DEAR SON

A world premiere featuring powerful letters of love, hope and healing from First Nations fathers and sons.

Together with his own heartfelt prose and poetry, author and editor Thomas Mayo, a Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man, invited 12 contributors to write a letter to their son or father, bringing together a range of perspectives that offered a celebration of First Nations masculinity.

Featuring letters from Stan Grant, Troy Cassar-Daley, John Liddle, Charlie King, Joe Williams, Yessie Mosby, Joel Bayliss, Daniel James, Jack Latimore, Daniel Morrison, Tim Sculthorpe and Blak Douglas, what resulted was a gentle, honest and loving book for families to share around the world.

Now, renowned First Nations theatre makers Isaac Drandic (37, Dear Brother) and John Harvey (Spear, Black Ties) transform these letters into a world premiere page to stage adaptation, starring leading First Nations actors Jimi Bani (Othello, My Name is Jimi), Waangenga Blanco (37, Patyegarang), Trevor Jamieson (The Secret River, Storm Boy), Kirk Page (Black Diggers, Redfern Now) and Aaron Pedersen (Cost of Living, Mystery Road).

Through story and song, Dear Son is a landmark Australian work that honours the rich traditions and wisdoms of fathers passed down through generations, whilst exploring the challenges faced by First Nations men today. In this hand-penned message of resilience and joy for our First Nations future, witness the importance of family, the power of culture and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Dear Son is deeply moving, simply unmissable theatre that speaks straight to the heart and reminds you: there is no shame in love, in softness, in being seen.

"Being open, talking up, yarning… this book is about dispelling the stereotype around what masculinity is for First Nations men."

— Tara June Winch, Miles Franklin Award-winning author of The Yield

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THE REVIEWS ARE IN

★★★★
“A deeply empathetic experience that any audience can connect with”
— Limelight

“Theatre that sings with both ancestral reverence and contemporary urgency.”
— Stage Whispers

“Beautifully crafted and sensitively delivered by the five strong cast, Dear Son is a very important First Nations new work.”
- ArtsHub

“An immensely compelling, thought-provoking and emotionally affecting piece of theatre.”
— The Scoop

"Do yourself and your family a favour … come and see this play.”
— Westender

“A brilliant piece of storytelling, delivered with warmth, humility, and infectious humour.”
— Brisbane Stage

“Jimi Bani, Waangenga Blanco, Trevor Jamieson, Kirk Page, and Aaron Pedersen are extraordinary storytellers.”
— Westender

“A powerful piece of theatre that deserves full houses every night.”
— The Blurb

“Co-adaptors Isaac Drandic and John Harvey have not only preserved the emotional potency of the source material, but elevated it, crafting a visually rich, sonically stirring, and emotionally generous piece of theatre”
— Stage Whispers

“Powerful in its complexity and unabashed vulnerability.”
— Limelight

“Theatre can struggle to draw male audiences, and this work, in its gentle, compassionate way, encourage Australians from all walks of life to speak their truth, learn from each other and heal together.”
— InDaily

“Aaron Pedersen’s performance involves a rollercoaster ride of emotions … he moves seamlessly from entertaining banter to gut-wrenching regret”
— The Scoop

“Jimi Bani is magnetic … his charisma lights up the stage, but it’s his vulnerability that truly lands.”
— Stage Whispers

“Trevor Jamieson delivers a masterclass”
— The Scoop

“Waangenga Blanco dazzles in the movement sequences … he brings poetry to the physical space”
— Stage Whispers

“Kirk Page channels his character’s emotional journey with a deft hand … his performance is deeply affecting.”
— Stage Whispers

“An exceptional piece of theatre … this play needs to be seen by every Australian.”
— Brisbane Stage

“The lighting by David Walters, in collaboration with video designer Craig Wilkinson, is a revelation … the visual storytelling takes the entire production to the next level.”
— Stage Whispers

“A textured and fluid tapestry of lived experience that’s equally uproariously funny, achingly sad, and deeply expressive.”
— Stage Whispers