Last Post 2014

presents

by Gerry O’Connor

Not long before she died in 1999 aged 88, my mother gave me a bundle of letters she and my father had written to each other during World War II. During the war, my father served in the Australian Army in the islands north of Australia, and my mother took over running his weekly newspaper and job printing business in a small Queensland country town.

My mother had destroyed many of the letters, doubtless for personal reasons, but several hundred remained. Both were colourful and incisive writers, and their letters give a vivid insight into the concerns of two people going through the experience of a world at war seventy years ago.

My son, the actor, Brendan O’Connor, suggested the letters would make an interesting stage production. That is what I set out to write.

I must stress that Last Post is not a biography of my parents. Their letters have been used as a point of departure. They provided the skeleton of a story and helped recreate the attitudes and social atmosphere of the times. But, parts of the play come from my own childhood memories of many people and events in wartime and from my imagination.

I am grateful to the first cast of Last Post in 2000, Brendan O’Connor and Perri Cummings, and the actor/director of the 2013 Townsville season, Terri Brabon, for their very practical help in developing the script.

My wife Ann gave me her ideas, her encouragement, her confidence, her support and her patience, without which there would be no script to develop.

All the people mentioned in this play outside my immediate family and historical figures are fictitious, and any resemblance to other actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

A war affects everyone it touches, whether they are combatants, civilians in the battle zone, or families waiting at home.

Last Post is dedicated to my parents, Gerald and Dot O’Connor, and to all the combatants and civilians from both sides whose lives were affected by the terrible years of World War II. Gerry O’Connor

Soldier .................... Brendan O’Connor Wife .................................. Terri Brabon Singer ............................. Emily Edwards Singer ......................... Michael Gleeson Special Appearance by Claire Dickson

Director ....................................................... Terri Brabon Stage Manager ................... Chris Nobile (The Bridge Project) ASM ................................ Alex Moloney (The Bridge Project) Lighting & Set Design ......................... Brendan O’Connor Sound Design .............................................. Terri Brabon Costumes ...................................................Kathy Brabon Props ......................................................... Susan Brabon Sound Operator ................................. Anne-Marie Smith Lighting Operator ........... Thomas Roach (The Bridge Project) Production Assistants ..........................James Thomasson .................................................................. Anna Wallace ................................. Emma Lamberton (The Bridge Project) Technical Mentors.................................... Jamie Schmidt .................................................................. Wayne Tomas Front of House ............................................. Kellie Esling ................................and first year members of The Bridge Project Vocal Coach ................................................ Ebony Buckle Hair ......................................................... Kerry Santariga Photography .......................................... Chrissy Maguire

BRENDAN O’CONNOR ........................ Soldier

Brendan is the Executive Producer of THEATREiNQ, also performing in our productions of MACBETH, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, KING LEAR, WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING, COSI, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR and RICHARD III. Brendan was trained by the late Jean-Pierre Voos and became a founding member of TROPIC LINE THEATRE, remaining as an actor with the company for 6 years before moving to Melbourne to further his career. Brendan has spent the past 18 years as a member of the AUSTRALIAN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY in Melbourne. TV and Film credits include NEIGHBOURS, STINGERS, BLUE HEELERS and NED KELLY as well as campaigns for MITRE 10, RACQ and CAMPBELL’S SOUP. Brendan will next appear as John Proctor in THEATREiNQ’s production of THE CRUCIBLE in June.

TERRI BRABON .....................................Wife

Terri is the Artistic Director of THEATREiNQ, directing productions of MACBETH, THE SHAPE OF THINGS, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, KING LEAR, WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, COSI and RICHARD III. Born and bred in Ayr, Terri began her career under the direction of the late JeanPierre Voos who nurtured her love of directing. Terri performed as an ensemble member of the AUSTRALIAN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY in Melbourne for 9 years before returning to Townsville in 2012 to continue to build THEATREiNQ. TV & Film Credits include: NEIGHBOURS, UNDERBELLY, JOHN DOE and advertising campaigns for CARLTON DRAUGHT, KRAFT & MCDONALDS.

The authentic bugle used in this production was owned by the father of a returned Vietnam War veteran who was involved in the Long Tan conflict and who still lives in Bowen. It was found amongst his father’s possessions after he died at the age of 95.

His son was not sure of its origin, or how it came to be his, but most certainly had been used in service.

The badges on the bell are 1: the Aussie Slouch hat and 2: a Mackenzie Shield cap badge showing the stags' head with the motto "Cuidich 'N Rich" meaning " help the king" which dates back to 1263 when King Alexander was saved from a charging stag that was shot between the eyes with an arrow by a Colin MacCoinneach. It’s the badge of the Seaforth Highlanders.

Alf Dixon

EMILY EDWARDS .................................... Singer

Emily first appeared for THEATREiNQ in 2012’s KING LEAR and began her training with The Bridge Project in 2013. In 2012 she appeared in NQOMT’S production of HAIR and was awarded Best Actress at the Festival of One Act Plays later that year. After her appearance in last year’s production of LAST POST Emily relocated to Brisbane to continue her training and further her career. We are happy to welcome Emily back to reprise her role in LAST POST as well as appearing as Abigail Williams in THEATREiNQ’s production of THE CRUCIBLE in June.

MICHAEL GLEESON ............................ Singer

Michael made a stunning debut with THEATREiNQ playing Edmund in 2012’s KING LEAR and followed up in 2013 as a member of the close knit LAST POST Ensemble. Michael has participated in many local theatre productions since he began performing in 1997, most recently SWEENEY TODD, HAIR, AVENUE Q, SPAMALOT & WEST SIDE STORY. Michael is also remembered for his performance as Alexander Molokov in CHESS, receiving the Performance of the Year Award at the Townsville City Council Arts Awards. Michael will next appear for THEATREiNQ as Mercutio, in this year’s SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS, ROMEO AND JULIET.

War with Japan seemed inevitable in 1941 and the Australian Government began requisitioning a large number of buildings in Townsville, including the School of Arts in Stanley Street.

The School of Arts, Townsville, 1922 Image: CityLibraries Townsville W.J. Laurie Collection

The Air Board leased the School of Arts and Municipal Library complex for use as the RAAF Post Office for the Pacific Region. The School of Arts continued to be used as an Australian Air Force Post Office until the end of the war when the Air Board relinquished control back to the Townsville City Council.

The letters on which Last Post is based would have, in all likelihood, passed through this building along with countless other longed for messages from loved ones.

When we first brought this show to life last year, we were honestly overwhelmed by the response. The show obviously meant a lot to us, but we were amazed how much our audience took this little show to its heart. We have been so fortunate to have been able to get the whole gang back together for this return season (with the exception of one member of our crew) and revisiting the play has felt like reuniting with a long lost friend. In particular to Emily & Michael, we would not have remounted this show without you, so a heartfelt thanks to you both.

Thank you to Gerry for once again trusting us to present the very personal story of his childhood. But this story is for everyone. I fondly imagine my own grandparents and a way of life very different to the one we are blessed with today. A time when letter writing wasn't "quaint" and "retro" It was the only way to communicate. When life was a lot harder and yet in many ways, a lot simpler. When people got up, dressed up and showed up, no matter what. My hat is off to all of them and to all the servicemen and women in the world today.

xxx Terri

Nita Vasilescue Wendy Jones Alf Dixon Robbie Esling Brabon Family Ann O’Connor Michelle Jones Sally McCutcheon Meg Bowden Shai Regan Lachlan Stevenson Samara Sutton-Baker Wheeler Family Charitable Endowment

John & Beth Honeycombe Tina Porta Arminelle Fleming Carla Lejarraga Emma Montafia Trevor Keeling

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ............................................. Terri Brabon EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ...............................Brendan O’Connor EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ............................................ Ray Dickson ............................................................................. Kellie Esling .................................................................... Lorna Hempstead .........................................................................Bernie Lanigan ................................................................... Anne-Marie Smith WEBSITE MANAGER ....................................... George Lummis COMPANY PHOTOGRAPHER ...........................Chrissy Maguire PR CONSULTANT ........................................... Crystal Clear PR

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