Not Fade Away

October is indeed a time for the Brisbane theatre faithful to rejoice, as several sure-to-be-great productions open across the city...But only one of them is an exciting premiere of a piece that will really hit close to home: a brand new, contemporary Queensland work, written in Brisbane, and set in Brisbane. This is it - Not Fade Away. Daniel Coventry is in the final year of his Arts degree at the University of Queensland, majoring in Writing and Drama. His life is that of most university students; he has a job he doesn’t really enjoy, a housemate who parties with him, a girlfriend who tolerates him, a sister he hopes doesn’t end up like him, and a passion for writing that he uses to hide away from the harsh reality of life, and the choices he faces after graduation. He can see only two outcomes for his life: does he chase the dream, and find himself aged 50 with no savings, no house, nothing to show for it? Or does he settle for a steady, reliable job, provide for a family and turn around aged 50 to realise he had a talent for something and has missed his chance to do anything with it? He is in the middle of writing a play about his life; the everyday trials, tribulations, highs and lows of his existence are being transcribed and transformed into a tragic, comic, real-life echo. However, as Daniel nears final exams and graduation, his life begins to unravel. The ripples run deeo through his consciousness and start to affect his play - what was once an almost verbatim account of his experiences is beginning to become twisted and distorted, filled with odd encounters, musical interludes and nightmares come to life. Written by Brisbane actor Jeremy Wood (The Laramie Project, Bouncers, The Glass Menagerie), Not Fade Away is the third and final mainhouse show for 2008 for Underground Productions, the resident company of UQ, who this year are celebrating their 10th Anniversary - a true milestone for any Brisbane company, let alone one that is student-run. Come out and show your support not only for their efforts over the last decade, but also for an exciting new piece of contemporary Brisbane theatre; actually set in Brisbane, it chronicles a journey and internal struggle that anyone who has ever yearned to follow their dreams or a creative path will instantly recognise. Not Fade Away opens on Wednesday, October 1st at 7.30pm at the Cement Box Theatre, UQ St Lucia, and will run WED/THURS/FRI/SAT NIGHTS @ 7.30PM FROM THE 1ST UNTIL THE 18TH OF OCTOBER. BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL. Starring: Thomas Galloway, Toby Martin, Lizzie Gibney, Ashleigh Dwyer, Richard Doyle, Tom Whalley, Julianne Clinch and Lauren Ware.