MEDIA RELEASE
Day Date Month 2015
War diary brought to life on WA regional stages
After successful seasons in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth and regional tours of Victoria and Tasmania,
comedian Damian Callinan is returning to regional Western Australia including one night only at VENUE,
TOWN on PERFORMANCE DATE, with The Lost WW1 Diary - a clever witty piece where he leads the
audience into the pages of a found WW1 diary bringing the characters to life.
Obsessed from a young age by the Anzac legend and intrigued by the mystery surrounding the identity of
two diggers from a family photo, Damian sets out on a quest to put names to the faces. Whilst holidaying
in Warrnambool, the discovery of a war diary in an op shop finally links him to the legend.
Callinan combines detailed research, hilarious but believable characterisations, black humour, absurdity
and deft writing to swing the mood of the story from rollicking farce to aching pathos in a heartbeat.
“This show mixes comedy and pathos so it was extremely challenging to craft. I'm very proud of the
balance I've achieved with this show. You may need tissues for two types of tears,” says Callinan.
The multi-award winning artist always looks forward to touring regional Western Australia, “WA
audiences are always welcoming. It's almost unusual not to be asked out to someone’s place after the
show ... so if no-one asks this time we'll probably just turn up anyway.”
The Lost WW1 Diary was nominated for the Comedy Award at the 2015 Perth Fringe Festival. This show
will be the final Shows on the Go tour presented by Country Arts WA and Act-Belong-Commit this year.
“This is Damian’s third tour with the Shows on the Go program - regional communities keep voting for his
shows to tour and it’s a pleasure for Country Arts WA to do so each time. The Lost WW1 Diary is touring
at the perfect time to reflect on the Anzac Centenary this year,” says Jessica Machin, Chief Executive
Officer of Country Arts WA.
The Lost WW1 Diary by Damian Callinan, will tour to 12 regional centres from Cue to Esperance during
August and September 2015, as part of the Shows on the Go program.
Shows on the Go is a community-driven touring model, which enables regional communities to vote for
shows listed in an annual touring menu they would like to see. Shows are then short-listed for final
selection, to ensure that the programing reflects the choices of regional audiences.
The tour is presented by Country Arts WA and Healthway promoting the Mentally Healthy WA campaign
message, Act-Belong-Commit.
For more information visit www.countryartswa.asn.au/touring/shows-on-the-go
Media Contact
Key contact – Position, Organisation
P: XX XXXX XXXX | F: XX XXXX XXXX | E: X
This Shows on the Go tour is proudly supported by:
1
SUPPORT MATERIAL
Shows on the Go tour dates
The Lost WW1 Diary by Damian Callinan
{highlight your performance}
Cue
Cue Town Hall
Saturday 15 August 2015, 7.30pm
Bookings: Shire of Cue
08 9963 1041
Locally presented by Shire of Cue
Coorow
Coorow District Hall
Tuesday 18 August 2015, 7.30pm
Bookings: Coorow Community Resource Centre
08 9952 1266
Locally presented by Coorow Community Resource
Centre
Cervantes / Jurien Bay
Cervantes Country Club
Thursday 20 August 2015, 7.30pm
Bookings: www.eventbrite.com.au
08 9652 2425 or www.jurienbay.crc.net.au
Locally presented by Jurien Bay Community Resource
Centre
Northam
Northam Town Hall
Saturday 22 August 2015, 6pm
Bookings: Northam Visitor Centre
08 9622 2100 or www.northam.wa.gov.au
Locally presented by Shire of Northam
Hyden
Hyden Town Hall
Tuesday 25 August 2015, 7.30pm
Bookings: Hyden CRC
08 9880 5088 or www.hyden.crc.net.au
Locally presented by Hyden Community Resource Centre
Katanning
Katanning Town Hall
Thursday 27 August 2015, 7pm
Bookings: Shire of Katanning
08 9821 9999
Locally presented by Shire of Katanning
Jerdacuttup
Jerdacuttup Town Hall
Saturday 29 August 2015, 7,30pm
Bookings: Ravensthorpe Community Resource
Centre
08 9838 1340
Locally presented by Ravensthorpe Regional Arts
Council
Esperance
Esperance Civic Centre
Tuesday 1 September 2015, 7pm
Bookings: Esperance Civic Centre, The Library or
The Visitor Centre
08 9083 1566
Locally presented by Esperance Civic Centre
Kalgoorlie–Boulder
Boulder Town Hall
Thursday 3 September 2015, 6.30pm
Bookings: Goldfields Arts Centre
08 9021 0999 or www.goldfieldsartscentre.com.au
Locally presented by City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
Southern Cross
Southern Cross Community Centre
Saturday 5 September 2015, 7.30pm
Bookings: Shire of Yilgarn
08 9049 1001 or www.yilgarn.wa.gov.au
Locally presented by Shire of Yilgarn
Bruce Rock
Bruce Rock Shire Hall
Tuesday 8 September 2015, 7pm
Bookings: Shire of Bruce Rock
08 9061 1377 or www.brucerock.wa.gov.au
Locally presented by Shire of Bruce Rock
Tammin
Tammin Town Hall
Wednesday 9 September 2015, 7pm
Bookings: Shire of Tammin
08 9637 0300 or www.tammin.wa.gov.au
Locally presented by Shire of Tammin
2
About Damian Callinan
Damian Callinan is a multi-award-winning stand-up comic, broadcaster, actor and writer. He is best
known to TV audiences for his roles on Skithouse and Before The Game. He is also a regular guest
on shows such as Spicks and Specks, Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala and The Great Debate.
Damian is a regular contributor on 774ABC Melbourne.
Damian has toured prolifically over the past three years. If he hasn’t performed in your town, he’s
probably stopped in your op shops on his way through.
In 2010 he received a third nomination for the prestigious Barry Award at the Melbourne
International Comedy Festival for The Merger, which he continues to tour nationally. The Merger
toured with Shows On The Go in 2011 and is currently in the advanced stages of development to be
made into a feature film, with the backing of Screen NSW. It’s to be directed by Mark Grentell,
with Damian to play the lead role.
Damian’s other award winning shows include Sportsman’s Night (Barry Nomination & Best Comedy
Melbourne Fringe); Spaznuts (Piece Of Wood Comedian’s Choice Award at MICF), Proxy Heroes
(Barry Nomination) and his comedy dance show The Cave to the Rave, which won him the ABN
Amro Edinburgh Foreign Exchange Award.
Damian was recently seen in cinemas in a critically acclaimed role as one of the ensemble lead
actors in Backyard Ashes, and also appeared alongside Rhys Darby It’s A Date on ABCTV.
About YOUR ORGANISATION
XXXX
About Country Arts WA
Country Arts WA is an independent, not-for-profit, membership based organisation. The role of
Country Arts WA is to build creativity, capacity and connection in regional communities.
This is delivered through a range of funding opportunities, regional arts development and
performing arts touring services and special projects. Country Arts WA focuses on four key priority
areas: children & young people, Aboriginal arts & culture, technology and health & wellbeing.
www.countryartswa.asn.au
Act-Belong-Commit
Mental illness continues to be a major public health issue in Western Australia. Act-Belong-Commit
is a community-based health promotion campaign that encourages people to take action to improve
their mental health and wellbeing. Being active (Act), having a sense of belonging (Belong) and
having a purpose in life(Commit) all contribute to happiness and good mental health.
Getting involved in the arts is enjoyable, provides a sense of achievement, and is a distraction from
everyday worries; it’s as easy as ABC, Act-Belong-Commit. The website
www.actbelongcommit.com.au includes more tips on how to Act, Belong and Commit, including a
list of activities that may be in your area.
3