DUBBO CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING at Hayes Theatre Co
There is not a spare seat in the Dubbo Dome; Ozzy the Aussie Battler flicks his cape and steps into the ring, and the crowd go troppo. This is Dubbo Championship Wrestling, the hilarious new Aussie rock musical that will change everything you thought you knew about professional wrestling, regional Australia, and musical theatre itself.
Rose, a young girl who grew up in Dubbo with wrestling in her blood, has long ago turned her back on the family business and Dubbo’s stifling small town ways. When circumstances lead to her returning to her hometown on the eve of Dubbomaina, the biggest wrestling tournament of the year, Rose is drawn into a monumental battle over family and identity, featuring capes, choreography, and some of the most colourful characters you’ll ever meet.
The violence, the joy, the costumes, the thumbtacks. Will there be blood? We Bloody hope so!
Daniel Cullen who wrote the show with his brother James:
I wrote what I wanted to see: a big-hearted, foul-mouthed, piss-funny musical set in small-town Australia, To me it’s about rediscovering things you thought you’d outgrown hometowns, hobbies, heroes- packaged in a greased-up romp.
Dubbo Championship Wrestling has been in development for several years under the helm of Sheridan Harbridge
Sheridan:
Dubbo Championship Wrestling is a home-grown musical comedy in the tradition of The Castle and Muriel’s Wedding – simple folk with big hearts and big dreams, but now, with big songs and gargantuan smack down fights, “Writer Daniel Cullen has married his true loves, musicals and wrestling, into a hilarious but loving portrait of country town Australia. We can’t wait to show you the heroes and villains of Dubbo, and its rag tag all singing, all smashing amateur wrestling troupe.
Dubbo Championship Wrestling proudly makes FULL use of our filthy national lingo. Language may offend others Dubbo Championship Wrestling is full of amazing character and stars musical theatre greats alongside a few newcomers that we have been dying for audiences to meet.
Zoe Iannou (Bridges of Maddison County, Westside Story) plays Rose the young woman who is thrown back into the culture of Dubbomaina. Will she stay and help Dubbo Championship Wrestling?
Musical theatre star Genevieve Lemon (Priscilla, Billy Elliot, Violet, Melba) plays Mickie and is joined by Noni McCallum (Come From Away, Priscilla); together they are The Tradie Ladies. Dubbo Championship Wrestling’s tag team champions and commentary team, The Tradie Ladies are the audience’s guide to the wrestling world. Have they got the right tools for the job??
Luke Leong-Tay,(Young Frankenstein) plays Ron the newest member of Dubbo Championship Wrestling, who is quietly hoping for a bit of change. Has he got what it takes to stay the distance?
Terry Serio (Keating, The Three Penny Opera) as Des. Des is Dubbo Championship Wrestling, it is his whole life. Can he keep it all together?
Justin Smith (Billy Elliot, Assassins) returns to Hayes to play Ozzie the Aussie Battler. His best years of wrestling are well and truly behind him. Can he make the comeback that everyone needs?
Aaron Tsindos (Muriel’s Wedding, Merrily We Roll Along) is KEN a white-hot wrestling superstar from America. Why is he here in Dubbo and can he bring the heat?
Bishanyia Vincent (Evie May, Little Voice) is Cheryl who was a co-founder of Dubbo Championship Wrestling before leaving with her daughter Rose to pursue larger aspirations. Why is she back?
Hayes General Manager Will Harvey:
Arriving onstage after four years in development and two postponed seasons in 2020 and 2021, Dubbo Championship Wrestling is the musical that refused to say die dragging itself to the ring for championship night and the glory of the spotlight, We’re thrilled to finally welcome audiences to Daniel Cullen’s hilarious new rock musical. After months of fear and uncertainty, this is the show that’s going to bring audiences back to the theatre, and give them the night out they deserve.
Director Sheridan Harbridge
Musical Supervisor & Co-Arranger Joe Accaria
Musical Director Glenn Moorhouse
Choreographer Ellen Simpson
Set & Costume Designer Ella Butler
Lighting Designer Trent Suidgeest
Sound Designer Dave Bergman
Assistant Director Daniel Cottier
Fight Director TBC
The Concept Studio Album:
During 2020 the Dubbo Championship Wrestling music team Joe Accaria & Glenn Moorhouse assembled an inspired group of established pop, country and musical theatre singers to record a Studio Concept Album. Now that recording is available through all streaming services.
Musical Supervisor Joe Accaria:
A few decades ago, there was a great tradition of concept and studio albums for new musicals in order to get the music out there, We are bringing it back with this great music by recording a few songs from the musical with a slight tilt on the arrangements recorded by some of the best voices in the business.
We recorded vocalists and musicians during the first lock down across three states and we can’t wait for people to hear these great songs from an exciting new Australian musical to rock living rooms and theatres in synchronicity
The Concept / Studio Album features (in order of appearance on the recording)
iOTA, Vidya Makan, Lara Mulcahy, Genevieve Lemon, Eddie Perfect, Ryan Gonzalez, Amber Lawrence, Loren Hunter, Lucy Durack and David Campbell
Season Details
Venue: Hayes Theatre Co
Date: From 12 May 2022
For more information click HERE
