Damian Callinan
Spoons
Damian Callinan returns to the character narrative genre that has earnt him three nominations for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show. Renowned for this prolific output of live festival and touring shows, he is best known in recent times as the creator and lead of the hit movie The Merger (Amazon Prime), an adaptation of his own solo, character show of the same name. More recently he has been gracing our screens as Frank, the floor manager in The Newsreader (ABC TV) and as the lead, Major Meredith. in the cult hit film The Emu War (Hot Dad Productions).
On stage, his acclaimed show Double Feature, where he pitched how his mother’s 1946 diary would play out as a 40’s Hollywood romance, won hearts and a Best Comedy Award at Perth FRINGE WORLD. He’s also been touring the nation with Hall Stories, a community engagement project extracting local stories mixed with his own, to present a loving tribute to the ubiquitous Australian hall. Here, Damian returns to the storytelling roots that he has been honing as the regular host of ‘Stranger than Fiction’ storytelling night at Comedy Republic.
Recently widowed, Stan Coates (84), has been told he needs to move into a senior living facility, but he’s not having it. Sharp as a tack, but prone to falls brought on by orthostatic hypotension, he’s taken to wearing a bike helmet and knee pads to obviate the dangers at home. He eventually agrees to the move, but when he learns that he can’t bring his wife’s souvenir teaspoon collection, the deal is off. When his grandson starts filming his hilarious and heart wrenching riffs on the spoons and his scathing reviews of the homes that he’s toured, the clips go viral, and Stan becomes an unlikely poster boy for elder’s rights and aged care reform.
Mixing Damian’s precise and relatable characterisations with hilarious monologues and moments of profound pathos, Spoons is a thoughtful examination of what it's like for those who suddenly realise they are part of the fading generation. Laced with sentimentality, black humour and championing of the underdog, you’ll find yourself cheering for Stan and his mates as they keep their dignity as they walk out the door.
‘One of Australia’s best character comedians.’ Herald Sun
‘The Merger is the kind of theatre that makes my life as a theatre-goer worth living. It is a well-crafted play, hilarious and gutsy, charming and dangerous, provocative and subversive. Callinan is a fine playwright and storyteller, and a skilful actor of great depth and complexity.’ ArtsHub
‘Some performances move you with such force they’re in your thoughts well after the theatre lights dim and you’ve left the venue. This is one of them. We laughed, we gasped and wiped tears from our eyes. Memorable, moving, brilliant.’ Adelaide Advertiser
Suitable for audiences 15+
Death and grief
Damian Callinan returns to the character narrative genre that has earnt him three nominations for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show. Renowned for this prolific output of live festival and touring shows, he is best known in recent times as the creator and lead of the hit movie The Merger (Amazon Prime), an adaptation of his own solo, character show of the same name. More recently he has been gracing our screens as Frank, the floor manager in The Newsreader (ABC TV) and as the lead, Major Meredith. in the cult hit film The Emu War (Hot Dad Productions).
On stage, his acclaimed show Double Feature, where he pitched how his mother’s 1946 diary would play out as a 40’s Hollywood romance, won hearts and a Best Comedy Award at Perth FRINGE WORLD. He’s also been touring the nation with Hall Stories, a community engagement project extracting local stories mixed with his own, to present a loving tribute to the ubiquitous Australian hall. Here, Damian returns to the storytelling roots that he has been honing as the regular host of ‘Stranger than Fiction’ storytelling night at Comedy Republic.
Recently widowed, Stan Coates (84), has been told he needs to move into a senior living facility, but he’s not having it. Sharp as a tack, but prone to falls brought on by orthostatic hypotension, he’s taken to wearing a bike helmet and knee pads to obviate the dangers at home. He eventually agrees to the move, but when he learns that he can’t bring his wife’s souvenir teaspoon collection, the deal is off. When his grandson starts filming his hilarious and heart wrenching riffs on the spoons and his scathing reviews of the homes that he’s toured, the clips go viral, and Stan becomes an unlikely poster boy for elder’s rights and aged care reform.
Mixing Damian’s precise and relatable characterisations with hilarious monologues and moments of profound pathos, Spoons is a thoughtful examination of what it's like for those who suddenly realise they are part of the fading generation. Laced with sentimentality, black humour and championing of the underdog, you’ll find yourself cheering for Stan and his mates as they keep their dignity as they walk out the door.
‘One of Australia’s best character comedians.’ Herald Sun
‘The Merger is the kind of theatre that makes my life as a theatre-goer worth living. It is a well-crafted play, hilarious and gutsy, charming and dangerous, provocative and subversive. Callinan is a fine playwright and storyteller, and a skilful actor of great depth and complexity.’ ArtsHub
‘Some performances move you with such force they’re in your thoughts well after the theatre lights dim and you’ve left the venue. This is one of them. We laughed, we gasped and wiped tears from our eyes. Memorable, moving, brilliant.’ Adelaide Advertiser
Suitable for audiences 15+
Death and grief