Geoffrey Sykes’ Blood on the Wattle is a powerful and entertaining expose of the political intrigue behind public issues. 

This thrilling political theatre meets head-on the issues of climate change, mining, sex in political workplaces, party politics, border security and refugees – all hugely relevant to Australia today.

The play is fast-paced, as two characters and two pasts come into collision, that glimpses a way forward. It has adult themes.

The first act opens to the cynicism and fatigue of the Federal member for “Western Slopes”. Karl Matters is a member of Country First and – while conservative on most issues – has fallen out of favour with new party leadership, due to his concerns over climate change. Battling to survive preselection, he turns for emotional support to a dark-haired female visitor to the town, casual farmworker Vania.

In Act Two, Vania accepts work in Karl’s office and the two become friends until Karl triggers strong reactions about her past as a refugee, both overseas and in detention by Australia. In an intense and finally cathartic encounter in Vania’s studio, both lives become irrevocably merged… and changed.