Dubbomania musical a love letter to rural wrestling
THE word “Dubbo” is well and truly stamped in the name of a new musical that premiered in Sydney this month.
“Dubbo Championship Wrestling” went into round one on May 13 when the first performance of Daniel and James Cullen’s original Aussie rock musical premiered at the well-known Hayes Theatre.
Dubbo Championship Wrestling is the “brainchild” of writer Daniel Cullen, who drew from his obsession with both musical theatre and world wrestling while growing up on Sydney’s northern beaches.
The actors, including Zoe Iannoy, Genevieve Lemon, Luke Leong-tay, Noni Mccallum, Terry Serio, Justin Smith, Aaron Tsindos and Bishanyia Vincent, rehearsed for three weeks before the big debut, learning how to wrestle while they sing, act and dance.
“At the end of the third week of rehearsals I was on the floor laughing on a daily basis,” said co-writer Daniel Cullen.
“(Director Sheridan Harbridge has) assembled a crack team of actors who are elevating the jokes and finding laughs we didn’t even know were there.
“I wrote what I wanted to see: a big-hearted, foul-mouthed, p**s-funny musical set in smalltown Australia.
“To me it’s about rediscovering things you thought you’d outgrown – hometowns, hobbies, heroes – packaged in a greased-up romp.”
Dubbo Championship Wrestling has been in development for several years under the helm of Mr Harbridge.
“It’s been a monumental effort from everyone involved in Dubbo Championship Wrestling,” Mr Harbridge said.
“Dubbo Championship Wrestling is a home-grown musical comedy in the tradition of The Castle and Muriel’s Wedding – simple folk with big hearts and big dreams, but now, with big songs and gargantuan smack down fights.
“(Daniel) has married his true loves, musicals and wrestling, into a hilarious but loving portrait of country town Australia.
“We can’t wait to show you the heroes and villains of Dubbo, and its rag tag, all singing, all smashing amateur wrestling troupe.
“We can’t wait to show everyone this raucous and joyful new rock musical.”
During 2020, the Dubbo Championship Wrestling music team, musical supervisor and co-arranger Joe Accaria and musical director Glenn Moorhouse, assembled an inspired group of established pop, country and musical theatre singers to record a Studio Concept Album.
“A few decades ago, there was a great tradition of concept and studio albums for new musicals in order to get the music out there,” Mr Accaria said.
“We are bringing it back with this great music by recording a few songs from the musical with a slight tilt on the arrangements recorded by some of the best voices in the business.
“We recorded vocalists and musicians during the first lock down across three states and we can’t wait for people to hear these great songs from an exciting new Australian musical to rock living rooms and theatres in synchronicity.”
Hayes general manager Will Harvey said the play is arriving after four years in development and two postponed seasons in 2020 and 2021.
“Dubbo Championship Wrestling is the musical that refused to say die, dragging itself to the ring for championship night and the glory of the spotlight,” he said.
“We’re thrilled to finally welcome audiences to Daniel Cullen’s hilarious new rock musical. “After months of fear and uncertainty, this is the show that’s going to bring audiences back to the theatre, and give them the night out they deserve.”