Devised by Stefo Nantsou through a series of creative workshops with students from Victorian regional high schools, The Forwards combines comedy, drama and percussive energy as a means of exploring football culture, alcohol abuse, reckless behaviour in small rural communities and the role parents play in shaping the attitudes of their children.
The story concerns the Pintoon Parrots football team, which makes it to the Grand Final for the first time in the small town's history. Up against arch rivals the Gilpendry Goannas, the team knows that the game will be a hard-fought battle, and that their hopes rest on the forward trio, Hoges, Tractor and Gary Rabbit. However, as the big game approaches a rumour spreads throughout the town and subsequently brings the three 'friends for life' into major conflict. Fuelled with anger, jealousy and alcohol, violence explodes both on and off the field resulting in a shocking climax.
The Apology is inspired by a real life event which occurred at a high school when a teenager took revenge on a bully after his father told him to fight back. The narrative combines experiences from a number of different people and these are strung together in a fictional story as a means of exploring teenage violence and the effects of long-term bullying.
