The Sapphires single work   drama  
Issue Details: First known date: 2004... 2004 The Sapphires
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Meet the McCrae sisters - four gorgeous singers from country Victoria whose biggest dream is to become as famous as their Motown idols. It is 1969, and their Supremes cover band is performing in St Kilda's Tiki Club when the sisters are spotted by a talent scout. Soon they are dreaming of fame, fortune and glamorous international careers.

Instead, these Koori divas find themselves in the war zone of Vietnam, entertaining the troops. Based on the true story of his mother's and aunts' showbiz careers, Tony Briggs has created a steamy and swinging medley of the highs and lows of family, love, war and the hottest soul music in the jungle of 'Nam!' Source: /www.bsstc.com.au (Sighted 27/01/2010).

Exhibitions

16598381
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Adaptations

form y separately published work icon The Sapphires Keith Thompson , Tony Briggs , ( dir. Wayne Blair ) Australia : Goalpost Pictures , 2012 Z1809626 2012 single work film/TV (taught in 1 units) 'Gail, Cynthia, Julie and Kay are sexy, black, young and talented - and they've never set foot outside Australia. Until, in the chaos of 1968, they're plucked from the obscurity of a remote Aboriginal mission, branded as Australia's answer to The Supremes, and - grasping the chance of a lifetime - dropped into the jungles of Vietnam to entertain the troops.' Source: www.encoremagazine.com.au/ (Sighted 26/09/2011).

Production Details

  • First produced by the Melbourne Theatre Company at The Playhouse, Melbourne 17 November- 18 December 2004.

    Director: Wesley Enoch

    Cast: Deborah Mailman, Rachael Maza, Lisa Flanagan, and Ursula Yovich.

    Subsequently produced at Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney 9 January - 20 February 2005.

    New co-production by the Black Swan State Theatre Company and Company B Belvoir, as part of the 2010 Perth International Arts Festival at the Playhouse Theatre, Perth, 23 January-10 February 2010.

    Director: Wesley Enoch.

    Cast: Christine Anu, Casey Donovan, Hollie Andrew, and Kylie Farmer.

    First overseas production scheduled for the Barbican, London in March 2011.

    Produced by HIT Productions at Theatre North, Launceston, 16 October 2019.

    Director: Tony Briggs.

    Producer: Christine Harris and HIT Productions.

    Musical Director: Nathanial Andrew.

    Set and Lighting Designer: Mark Howett.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 2004
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Related Works

Sapphires National Premiere at Melbourne Film Festival 2012 single work column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 8 August no. 532 2012; (p. 12-13)
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Works about this Work

Sweet Soul Music: The Making Of The Sapphires Cara Nash , 2019 single work column
— Appears in: FilmInk , 2 May 2019;
Indigenous Soul : The Sapphires' Journey from Stage to Screen Zoë Wallin , 2018 single work criticism
— Appears in: Screen Education , no. 89 2018; (p. 110-115)

'The energy is palpable. When the four members of 1960s Aboriginal Australian girl group The Sapphires step onto the stage of a Saigon nightclub in front of a crowd of expectant marines, they know the stakes: an unconvincing show will cost them their Vietnam gig and put them back on a plane to Australia. Before this, the four women - Gail (Deborah Mailman), Julie (Jessica Mauboy), Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell) and Kay (Shari Sebbens) - have been told that they need to clean up their act for the show. Manager Dave Lovelace (Chris O'Dowd) has ushered them to various Vietnamese street vendors to purchase the sparkly new dresses that add the gloss necessary to meet international expectations. It's no surprise that The Sapphires pull it off, winning over their American audience with an intimate, soulful rendition of Dave Crawford's 'What a Man'.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.
National Award for Sapphires Creator 2013 single work column
— Appears in: Deadly Vibe Magazine , 9 August 2013;
Oh, For a Cultural Revolution Julian Meyrick , 2012 single work column
— Appears in: The Age , 10 August 2012; (p. 11) 'Art is a major measure of civilisation because it enriches society and tells us myriad stories about ourselves, yet Australia doesn't invest in it nearly enough. Unlike sport.' Julian Meyrick.
Songbirds Bare Their Soul Garry Maddox , 2012 single work column
— Appears in: The Sun-Herald , 15 July 2012; (p. 6) 'Australia's answer to the Supremes entertain the troops with Motown Groove in The Sapphires...'
Sapphires Shine Again : The Vietnam War Adventure of Two Young Aboriginal Performers Has Inspired a Play Georgina Safe , 2004 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian , 11 November 2004; (p. 12)
— Review of The Sapphires Tony Briggs , 2004 single work drama
Songs of Celebration, Not Discrimination Thuy On , 2004 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian , 22 November 2004; (p. 7)
— Review of The Sapphires Tony Briggs , 2004 single work drama
Black is Beautiful in Show that Sparkles Helen Thomson , 2004 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 19 November 2004; (p. 7)
— Review of The Sapphires Tony Briggs , 2004 single work drama
Sparkle, in Any Colour Robin Usher , 2004 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 15 November 2004; (p. 7)
— Review of The Sapphires Tony Briggs , 2004 single work drama
Soul Girls Fight Their Own War Bryce Hallett , 2005 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 10 January 2005; (p. 9)
— Review of The Sapphires Tony Briggs , 2004 single work drama
Musical Gems Glow As Sisters Keep Doing It for Themselves Clare Morgan , 2005 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 8-9 January 2005; (p. 9)
Soundtracks of Our Lives Bryce Hallett , 2009 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 22 October 2009; (p. 6) Bryce Hallett previews 2010 musical theatre offerings in Sydney. Planned shows include the Wesley Enoch-directed Sapphires.
Performance Market Sells Acts With Its Perfect Pitch Michaela Boland , 2010 single work column
— Appears in: The Australian , 26 February 2010; (p. 16)
Shining Through Steve Dow , 2010 single work column
— Appears in: The Sun-Herald , 23 May 2010; (p. 5) Steve Dow writes about the original 'Sapphires' - the group that inspired the stage show 'The Sapphires'.
Glitter Girl Elissa Blake , 2010 single work column
— Appears in: The Sun-Herald , 23 May 2010; (p. 12)
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Awards

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Last amended 9 Sep 2019 14:05:01
Subjects:
  • 1960s
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