Queensland Theatre | Boy Swallows Universe
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Trent Dalton's

Boy Swallows Universe

Adapted for the stage by Tim McGarry
Directed by Sam Strong

Dead Blue Wren True Crime Clock Tower
The blockbuster Australian novel comes alive onstage in 2021. Eli Bell’s childhood in the outer Brisbane suburbs is far from the idyllic 1980s haze some kids would remember. His alcoholic dad has shot through, his mum is in jail, his stepfather’s dealing heroin, his brother Gus w...

The blockbuster Australian novel comes alive onstage in 2021.

Eli Bell’s childhood in the outer Brisbane suburbs is far from the idyllic 1980s haze some kids would remember. His alcoholic dad has shot through, his mum is in jail, his stepfather’s dealing heroin, his brother Gus won't talk and silently swirls cryptic messages in the air with his finger, and his babysitter Slim is a convicted killer and infamous escapee from Boggo Road Gaol.

Beset by chaos on all sides, it’s a run-in with the local crime king and his henchman that sets the 13 year old with the old soul on a journey to find out what kind of man he is going to be.

Boy Swallows Universe is adapted from the smash hit novel inspired by Brisbane author Trent Dalton’s own childhood. It’s an exhilarating story of magic and madness, of beauty and brutality, of joy and heartbreak, and of the power of love to triumph over the darkest of circumstances.

Presented by Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival and Queensland Performing Arts Centre.


2021 Education Pack Show Program

  • Dates
    30 AUG – 9 OCT 2021
  • Location
    Playhouse, QPAC
  • Times
    Various
  • Buy tickets
  • Night with the Artists

    Mon 6 Sep, 6.30pm


    Venue
    PLAYHOUSE, QPAC


    Season
    30 AUG — 9 OCT 2021

  • Duration
    2 hrs 50 mins, including an interval
  • Accessibility
    Auslan Interpreted Mon 6 Sep, 6.30pm & Tue 5 Oct, 6.30pm
    Audio Described Sat 18 Sep, 2.00pm
  • Warning
    This play contains strong coarse language, mature themes, simulated violence, replica guns and depictions of domestic violence. It also contains strobe lighting, theatrical smoke effects, and the use of e-cigarettes and herbal cigarettes.We understand the them...

    This play contains strong coarse language, mature themes, simulated violence, replica guns and depictions of domestic violence. It also contains strobe lighting, theatrical smoke effects, and the use of e-cigarettes and herbal cigarettes.

    We understand the themes may be triggering for some people. If you have any concerns about the content of the play, we encourage you to contact our Box Office.


    If you or someone you know needs information or support, these organisations are there to help:


    1800RESPECT 1800 737 732


    Lifeline 13 11 14


  • Dates
    30 AUG – 9 OCT 2021
  • Location
    Playhouse, QPAC
  • Times
    Various
  • Buy tickets
  • Night with the Artists

    Mon 6 Sep, 6.30pm


    Venue
    PLAYHOUSE, QPAC


    Season
    30 AUG — 9 OCT 2021

  • Duration
    2 hrs 50 mins, including an interval
  • Accessibility
    Auslan Interpreted Mon 6 Sep, 6.30pm & Tue 5 Oct, 6.30pm
    Audio Described Sat 18 Sep, 2.00pm
  • Warning
    This play contains strong coarse language, mature themes, simulated violence, replica guns and depictions of domestic violence. It also contains strobe lighting, theatrical smoke effects, and the use of e-cigarettes and herbal cigarettes.We understand the them...

    This play contains strong coarse language, mature themes, simulated violence, replica guns and depictions of domestic violence. It also contains strobe lighting, theatrical smoke effects, and the use of e-cigarettes and herbal cigarettes.

    We understand the themes may be triggering for some people. If you have any concerns about the content of the play, we encourage you to contact our Box Office.


    If you or someone you know needs information or support, these organisations are there to help:


    1800RESPECT 1800 737 732


    Lifeline 13 11 14


Creatives

Author Trent Dalton
Writer Tim McGarry
Director/Dramaturg
Sam Strong
Designer
Renée Mulder
Lighting Designer
Ben Hughes
Composer/Sound Designer
Steve Francis
Video Designer
Craig Wilkinson
Movement Director
Nerida Matthaei
Fight and Intimacy Director Nigel Poulton

Senior Stage Manager John Reid
Deputy Stage Manager Yanni Dubler
Assistant Stage Manager Margaret Burrows

Associates

Associate Motion Designer Jordan Pena
Assistant Fight Director
Sam Valentine
Associate Sound Designer
Matthew Erskine

Cast

Eli Bell Joe Klocek
August Bell/Ensemble
Tom Yaxley
Lyle Orlik /Brian Robertson/Ensemble Anthony Gooley
Frankie Bell Michala Banas
Bich Dang/Mrs Birkbeck/Ensemble
Ngoc Phan
Darren Dang/Ensemble Hoa Xuande
Slim Halliday/Tytus Broz/Ensemble Anthony Phelan
Iwan Krol/ Alex Bermudez/Ensemble Joss McWilliam
Caitlyn Spies/Shelley/Dr Brennan/Ensemble
Ashlee Lollback
Robert Bell/Ensemble Mathew Cooper
Teddy Kallas/Ensemble Andrew Buchanan
Ensemble Charles Ball
Ensemble Hsin-Ju Ely

Trailer

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Play Briefing

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Interview with Writer Tim McGarry

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