Private Ginger Mick at Gallipoli 2015

PRIVATE GINGER MICK

-at GallipoliBased on the poems of

CJ DENNIS

CJ DENNIS (1876-1938) C.J. Dennis was an Australian poet of the early 20th century who is famous for his comical Aussie poems, in particular “The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke” and “The Moods of Ginger Mick.” At the height of WW1 he had become the most successful poet in our history selling thousands of copies of his work. He is arguably one of Australia’s most notable poets along with Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson. His vernacular used in his poems reflected the national spirit at the time and his language in “Ginger Mick” strengthens the image of the Aussie Digger’s birth.

Prior to the war however he penned articles that were published in the Herald and the Australian Worker. After the announcement of war in 1914, he was employed by the Navy and worked as secretary to Senator for Victoria, E.J. Russell. It was during this time in 1916 that he wrote “The Moods of Ginger Mick.” The story of an Aussie rascal who leaves his life of selling rabbits in the streets of Melbourne, and answer the call to arms in the Great War. A special edition for troops fighting in the war was reprinted and many ANZACS in the western front would have it in their pockets. The poems captured the character of the time and the story of the soldiers in Gallipoli with a spirit that is truly Australian. C.J Dennis died in Melbourne in 1938 and was laid to rest in Box Hill.

A.I.F: Australian Imperial Forces.

Blighter: A worthless fellow Bokays: Compliments, flattery Bonzer: Adjective expressing the superlative of excellence Boodle: Money; Wealth Bookie: One who makes a betting book on sporting events Brisket: The chest To do a Bunk: To depart Cheque, to pass in one’s: to depart this life Chiv: The face Chow: A native of far Cathay Clobber: Raiment; Vesture Cobber: A boon companion Coot: A person of no account (used contemptuously).

Copper-top: Red head Count, to take the: In pugilism, to remain prostrate for ten counted seconds, and thus lose the fight.

Cove: A “chap” or “bloke.” q.v. (Gipsy) Cray: A crayfish Crool: To frustrate; to interfere with one’s schemes Dawg (dog): A contemptible person; ostentation Dicken: A term signifying disgust or disbelief Ding-dong: Strenuous Done me luck: Lost my good fortune ‘Eads (Heads): The authorities; inner council Fag: cigarette Going (while the going is good): While the path is clear Goo-goo eyes: Loving glances Grafter: One who toils hard or willingly Handies: A fondling of hands between lovers Imshee: Begone; retreat; to take yourself off Joes: Melancholy thoughts John: A policeman

Josser: A simple fellow Knob: The head; one in authority Lash: Violence Leery: Vulgar; low Mafeesh: Finish; I am finished Mallee: A species of Eucalypt; the country where the Mallee grows Nark: a spoil-sport; a churlish fellow Oopizootics: An undiagnosed complaint Peach: A desirable young woman; “fresh as a peach” Prad: A horse Push: A company of rowdy fellows gathered together for ungentle purposes Rat: A street urchin; a wharf loafer Rocks: A locality in Sydney Rorty: Boisterous; rowdy Sandy blight: Opthalmia Shick, shickered: Intoxicated Skite: To boast Slushy: A toiler in a scullery Snag: A hindrance; formidable opponent Snob: A bootmaker Snuff: To expire Specs: spectacles Splash: to expend Stoush: To punch with the fist Strength of it: the truth of it; the value of it Strike: The innocuous remnant of a hardy curse Strong, going: Proceeding with vigour Tabbie: A female Tenner: A ten-pound note The dinkum oil: The truth Toff: An exalted person Two-up School: A gambling den Upper-cut: In pugilism, an upward blow Uppish: Proud Welt: A blow

PRIVATE GINGER MICK - at Gallipoli Billo ........................ BRENDAN O’CONNOR Pte Ginger Mick ...................RON PULMAN Ensemble ..................... MICHAEL GLEESON ............................... LACHLAN STEVENSON ................................. JAMES THOMASSON

Director .........................................................TERRI BRABON Stage Manager ..................................... EMMA LAMBERTON Set Design ............................................................. LUKE EDE Lighting Design ................................... BRENDAN O’CONNOR AV Design ............................... LUKE EDE & CAMERON HOCK Lighting Operator ...........THOMAS ROACH (The Bridge Project) Set Construction ................................. BRENDAN O’CONNOR Crew ........................... MADELINE HILLAM (The Bridge Project) Costumes..................................................... KATHY BRABON Props & Production Team.................... THE BRIDGE PROJECT Company Hairdresser ..............................KERRY SANTARIGA Photography............................................ CHRISSY MAGUIRE Front of House.......... KELLIE ESLING & THE BRIDGE PROJECT Nita Vasilescue Bill Winfield John & Beth Honeycombe Robbie Esling Pristine Pools NQ Clint Smith Bob & Kathy Brabon Arminelle Fleming Arch & Aileen Brabon Jamie Schmidt The Speckled Hen Andre Reynaud Tina Porta Michelle Jones The Team at School of Arts Theatre Specal thanks to Stewart Morritt and the Australian Classical Theatre for your support and inspiration!

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

BRENDAN O’CONNOR ................................................ BILLO THEATREiNQ: Company Professional / Set & Lighting Design: The Cripple of Inishmaan, Sylvia, Romeo and Juliet, The Crucible, Macbeth, Last Post, The Importance of Being Earnest, King Lear, When the Rain Stops Falling, Cosi, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Richard III Set Design: The Shape of Things OTHER THEATRE: AFCM & THEATREiNQ: Noye’s Fludde (God); Australian Shakespeare Company: 8 years as leading actor; Shakespeare Under the Stars: Henry V, Love’s Labour’s Lost and Twelfth Night; JUTE: Summaris and Grace FILM & TV: Australia on Trial, City Homicide, Crash/Burn, Marshall Law, Ned Kelly, Neighbours, Stingers, Blue Heelers, Welcher & Welcher ADVERTISING: Mitre 10, RACQ, Campbells Soup, The Age, Beaurepaires, National Australia Bank, Mitsubishi, Cabots (USA), Origin Energy, Captain Snooze, Honda OTHER: Mentor THE BRIDGE PROJECT; MULKADEE Drama Specialist (2012-2014) UP NEXT: LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES in June

RON PULMAN.............................PRIVATE GINGER MICK

THEATREiNQ: Ensemble Member: Romeo and Juliet, The Crucible, King Lear, The Merry Wives of Windsor OTHER THEATRE: The Bear for The Little Dreambox Studio (Japan Tour); Futz (Qld & South Korea Tour), Oedipus The King (Qld & WA Tour) and Nocturnal (a Dark Park Cabaret) for Full Throttle Theatre.

Love’s Labour’s Lost, Henry IV Part 1 and Robin Hood and the 7 Dwarves for Tropic Sun Theatre; True West and The Hitchhiker for TLC Theatre.

OTHER: Member of the Society of Australian Fight Directors; Performed in six Shakespeare Under The Stars

JAMES THOMASSON ...................................... ENSEMBLE

THEATREiNQ: Apprentice Professional: The Cripple of Inishmaan, Sylvia, Romeo and Juliet, The Crucible, Two Weeks With The Queen, The Shape of Things, Macbeth, The Importance of Being Earnest, XStacy, King Lear, The Merry Wives of Windsor; Richard III OTHER: Assistant Drama Coach MULKADEE (2013-2014); Co-ordinator of the AFCM’s Families Concert CINDERELLA (2014) AWARDS: 2013 Martin Gibson Medal for promising young talent TRAINING: THE BRIDGE PROJECT UP NEXT: LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES in June

MICHAEL GLEESON .........................................ENSEMBLE THEATREiNQ: Company Ensemble: Romeo and Juliet, Last Post, King Lear OTHER THEATRE: NQOMT: Sweeney Todd, Hair; Townsville Choral Society: Avenue Q, Spamalot, West Side Story and Chess AWARDS: Performance of the Year (Chess) -Townsville City Council Arts Awards (2010) TRAINING: THE BRIDGE PROJECT UP NEXT: TWELFTH NIGHT in September

LACHLAN STEVENSON .................................... ENSEMBLE THEATREiNQ: Romeo and Juliet, The Crucible, Two Weeks With The Queen, Macbeth OTHER: Cabaret Lumiere, Little Brother Little Sister for La Luna Youth Arts AWARDS: Best Junior Actor at FOOAP (2013) TRAINING: THE BRIDGE PROJECT (2nd Year); La Luna Youth Arts (2010-2013) UP NEXT: LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES in June

TERRI BRABON .................................................. DIRECTOR

THEATREiNQ: Artistic Director / Company Professional / Sound & Costume Design: The Cripple of Inishmaan, Sylvia, Romeo and Juliet, The Crucible, Last Post, The Shape of Things, Macbeth, The Importance of Being Earnest, Noye’s Fludde, King Lear, When the Rain Stops Falling, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Cosi, Richard III; Sound Design: Two Weeks With the Queen and X-Stacy OTHER THEATRE: Australian Shakespeare Company; La Mama; The Shift Theatre; White Whale Theatre; JUTE; Complete Works; Essential Theatre; Harvest Rain Theatre FILM & TV: Neighbours, Underbelly, John Doe ADVERTISING: Carlton Draught, Kraft, McDonalds OTHER: Mentor THE BRIDGE PROJECT; Theatre Coach THE CULTURE CLUB; MULKADEE Drama Specialist (2012-2014) UPNEXT: LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES in June

GALLIPOLI

Sir William Deane – “ANZAC is not merely about loss. It is about courage, and endurance, and duty, and love of country, and mateship, and good humour and the survival of a sense of self-worth and decency in the face of dreadful odds.”

In 1914 the world was at war. Australia was to prove its metal through one of the greatest tests our country has ever faced. It was thought that the best way to defeat Germany was to cripple her allies; namely Turkey. The Mediterranean Expeditionary Force was assembled and the Gallipoli landing was planned to clear Turkish defenders to allow the British Fleet to enter Constantinople. While still training in the Egyptian desert, the Australian and New Zealand divisions were reformed into the AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND ARMY CORPS and the Anzac was born. On the 25th of April 1915 the ANZACS landed at the place now named ANZAC cove to begin the 8 month battle.

Whilst the campaign was a military loss and counted for almost a sixth of Australian casualties in The Great War, Gallipoli has become a symbol of Australian identity and national achievement. The soldiers – a vast majority of them civilians not a year before, stood in the face of adversity to protect the newly forged nation that they called home.