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 Fatiaki

• Video 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 2012

• Production 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 Bank

  La 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 Victoria

  2012 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.