The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race
A funny, honest and heart-warming story featuring five fabulous women
An Ensemble Theatre Production
Written by Melanie Tait
Directed by Priscilla Jackman
Appleton is a small country town being forced into the present with a recent influx of wealthy city slickers, treechangers and refugees. Simmering tensions come to a head when new GP Penny Anderson discovers that the famous Appleton Potato Race awards $1000 prize money to men, and a measly $200 to women. When Penny decides to take steps to restore gender parity and coax Appleton into the 21st century, little could she have anticipated the spiralling, hilarious culture war that would follow.
Inspired by real life events and featuring a cast of five fabulous women, The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race is a funny, honest and heart-warming story about upsetting the potato cart and standing up for your principles.
Suitable for ages 14+
Cast & Creatives
Melanie Tait / Playwright
Priscilla Jackman / Director
Felicity Nicol / Assistant Director
Jane Fitzgerald & Priscilla Jackman / Dramaturgs
Michael Scott-Mitchell / Set Designer
Genevieve Graham / Costume Designer
Karen Norris / Lighting Designer
Tegan Nicholls / Composer & Sound Designer
Margaret Gill / Costume Supervisor
Fayssal Bazzi / Dialect Coach
Lauren Tulloh / Stage Manager
Tim Burns / Touring Production Manager
Matt Cox / Tour Lighting Realiser
Mary Rapp / Tour Sound Realiser
Valerie Bader / Cast
Merridy Eastman / Cast
Sapidah Kian / Cast
Amber McMahon / Cast
Sharon Millerchip / Cast
★★★★ "Playwright Melanie Tait has written a shrewd, big-hearted love letter to the women of country New South Wales... it’s near-impossible to resist being charmed."
Time Out
This production is proudly supported by Jenny and Guy Reynolds AO.
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