venues:    Pop-Up Theatre No. 4 – St Johns Soldier’s Memorial Hall, 245 New Town Road, opposite Aurora Sports Stadium - Find it on Google Maps

Buckland Memorial Hall – 22 Kent St, Buckland – Find it on Google Maps

Swansea Town Hall – 12 Franklin St, Swansea – Find it on Google Maps