A Fortunate Life
A NOTE FROM BREC’S CREATIVE LEARNING COORDINATOR
An innovative way of exploring Australian history. Actors perform in front of a cinema screen projecting historical footage of many Western Australian locations and events. A.B Facey’s life as a bushman, sportsman, railway ganger, and World War 1 soldier is brought to life by an exceptional cast.
FOR SCHOOL YEARS 4 – 12
TEACHER RESOURCES
An Education Kit will be provided including classroom ready Pre-Show and Post-Show activities.
CURRICULUM LINKS
History • Critical and creative thinking • Intercultural understanding • Ethical understanding
Geography • Economics and Business • Civics and Citizenship
A FORTUNATE LIFE
Resilience, fortitude, love… an ordinary man’s extraordinary life in 20th century Western Australia.
Albert Facey’s award-winning autobiography is an incredible true story of an ordinary man who lived his life with extraordinary courage, compassion, and resilience. He started work at eight years of age on the Western Australian frontier, survived poverty, abuse, World War I, the loss of his farm in the Depression, the death of his son in World War II, and his beloved wife of sixty years–yet still claimed, he’d had a fortunate life.
A.B. Facey’s novel has been adapted by Jenny Davis and Stuart Halusz specifically for a unique production that combines live performance and immersive audiovisual projections evoking the pioneering spirit of the bush, and the challenges and triumphs of country life through two world wars and their aftermath. This is a story that connects us with generations past and present through insights from Albert Facey’s experiences as a child, bushman, sportsman, railway ganger, a World War 1soldier, and a 20th-century family man. Technology and live theatre intersect, inviting audiences to become immersed in modern history and a powerful Australian story.
This play is not to be missed by Drama, History, and English students. It is an innovative look into our national past that has significant relevance to curriculum priorities and will add value to learning outcomes across multiple subject areas.
Credits
AUTHOR A.B. Facey
BOOK PUBLISHER Fremantle Press
SCRIPT WRITERS Jenny Davis and Stuart Halusz
DIRECTOR Stuart Halusz
CAST Michael Abercromby, Benj D’Addario, Rebecca Davis
AUDIOVISUAL DESIGNER Green Man Media
SOUND DESIGNER Ben Collins
COMPOSER Ron Siemiginowski
STAGE MANAGERS Hugo Aguilar Lopez, Aaron Stirk and Garry Ferguson
COSTUME MAKER Elvie Haluszkiewicz
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Rebecca Davis
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Michelle Fornasier
THEME SONG COMPOSER Craig Skelton
THEME SONG RECORDING Chris Gibbs, Courtney Murphy, Craig Skelton, Daniel Skelton
PUBLICIST Ali Welburn, Limelight, Consulting
EDUCATION RESOURCE MATERIAL Donna Hughes
EDUCATION RESOURCE DESIGN Madison Gracie
PHOTOGRAPHER Stewart Thorpe Photography
Produced in association with CinemaStage
ENQUIRIES & BOOKINGS
To book your school group please book online or download the Creative Learning program and email it to the BREC Education Office.
BREC Education Office
T: 1300 661 272
E: education@bunburyentertainment.com
* Please note that BREC’s Creative Learning Program is subject to change.
Download the Creative Learning Program
BREC Creative Learning Online Booking Form
REVIEWS
The occasional giggle, gasp, ooh and ahh and tear that escaped from each of us throughout the performance – and from many other audience members, I am sure – proved that this piece of innovative theatre is a true piece of artistic gold for anyone of any age…
Ashleigh Fielding, Great Southern Weekender
This is a story that anyone who calls Australia home will enjoy. In a time where there seems to be a global shortage of hope, this message needs to be told. There is always hope to be found if we choose to believe we live a fortunate life.
Jemma Kuchel, X-Press Magazine
…Performed in front of the massive screen of Rockingham’s Ace Cinemas, the live action and breathtaking audio-visual backdrops produced by Albany’s Green Man Media vividly capture the stories and landscapes of early-twentieth century Western Australia and the tribulations of a little boy, tiny in its vastness and harshness.
David Zampatti, Seesaw Magazine
…A Fortunate Life is an experience like no other – housed in regional and semi-regional cinemas across Western Australia, the show is a unique intertwining of the best elements of theatre, film, music, and immersion.
Laura Money, Fourth Wall Media