Doron plays Hawke and Howard
“Keating! The Musical” will be staged in the Bryan Brown Theatre in Sydney’s Bankstown next month with Doron Chester playing the dual roles of former Australian Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and John Howard.
Doron Chester
The show debuted in 2005 at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, became a cult hit and went on to tour nationally, become a major commercial hit in theatres such as Belvoir Street and win multiple awards for the script, the production and its actors.
Birdie Productions is proud to bring this production to the former PM’s home town of Bankstown – where he is still considered a local hero.
Paul Keating himself (who attended the original show multiple times) may pop in as the guest of honour at Bankstown’s Bryan Brown Theatre. He believes the musical is popular because politics and public life today are without humour. “The game is very dour,” he says, “But satire can get a lot across. It can cut out the humbug.” Alexander Downer also saw the show and commented afterwards that he thought “Keating! The Musical was far better than Keating the prime minister.”
Doron Chester has always been a performer. At the age of three, he was already creating and performing shows for his family members. Continuing his performing into high-school and university, he has just completed a Bachelor of Music (Music Theatre) at the Australian Institute of Music.Whilst studying Doron had the opportunity to be involved in many of AIM’s great productions.
In 2013 Doron played Bud Frump in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (Directed by Jennifer Murphy) and also had the pleasure of playing Bob Hawke in Keating! The Musical (Directed by Jay-James Moody). Doron would like to thank AIM for their support and guidance throughout his study. Outside of study, Doron has had the pleasure of being involved in productions such as: Squabbalogic’s Mystery Musical (Ensemble member) and the role of African-American number 3 (self-proclaimed) in Packemin’s Production of Hairspray.
Birdie Productions – which debuted earlier this year with a sell-out hit production of Hot Shoe Shuffle starring Daryl Somers – has again assembled an all-star cast blazing with young talent. Director Jordy Shea says Keating! is a show that needs to be seen more than ever today. “At a time where politics is lacking panache, presentation and chutzpah, this show will transfer you straight back to when it had all those things! It’s the story of a man who believed and won over Australia.”
With Shea, musical director Philip Eames and choreographer Alex Lewtas at the helm, Keating! The Musical stars Andy Leonard as Paul Keating, Doron Chester as both Bob Hawke and John Howard, Jonathon Holmes as Alexander Downer and John Hewson, Sean Curran as Cheryl Kernot, Rick Woodhouse as Gareth Evans with Rebecca Morris, Alex Morgan and Claire Mitchell featuring in a range of hilarious ensemble roles.
KEATING! THE MUSICAL
Music and lyrics by Casey Bennetto
15-19 July Wed-Sat 8pm; Sat & Sun matinees 2pm
Venue: Bryan Brown Theatre, 80 Rickard Road, Bankstown
Tickets: $32 for all tickets including booking fee
Bookings www.birdieproductions.com.au and 9731 1620
Media: for more information, interviews, great images, artist details or review tickets, contact:
Geoff Sirmai, Sirmai Arts Marketing (02) 9345 0360 mob 0412 669 272 email: [email protected]
Birdie Productions is an independent production company which aims to bring quality productions and entertainment to Sydney audiences of all ages.
