Cirrus@Austlit

'It’s a new dawn, a new day, and a new captain at the helm of the ship of state. And what a state we’re in!

'Inflation, rising interest rates, conflict in Ukraine, climate disaster, culture wars, COVID 19-20-21-22-23, and a looming World War Three - could things get any worse? Absolutely - Neighbours has finished!

'But here’s one way to make things better: book your tickets to The Wharf Revue's Looking for Albanese.

'Inspired by the new national spirit of optimism that lasted for a week, the team are as keen as mustard to tackle the big-picture issues (see above).

'The world is grim - what better time to have a laugh?'

Source: Production blurb.

'My fellow irrelevant Australians. Never, in the history of our democracy, has Australian political life been in such a parlous state. I now realise that there are generations born in this country who have never seen true political leadership, having been governed in recent times by the dullest, most sanctimonious, hypocritical choir of patsies. This book will give them an idea of what a real leader looks like.

'Leadership is not like a can of Popeye's spinach - you have to earn it. And earn it I did. And I am going to tell you how. 

'In The Gospel According to Paul, writer and satirist Jonathan Biggins draws on his award-winning play to harness the eviscerating wit, wisdom and confidence of Keating to show us the evolution of Paul John Keating, from Blacktown to the Lodge and beyond. Almost the autobiography Keating said he would never write, it is a timely reminder of the political leadership we are sorely missing.' (Publication summary)

'Forty timeless sketches from 20 glorious years of comedy, penned and performed by Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott.

'The Wharf Revue sold out season after season for the Sydney Theatre Company, plundering all forms of theatrical entertainment along the way.

'Now selected monologues, duologues, sketches, and satirical songs are published for the first time. Fans will love the nostalgia, whilst students and community theatres have the chance to put on their own revue.' (Publication summary)

'One of Australia's favourite performers, Jonathan Biggins, is Paul Keating — visionary, reformer and rabble-rouser — in a highly anticipated new comedy, The Gospel According to Paul.

'Full of intelligence and wit, The Gospel According to Paul is a funny, insightful and occasionally poignant portrait of Paul Keating — the man that, as he tells it, single-handedly shaped contemporary Australia.

'Jonathan Biggins' performance as Paul Keating is well known from the long-running Sydney Theatre Company success story The Wharf Revue.

'Beyond the canny impersonation, Jonathan, like so many Australians, has long been fascinated by Keating and what Keating means to Australia.

'Showcasing his eviscerating wit, rich rhetoric and ego the size of Everest, The Gospel According to Paul distils Keating's essence into 75 minutes, focussing on key biographical milestones, landmark political achievements and personal obsessions.'

Source: Canberra Theatre Centre.

'Australians all let us rejoice for the return of The Wharf Revue. The unstoppable comedic minds of Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott have been keeping the nation’s political and cultural leaders on their metaphorical toes since before Sydney hosted the Olympics.

'In 2017, they return with an all-new, up-to-the-minute, fibre-to-the-node dose of side-splitting sketches and rib-tickling songs. (BYO hyphens.) From the highs to the lows, from the good to the bad to the ugly, this will be a parade of the year’s most memorable characters and the moments they’d prefer to forget.

'So, whether you want to calm your nerves or double your disillusion, we all need a fresh serve of laughter, dance and foolishness. With The Wharf Revue on its way into town, there truly has never been a more exciting time to be alive.' (Production summary)

'John Behan is a radio talkback host with a city in the palm of his hand. He fills Sydney’s airwaves with easy answers, hard facts be damned. Yesterday, he overstepped the mark. Today, a trial-by-media threatens to get out of control.'

'Locking himself in his studio and broadcasting live, John Behan is not going to go quietly, even if a life is on the line. Across town, the hunt is on for a sensational story. One that reveals the truth? Perhaps. One that keeps journalists in a job? More likely.' (Source: Sydney Theatre Company website)

'Paul Keating once said that politicians come in three varieties: straight men, fixers and maddies. Well, you can be sure all of them will be knocked down a peg or two when The Wharf Revue comes rolling back into The Joan in August.

'From the inimitable minds of Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott comes another instalment of what has become a true Sydney institution. From the movers to the shakers, from the winners to the losers, the stage will be filled with a year’s worth of foolishness.

'And if there’s one thing that a federal election year brings, it’s a smorgasbord of satirical goodies. There’ll be minor party pies, red meat, blue cheese and don’t forget your greens. But most of all, there’ll be laughter. And lots of it.' (Production summary)

'Chicago, 1950. A city in the grip of a crime epidemic. Two dead cops have just been discovered.

'Enter Frank Thompson, a hardboiled detective who knows just what it takes to get a result. His new partner, Jimmy Hartman, couldn’t be more different. Young, fresh and enthusiastic Jimmy is determined to clean up the mean streets without breaking the rules. Following the clues, the old dog and the young pup are led into a world of seedy bars and femme fatales. Will the new recruit teach the experienced detective a thing or two about police work? Will officers Hammett and Spade ever clean out the evidence locker? Will the criminal mastermind be discovered? And just who is the mysterious Miss Raines?' (Production summary)

'There ain’t no party like a Wharf Revue party

'Over 15 years and 21 shows, they’ve mercilessly mocked all the usual suspects. We’ve watched Howard Tampa with refugees, Rudd give pennies from Kevin, Gillard refuse to be lectured by “that man”, “that man” scrap the carbon tax, stop the boats and – um – get the budget back into surplus… But no one has been able to outplay, outwit or outlast The Wharf Revue. So, we’re throwing a party and everyone’s invited.

'This year, The Wharf Revue will be a parade of past and present indignitaries – a who’s who of 21st century embarrassments, from the politicians to the celebrities – all skewered on the stake of seriously side-splitting satirical silliness and musical mayhem.

'Who will make the cut? Who has the numbers in the caucus room? It’s anyone’s guess.' (Production summary)

'David Collins, (The Upside Down Show & The Umbilical Brothers) teams up with Jonathan Biggins (Theatre God) to create a show that will make every single child believe they are The Luck Child.

'The Luck Child is the story of the luckiest boy in the world, an evil king and a three-headed hound from hell...well, one head's a cat but it's angry. It’s full of adventure and laughter and perfect entertainment for the kids.' (Publication summary)

'There ain’t no party like a Wharf Revue party

'In 2015, The Wharf Revue turns 15. Or is it 16? Everyone is getting too old to care about birthdays, but we do care about satire. So, once more unto the political breach step Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott with their signature style of seriously side-splitting satirical silliness and musical mayhem.

'As ever, there will be up-to-the-second sketches on whichever cultural malaise or governmental gaffe is news of the day. But no birthday party is complete without a dose of nostalgia, so you can also count on a parade of past indignitaries – a who’s who of 21st century embarrassments, from the politicians to the celebrities.

'Who will make the cut? Who has the numbers in the caucus room? It’s anyone’s guess.

'Rest assured, that whomsoever should return, there will be song, there will be dance and there will be some very silly wigs.' (Production summary)

'Steve and Max, two middle-ranking Tasmanian public servants, are enlisted to solve the state’s financial woes, and given just four weeks to do it! In a period when political correctness has overwhelmed us, Biggins’ satire is punchy and refreshing, but even when he is pointing out our most frustrating foibles he does so with affection and Aussie good humour.

'It’s a laugh-out-loud comedy about… us!'

Source: Blue Cow Theatre.

'That singing, dancing extravaganza, The Wharf Revue, returns with bite for an annual dose of razor-sharp satire and a special blend of side-splitting sketches and musical hilarity.

'The mighty and ridiculous will duck for cover as The Wharf Revue team swoops in for another go at poking politics and popular culture in the eye with its carefully sharpened satire stick.

'At least we can count on the Federal Election for delivering one good news story: the provision of plenty of new material for these talented satirists. They know they can run, but they can't hide - nothing and no-one will be spared! Combining a cast of colourful characters - Eddie Obeid, Ian Macdonald, Cardinal George Pell, Simon Thomson, Tony Abbott, Gina Rinehart, Clive Palmer and Julia Gillard, and Phil Scott's boisterous songs; The Wharf Revue will be packed full of up-to-the-minute satire which makes it such a hit year after year.

'When Amanda Bishop, Simon Burke and Andrew Warboys join Jonathan Biggins and Drew Forsythe on stage it's a guaranteed lark.' (Source: Sydney Theatre Company website)

'Australia Day: A day off work, an excuse to fire up the barbeque, an opportunity to drink copious amounts of beer and, most importantly, a celebration of our national identity... whatever that is.

'For the members of the Australia Day committee in the small country town of Coriole, the issue of cultural identity is prickly to say the least. If they could agree on what kind of Australia they are celebrating, they might be able to tackle the really big questions: Does a sausage sizzle code as monocultural? And should the special needs kids be forced to perform their dance routine on the national day?

'Suffice to say that with a committee comprising of an ambitious Liberal Mayor, a Greens Councillor, a bigoted builder, an Australian-born Vietnamese school teacher and a member of the CWA, rolling out the Australia Day celebrations will be as complex and controversial as carbon pricing.

'This wickedly funny new play from stalwart of political satire, Jonathan Biggins, was inspired by his own experiences as an Australia Day Ambassador, and will be realised by the comic genius of veteran director, Richard Cottrell.

'In a period when political correctness has overwhelmed us, Biggins' fearlessness is refreshing, but even when he is pointing out our ugliest features he does so with affection and quintessentially Aussie good humour.' (Source: Sydney Theatre Co. website)