War Stories

Many of the songs and stories in this show present the war experiences of those sidelined by the bronzed male ANZAC mythology. Many of the songs were inspired simply by the emotional context. We meet the women who stayed at home to keep the economy working and those who married American servicemen and lost their Australian identities, salute Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders who served despite harsh discrimination, discover stories of mateship and humour, and have compassion for those who died on both sides. It's focus is to present both small and personal stories, footnote-like, that are outside the big, simple mainstream history of Australian's at War and to make those chapters of our military history more personal and accessible.

The style is contemporary and the songs are strong and varied with many "voices". The show is more than a living graveyard and it is not meant to be an RSL smoko show. It is a two hour theatrical story piece with songs. This is no celebration of war, rather of the spirit of the people involved in it. It is an honest, and moving account of Australia's involvement without being jingoistic, sentimental or simplistic.

Darren brings a warmth and integrity to this material and delivers a refreshing new look at what is such a defining part of our heritage.