“Bondi Dreaming” Bad decision? Bad Luck? Bad Person?
Friends and family gathered for the launch, including Christie Hayes and Beau Brady.

As a parent I was torn between joy and despair. Joy at the energy and imagination of the young men before me, played superbly by Toby Levins, Greg Hatton, and Danny Green. They had us laughing out loud and then rigid with silence as the horror of their situation became a reality.

Whatever your feelings are about the Bali Nine, I urge parents and adolescence to take the time to see this thought provoking production. My 17 year old son and I spoke about it all the way home and it affected us both deeply. He and ten friends are due to visit Bali in November.

Sadly we cannot take our freedom for granted anymore. To quote Sam Atwell “I hope “Bondi Dreaming” helps to continue to warn of the dangers of breaking foreign laws.”

Sam Atwell has written and directed this thought provoking, play providing an touching and emotional insight into male bonding and mateship, situated in an Indonesian jail.

"On 17th April 2005, nine fresh-faced young Australians flashed across our television screens. Pictures of their heroin-strapped bodies were on the front cover of every newspaper in the country. The images presenting themselves threw our populous into a moral dilemma. As a nation, we have been forced to come to a decision as to whether we agree with the death penalty and how we are going to cope if and when our fellow citizens are executed." Sam explained.

"Having grown up in Indonesia and returning many times I was greatly saddened by the actions of these nine people. However, I strongly appose the death penalty and was reduced to tears at seeing them fight for their lives.

'Bondi Dreaming' is a three-hander in two acts about three young Aussie blokes who have done the wrong thing and are about to pay the ultimate price. Not having much to look forward to the characters concentrate on imagining and role-playing elements of their lives. They explore their past and what may have been their future. Doing this serves as a form of escapism and a means for them to express emotions not normally associated with the darkness of a prison cell.

I hope 'Bondi Dreaming helps to continue to warn of the dangers of breaking foreign laws and reconnects people to the idea that no matter how heinous a crime the perpetrators are still human beings who make mistakes for many reasons. The death penalty not only takes away a single individual’s right to redemption but it takes, from those who witness it, the right to understand and forgive."

'Bondi Dreaming' is written and directed by Sam Atwell and stars Toby Levins, Greg Hatton and Danny Green. Josh Green will be performing the soundtrack 'live'.

Listen to the podcast with Sam after the launch.

Venue and Ticket information

Newtown Theatre, Cnr King Street and Bray Street, Newtown
Tuesday – Saturday 8pm
30th September – 25th October 2008
Tickets $30 Concession $25 from mca-tix.com

For more information go to www.myspace.com/actorsanon