The Giraffe’s Uncle: The Les Robinson Story
TYPE FASTER PRODUCTIONS in association with
KING STREET THEATRE, Newtown presents
The Giraffe’s Uncle: The Les Robinson Story
November 16 to 27, 2011
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© 2011 Cynthia Sciberras
The Giraffe’s Uncle is a new one-man comedy drama about idiosyncratic Sydney short story writer and freelance journalist Les Robinson, from award-wining Melbourne playwright Kieran Caroll.
The former Radio National arts broadcaster, journalist and theatre critic Martin Portus is playing Les, taking on the one-man show after thirty years away from the stage.
Les Robinson was an eccentric figure on Sydney’s bohemian scene between the 1920s and 1960s, whose unconventional ways gained him much local notoriety. Refusing to pay rent, he lived in derelict houses and caves around Sydney Harbour, writing, fishing and playing his old gramophone on the rocks.
Robinson’s comic and absurdist short stories remain unique to Australian fiction — his one and only short story collection in 1933, The Giraffe’s Uncle, was re-published recently by Angus and Robertson.
He was a contributor and cartoonist to The Bulletin, The Australian Worker, Punch and the Lindsay’s magazine, Vision. His work was supported by contemporary Australian literary notables such as Kenneth Slessor, Norman Lindsay, Douglas Stewart, the critic HM Green and many cartoonists.
click image for hi-res download
© 2011 Cynthia Sciberras
Directed by Ron Hadley, The Giraffe’s Uncle: The Les Robinson Story explores an uncompromising artistic life through challenging times, a tale told over 25 years of an hilariously introspective bohemian swimming against the tide of Australia’s mainstream.
NIDA-trained Martin Portus began his carer in the name role of JC Wiliamson’s Oliver! and has since appeared in many roles with the then South Australian Theatre Company, the Adelaide Festival Centre, Griffin Theatre Company and TV series including Arcade and The Young Doctors.
Melbourne playwright Kieran Caroll has writen eleven plays, including Ladders by the Sea directed by Ron Hadley for the 2010 Sydney Festival Fringe and 3XY Or I Die, which won Best Original Production at the 2002 Melbourne Fringe Festival. Kieran’s plays frequently focus on outsiders or more peripheral artists in Australian literature, music and art.
I wish to thank Ken Slesor for his tremendous futuristic prediction that The Giraffe’s Uncle wil find more readers in 1993 than 1933. Marvelous that! Les Robinson
- The Giraffe’s Uncle: The Les Robinson Story
- Wednesday November 16 to Sunday November 27, 2011
- King Street Theatre (formerly Newtown Theatre) Cnr King & Bray Streets, Newtown South)
- All shows 8PM — Sundays 6PM. No shows Monday 21st & Tuesday 22nd November
- Bookings: 02 951 95081 or newtowntheatre.com.au, or at the door
- Ticket Prices:$20 / $15 concession
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Please contact: Emma Collison Publicity 02 9326 5554 or 0418 584 795 or emma@emmacollison.com, emmacollison.com.