Chasing the Lollyman
Chasing the Lollyman is a one man show starring one of Queensland’s most dynamic and funny Indigenous performers, Mark Sheppard. It is a joyous sharing of stories, a celebration of urban Indigenous identity and takes a satirical look at the media and popular culture. Playing a variety of characters, weaving stand up with storytelling and clown, Mark pokes fun at everything from Neighbours (what would it be like if a Murri family moved into Ramsey Street) to politics.
“As original as it is Aboriginal” – Time Off
Chasing the Lollyman premiered at the Sue Benner Theatre, Metro Arts in 2010. It has gone on to tour Queensland (twice!), sellout seasons at La Mama Theatre (Melbourne) and The Dreaming Festival (Woodford), a season at HotHouse Theatre (Albury Wodonga) and a national tour in 2012 (Playing Australia).
Chasing the Lollyman was directed by and devised with Liz Skitch and was originally developed in association with the kuril dhagan centre, State Library of Queensland and supported by Arts Queensland.
“An affable and winning actor, Sheppard’s picaresque offering is as original as it is Aboriginal, taking a light-hearted but surprisingly deep and personal look at Murri culture within a sketch framework, drawing on his own childhood in Mareeba among the Muluridgi mob.”
— Baz McAlister, Time Off Magazine, 2010 [Read full review transcript]
Production images
Click on any of the thumbnails below to view.
Production Team
Written by Mark Sheppard
Directed & co-devised by Liz Skitch
Dramaturgy by Nadine McDonald
Set Design by Josh McIntosh featuring visual art by Bianca Beetson
Lighting Design by Jason Glenwright
Sound Design by Ian O’Brien with compositions by Kimba FatiakiVideo Teaser
Articles
Interview
ABC Radio National AWAYE! interview, Saturday 17 November 2012
Reviews
Premier Season 2010 review, Baz McAlister, Time Off, Issue 1461, Wednesday 3 February 2010
Melbourne Season 2010 review, Martin Ball, The Age, 16 July 2010
Empire Studio (Toowoomba) review, Kate Foy, Greenroom, 7 July 2012
The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre review, Helen Musa, CityNews, 30 August 2012Production History
Premier season 28 January – 13 February 2010
Sue Benner Theatre, Metro Arts, 109 Edward Street, Brisbane.The Dreaming Festival 11–14 June 2010, Woodford
State Library of Queensland 5–8 July 2010
Auditorium 1, Level 2, State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South BankLa Mama 14–18 July 2010, Faraday St, Carleton, Melbourne
North Queensland Tour 19 August – 2 September 2010
Cairns; Yarrabah; Wujal Wujal; Hopevale; Cooktown; Kuranda; Mossman; Mareeba.Hothouse Theatre and regional Victoria 18–22 October 2011
Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga and regional Victoria2012 Queensland Tour 12 June – 7 July 2012
Atherton; Innisfail; Townsville; Ayr; Moranbah; Capella; Barcaldine; Yeppoon; Bundaberg; Gympie; Maleny; St George; Mungindi; Toowoomba; Beaudesert; Redland Bay.2012 National Tour 23 August – 27 October 2012
(NSW) Coffs Harbour; Armidale; Queanbeyan.
(TAS) Hobart.
(VIC) Doncaster; Kingston; Colac; Heywood.
(SA) Marion; Tanunda.
(WA) Esperance; Mandurah; Carnarvon; Port Hedland.
(NT – presented by Artback NT) Darwin; Godinymayin Yijard Rivers; Tennant Creek; Alice Springs.
(North QLD) Mt Isa; Burektown; Croydon; Cooktown; Cairns.Touring information
Chasing the Lollyman is not currently available for tour.
Target audience: Families and general public. Suitable for Year 10, 11 & 12 (teaching resources, workshops & curriculum links available).
Nuts & bolts for venues
Running time: One hour
Number in touring party: 2 (actor and stage manager)
Bump in: 1 hour Bump out: 1 hour
Venue: Theatres, schools or community halls (indoor venue).
Critical issues: None.
Venue technical requirements: Stage size, 4 x 4 m.
Dressing room preferable but rest rooms are adequate. Lighting flexible.
Marketing materials: High quality images available on request. Professionally shot DVD (full length and trailer).Education
Curriculum Links
(Queensland) Indigenous Studies, Comedy, SOSE
Download Chasing the Lollyman Production Program PDF (885kb)
Download Chasing the Lollyman Guide to Murri Lingo PDF (71kb)Teaching resources available
DVD of the show, filmed during premier season, Metro Arts’ Sue Benner Theatre 2010 and a documentary of Mark’s story and the Chasing the Lollyman journey.
To order please contact us or complete our PUBLICATIONS ONLINE ORDER FORM.