Toy Symphony
By Michael Gow
Directed by Michelle Carey
The Loading Dock Theatre - Qtopia, Sydney. 301 Forbes Street, Darlinghurst.
18 April - 27 April, 2024
Director’s Note
Welcome to Toy Symphony by Michael Gow, presented by Ad Astra Theatre Company. We are beyond excited to be performing this classic Australian play with a talented cast and crew from both Sydney and Brisbane, the first production to grace The Loading Dock Theatre stage, as part of the wonderful new Qtopia Sydney venue.
Our story begins with our protagonist, Roland Henning, a troubled playwright, undergoing therapy in the hope of rediscovering his spark, and relieving his dreaded writers’ b…b…block! Revealing his ‘gift’ of making imaginary characters real, Roland delves into some confronting, questionable and outrageous memories, flipping back and forth between his childhood, his early career, and the present day.
As Roland Henning reveals more and more of his past, we glimpse a little of the lasting impact of childhood trauma. Gow has blessed this production with characters and memories that we can laugh at, but the personal cost of some of the shocking behaviours considered acceptable in that era, lies just below the surface. As you open your minds and hearts to our story, I encourage you to remember that the ‘truths’ embedded in Toy Symphony were real and pertinent to the time, but thankfully, today, we are slightly better at telling the difference between good and evil…aren’t we?
I shudder when I recall the Australian history lessons of the 1970s; it would not have been unusual back then for the headmaster to ogle Mrs Walkham suggestively behind her back; and in 2024, you could expect mental health professionals to practice very different techniques to those of Dr Maybloom!
As theatre makers, we are proud to bring you one of the many stories of the LGBTQIA+ community to be told in this space. We have been blessed to work with such passionate, driven creatives, and we are deeply grateful and humbled by the immense amount of goodwill and sheer hard work that has gone into this project. Special shout outs must go to Ad Astra Theatre Company’s fearless Executive Producer, Gregory J Wilken, whose vision and passion have fed this project from the very beginning; Carly Fisher, Rosie Niven and the incredible team here at Qtopia Sydney; Bojan Bosic, our production photographer; our exceptional tech wizards Tom Pocilujko and Madelyne Leite, heavenly stage manager Molly Walker, and designer of many of our props, Cale Dennis.
And of course, our brave warriors, otherwise known as actors, who have dug incredibly deep and given so much to help tell this heartwarming, confronting story.
We hope you enjoy the show!
Content Warning
Sexual themes, homophobic language, drug and alcohol use, vulgar language, verbal abuse against children, mentions of suicidal ideation, references to colonisation, sudden noises, strobe effects.
About the play
Toy Symphony follows the journey of Roland Henning, a playwright suffering from dreaded ‘writers’ block’.
As he embarks on a voyage of self-reflection in the hope of finding himself again, we are given glimpses of his troubled past, and the possible causes of his current malaise. The audience is thrown into a challenging relationship with Henning, as he confronts behaviours that delve into his bullying, self-gratifying and narcissistic past.
Although one of his lesser-known works, Toy Symphony reinforces playwright Michael Gow as someone deeply attached to the concept of dramatic tension! In 2016, in his own keynote address at the National Play Festival, Gow talks about the agony of theatre paraphrasing Aristotle when he says “Drama is the description of a struggle.” We see the character of Roland Henning as someone who is full of struggle…with his past and present, with himself and with others. Even we, as an audience, struggle with some of the themes put forward in the play.
The production is a clever combination of real time storytelling with moments of flashback and elements of magical realism. Along the way, we meet characters from the present day, those from his childhood and every now and then, a figure from history who appears and disappears on the whim of Roland’s imagination. It is uncomfortable, disconcerting and hilarious, as the young Roland’s ‘magical’ ability to summon up historical characters, battles with the many adults in his childhood who are desperately trying to suppress his imagination.
Michael Gow was the artistic director of Queensland Theatre company from 1999 – 2010 and he had not written a full-length play while fully engaged in this role. In 2007, his play Toy Symphony received its world premiere production at Sydney's Belvoir St Theatre. It was a critical and popular success. Toy Symphony was awarded Best New Australian Work at the 2008 Helpmann Awards, and the production was also nominated for Best Play. The production also won four Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Mainstage Production.
“Michael Gow's first full-length play in a decade is a dazzling tour-de-force of theatrical invention”
Australian Plays Transform
CAST
Gregory J Wilken | Roland Henning
Wendi Lanham | Nina, English Nanny
Felix Jarvis | Daniel, Lawyer
Bernadette Pryde | Mrs Walkham
Sam Webb | Steve Gooding, Dr. Maybloom and Tom
John Michael Narres | Headmaster, Mr Devlin, Anton Chekov, Titus Oates
Chantal Elyse | Julie Pearson, Lynette, Miss Beverly, Nurse
Adam Dakin | Nicolajs Eglitis, The Executioner, Alexander the Great
CREATIVES AND CREW
Director | Michelle Carey
Producer | Gregory J Wilken
Associate Producer and Social Media Manager | Molly Walker
Associate Producer and Tech | Tom Pocilujko &
Associate Producer and Stage Manager | Madelyne Leite
Composer | Tommi Civili
Cast
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Creatives & Crew
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Poster
2024 Reviews
“Michelle Carey’s production is first class and engages the audience from the get go.”
David Kary | Sydney Arts Guide | Read Review Here
“TOY SYMPHONY is the premiere production for the new Sydney theatre space that is part of QTOPIA. Presented by Ad Astra, that’s based in Queensland, this theatre company expands interstate giving emerging and re-emerging artists more opportunities to showcase their talents.”
Kym Vaitiekus/Jade Kops - Broadway World | Read Review Here
“Toy Symphony is a complex, wonderfully absurd, and incredibly moving examination of the creative process, its virtues, and its pitfalls. A show with so much to say about the act of artistic creation - in the world of theatre, no less - was without a doubt the best way to kick off the Loading Dock’s smash hit season. Carey takes Michael Gow’s first full length show and sets it onto the stage with vitality and dynamism, carried by some amazing performers.”
Michael Di Guglielmo - Stage Door Podcast | Read Review Here
“Led by Director Michelle Carey there’s a lot going on in this intense production. Toy Symphony explores bullying, substance abuse, death and grief. At times this play is uncomfortable to watch but it’s also a compelling look at creativity and human response.”
Natasha Ciesielski | Sydney Scoop | Read Review Here
“Lively direction by Michelle Carey keeps us invested in the storytelling”
Suzy Wrong - Suzy Go See | Read Review Here
“It is fitting that the first production in the space is from one of the giants of Australian playwriting. Michael Gow’s “Toy Symphony” reminds us that we should embrace creativity and difference with compassion and patience. And that there can be a little bit of magic in everyone!”
Kate Gaul - Theatre Travels | Read Review Here
“Clearly this play sent me off into the night with a bundle of questions.”
Paul Gilchrist - Theatre Red | Read Review Here
The choice of Toy Symphony as the inaugural production for the space was an excellent one. An established work by one of Australia’s most eminent playwrights, Michael Gow – this production has already been performed in Brisbane, by the Ad Astra company and the performance comprises about half the original cast.
David Spicer - Stage Whispers | Read Review Here
2024 Interviews
What inspired you to take on this show in particular?
It was Australian, it was by one of Australia's greatest playwrights, Michael Gow, and it is just a great play. There is such a kaleidoscope of stories that can be told about the LGBTQIA+ community, this is one of them. It is also one of the very few stories for the stage, film or television that the story isn't necessarily about being gay, but the lead role is gay. We need to see more LGBTQIA+ characters in stories that are about a whole range of different aspects, not just gay stories! Thanks to Michael Gow, we have one such story.
Frooty | Read the interview
“To be able to do the very first production in this beautiful building just astounds me”
Sarah Skubala - Theatre Matters | Read the interview
Why do you think that this play resonates so much even for today’s audiences? Why this play and why now? What makes Michael Gow such a compelling playwright?
All of us feel a connection to the characters and stories that Michael Gow has blessed our dramatic landscape with. Toy Symphony draws us in with these glorious, recognisable characters…the rough (but vulnerable) school bully; the nasty, inappropriate school headmaster; that one encouraging teacher who made us believe in ourselves. Somehow, we all make it through and go on to live our lives, but there is no doubt the impact that these ‘characters’ have on us during such formative years. Like Roland Henning, trauma can rear its ugly head in many forms later in life. It’s a story we can all relate to, and Gow tells it with a good dose of flashbacks, humour, realism, and the classic play-within-the-play.
Elizabeth Surbey - Sydney Arts Guide | Read the interview
“It is uncomfortable, disconcerting and hilarious, as the young Roland’s ‘magical’ ability to summon up historical characters, battles with the many adults in his childhood who are desperately trying to suppress his imagination”
Michael James - Sydney Star Observor | Read interview here
The old Police Station is the new home for The Loading Dock – Qtopia, Sydney’s flagship theatre. Ad Astra Theatre Company has been chosen to produce the venue’s first ever production – Michael Gow’s ‘Toy Symphony’, about playwright Roland Henning who is suffering from writer’s block. Audiences in attendance will truly be a brand-new part of Australian history.
Scenestr - Read Interview here
2022 Reviews and Director Interview
All Reviews and Interviews are from Ad Astra’s 2022 production of Toy Symphony
Ad Astra is becoming more popular by the year and consistently winning acclaim for its celebration and execution of great theatre. Their latest production of Michael Gow’s Toy Symphony proves why.
Marita Bellas Miles - Theatre Travels Read full review
This boutique production company, Ad Astra, is emerging as an important professional theatrical company, which mounts quality works aimed to wow and impress audiences in this unique space in The Valley. Do not miss this quality production it will enthrall you.
Lilian Harrington - Absolute Theatre Read full review
‘Toy Symphony by Michael Gow is expertly constructed by the cast at Ad Astra’. ‘Under the careful guide of director Michelle Carey, the show is meticulously moulded to this unique space.’
Michael James - QNews | Read full review
‘A display of Astra-nomical talent. The performance is enthralling owing to its animated and dynamic reel of highly relatable characters. Each of the cast members demonstrates an impressive range, employing dramatic tension and impeccable comedic timing. Expert use of lighting ensures Toy Symphony is also a visceral experience, as cool blue tones flood the stage to signify the onset of each larger-than-life, mythical experience. Ad Astra Theatre is unmistakably polished and professional, showcasing the depth of local talent’
Jessica Forbes - My Village News | June edition
The impeccable cast are wonderfully warm, likeable and moving and maximise every ounce of humour and energy in the play. Director Michelle Carey has helped her cast balance the right amount of humour and pathos in Gow’s script.
The lighting design by B’Elanna Hill was economic and effective and costume designer Eleonora Ginardi had enormous fun with the school uniforms and the teachers’ 1960s classroom fashions. In a small theatre space, the technicals can not afford to distract, and stage manager Cale Dennis and sound/technical designer Theo Bourgoin ensured a seamless show.
Beth Keehn - Stage Whispers | Read full review
Ad Astra is an unusual venue situated in the back of a warehouse and trapped right in the middle of Brisbane; to one side the Fortitude Valley nightclubs, and to the other the hubbub of the Brisbane showgrounds. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in flexibility and intimacy. Ad Astra’s latest, an adaptation of Michael Gow’s 2007 play ‘Toy Symphony’, is no exception with strong performances, subtle yet effective direction and clever design elements – this is not a play to miss.
Oliver Hetherington-Page | Read full review
Experience has proven that Ad Astra is not only to be commended for its interesting production choices, but its often inventive staging of these, especially given the company’s intimate performance space. Michael Gow’s critically-acclaimed “Toy Symphony” (the play was awarded Best New Australian Work at the 2008 Helpmann Awards), stands as testament to both of these truths.
Meredith Walker - Blue Curtains Read full review
Many of the characters in Toy Symphony were larger than life, exaggerated in Roland’s memory, and the cast used melodramatic characterisations to convey this. The cast demonstrated good comedic timing, and commitment to their varied roles, from playful schoolchildren to doctors and drug dealers.
Backstreet Brisbane Read full review
Read the interview with Director, Michelle Carey by Nadia Jade - Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane
Venue
Ad Astra Theatre Company is producing Michael Gow’s wonderful Toy Symphony which will be the first production at Sydney’s newest theatre - The Loading Dock Theatre at Qtopia, Sydney. Located in Darliinghurst in the recent conversion of the 1899 Darlinghurst Police Station, this production will be the first ever in this amazing new space.
Behind the Scenes
Huge thanks to Bojan Bozic for the beautiful production photography!
Awards
for Ad Astra’s 2022 production of Toy Symphony