Merrigong Theatre Company presents SEND FOR NELLIE

Published by: Kabuku PR | 15-Jan-2024
Nobody did cabaret like the amazing Nellie Small.
Venue: Merrigong Theatre Company
Address: 32 Burelli St, Wollongong NSW 2500
Date: 14 - 17 February
Time: Wed 14 Feb, 7.30pm Thu 15 Feb, 6.30pm Fri 16 Feb, 7.30pm Sat 17 Feb, 1.30pm & 7.30pm
Ticket: $45-$55
Buy / Ticket: https://merrigong.com.au/shows/send-for-nellie/
EMail: info@merrigong.com.au
Call: 02 4224 5999
Merrigong Theatre Company presents SEND FOR NELLIE
Merrigong Theatre Company is thrilled to present Alana Valentine’s Send For Nellie, direct from its Sydney Festival premiere, at Illawarra Performing Arts Centre from 14th to 17th February.

1931, Sydney. West-Indian Australian singer Nellie Small puts on a sleek top hat and tails at a little Oxford Street venue, and a legend of Australian vaudeville and cabaret is born.

Send For Nellie recreates in story, song and in Nellie’s own words (drawn from the archives) one of the most impressive careers in Australian theatre.

Powerhouse performer Elenoa Rokobaro (Caroline, or Change; Tick, Tick… Boom) steps into the spotlight with a swinging band featuring Wollongong-born drummer, Jodie Michael, and saxophonist, Camilla Bellstedt. Together they recreate Nellie's hits including ‘At Last’, ‘The Sunny Side of The Street’, ‘Darktown Strutters Ball’ and more from the golden era of Jazz.

Written by Helpmann Award-winning playwright, and long-time Merrigong Theatre Company collaborator, Alana Valentine (Dead Man Brake, Barbara and the Camp Dogs, Letters to Lindy), Send For Nellie celebrates a ground-breaking, non-conformist path.

Alana Valentine said, “Because Send For Nellie is a sparkling cabaret, I could tout the fun, beautiful singing and high entertainment value of the show (all of which it has in abundance). But from my experience with Merrigong audiences I know they want a show that is about something meaningful and moving, even dare I say profound. After Dead Man Brake, Letters to Lindy, Head Full of Love and Barbara and the Camp Dogs, Merrigong patrons know that a Valentine show will have comedy as a given, but it will also have a deep dive into the vulnerability of the human condition.

Come for the incredible singing of Elenoa Rokobaro and the wildly inventive direction of Liesel Badorrek, leave with your heart lifted up in celebration. We’re going to raise up an icon of Australian show business - a cross-dressing, gender non-conforming Australian who you are going to love to meet”.

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