As part of South Australia’s History Festival, theatre lovers are invited to take their seats for An Audience with Don Dunstan – a compelling and charismatic new production penned by multi award-winning playwright Neil Cole.
Don Dunstan, AC QC, was no ordinary politician. As Premier of South Australia from 1967–1968 and again from 1970–1979, he was a force of progressive reform and a true original – remembered just as vividly for his trailblazing social policies as for his flamboyant flair and “tongue-in-cheek out of this world” humour.
In this evocative theatrical event, Dunstan ‘returns’ to reflect, laugh, and even shed a tear as he recounts the defining moments of a life that transformed a state and left its imprint on a nation.
We remember his stylish pink shorts, yes, but also the visionary leadership that saw the decriminalisation of homosexuality, opposition to the Vietnam War, and the introduction of Australia’s first land rights legislation for Aboriginal people.
From championing multiculturalism – including the 1965 motion that led the Labor Party to dismantle the White Australia Policy – to appointing the first woman to the Supreme Court and advancing landmark equal opportunity reforms, Dunstan reshaped the social landscape of South Australia and beyond.
Set in an intimate late-night cabaret bar in Adelaide, An Audience with Don Dunstan is more than a biography – it’s a vibrant tapestry of story, poetry and song, told with the wit, passion, and courage that defined a political generation.
Directed by Alicia Benn-Lawler and starring Alec Gilbert, Ag Johnson and Isabella Gilbert, the production runs from 8–16 May, with opening night on Thursday 8 May at 7.30pm at the Ayers House Conservatory( 288 North Terrace, Adelaide).
Book your ticket to An Audience with Don Dunstan here.
