Essendon Champions from Thurgood to Hird

14/05/2023

Saw the fantastic Essendon Champions from Thurgood to Hird at Chapel of Chapel and met one of the stars Alec Gilbert.

The production shows the history of Essendon through some our biggest moments and controversies and is written by playwright & former MP Neil Cole.

Go Bombers!

11/05/2023

"Get to the performance and read the Programme which will be a piece of Essendon Collectable Memorabilia in itself" - Tricia Ziemer, Weekend Notes.

07/05/2023

"And as for the creative genius, Writer & Producer Neil Cole is an award-winning playwright with 33 plays gracing stages across Australia. And he has kicked another goal here." - Tricia Ziemer, Weekend Notes.

Art imitates life in this rare theatre performance celebrating 150 years of Essendon Football and its players, coaches, fan, wins losses, scandals and resilience with Simon Madden Presenting who was in the audience.

07/05/2023

Know what today is?

It's the last chance you have to see 'Essendon Champions | From Thurgood to Hird at Chapel off Chapel! A Simon Madden presentation by Neil Cole.

"A stellar cast of four dynamic actors carry this whimsical story swiftly along while kicking witty goals. This year the club celebrates 150 years strong, and this play does it with creative genius in a rare event." - Tricia Ziemer, Weekend Notes.

"Under the direction of Alicia Ben-Lawler, Neil Cole’s play, Essendon Champions. cleverly takes us to the awe-inspiring skills of past greats Albert Thurgood, Dick Reynolds, and John Coleman." - Maggie Morrison, Melbourne Observer.

"Essendon Champions is a fun-loving, heart-felt romp. It is a trip down memory lane that carries with it the hopes and dreams of future success to build on an at times troubled history. Neil Cole is a fine storyteller (his language is relatable) who manages to weave passion for the game and club into a 70-minute potted package." - Alex First, The Blurb.

Massive thanks to Simon Madden and Neil Cole and Chapel off Chapel off Chapel for this fabulous presentation.

To the audience that came on down to support, thank you! The cast and creatives are truly grateful that you came to see our show!

Today is the last chance! Head to Halftix or the Chapel off Chapel website and grab yourself some tix before it's too late!

Featuring Alec Gilbert, Nicola Pohl, Melanie Madrigali and Matthew Richard Walsh.
Costumes by Romy Sweetnam
Graphic Design and Set by Sarah Yeung
Directed by Alicia Benn-Lawler

📸 Josh Lee📸

Publicity by Cracked Actors Theatre - CAT

07/05/2023

"Melanie Madrigali and Matthew Richard Walsh... fill their roles admirably." - Alex First, The Blurb.

Know what today is?

It's the last chance you have to see 'Essendon Champions | From Thurgood to Hird at Chapel off Chapel! A Simon Madden presentation by Neil Cole, Playwright .

Also your last chance to meet Billy & Sharon!

Featuring Alec Gilbert, Nicola Pohl, Melanie Madrigali and Matthew Richard Walsh.
Costumes by Romy Sweetnam
Graphic Design and Set by Sarah Yeung
Directed by Alicia Benn-Lawler
Bookings at Chapel Off Chapel

📸 Josh Lee📸

Publicity by Cracked Actors Theatre - CAT

06/05/2023

"The Bomber fans are played by Melanie Madrigali, (fans, interviewer) and Matthew Richard Walsh (fan, coach, player). Their hilarities as footy fans stole the show for me. They took us there to the edge of the footy grounds and the height of premier excitement and despair of premier loss" - Tricia Ziemer, Weekend Notes.

Last Chance this weekend!

Bookings at Chapel off Chapel

Featuring Alec Gilbert, Nicola Pohl, Melanie Madrigali and Matthew Richard Walsh.
Costumes by Romy Sweetnam
Graphic Design and Set by Sarah Yeung
Directed by Alicia Benn-Lawler

📸 Josh Lee📸

Publicity by Cracked Actors Theatre - CAT

06/05/2023

Another great review for Essendon Champions from Thurgood to Hird by Maggie Morrison from Melbourne Observer!

Essendon Champions - review by Maggie Moorrison

Combine a marvellous Melbourne theatre with a crowd of footy followers and something must be going on!

Absolutely right, it is. It’s Essendon Football Club’s 150th anniversary play, Essendon Champions – from Thurgood to Hird.
At Chapel off Chapel, celebrating with us, opening up his heart about the majestic, unforgettable Bomber premierships, but also prodded into prizing open shadows of scandal is Des Lane, (Alec Gilbert) the ubiquitous fan with his heart endlessly carried on his sleeve. But up and definitely coming young reporter Mary Corrigan (Nicola Pohl) is determined to get her scoop, and prise open that overfilled box of heart wrenching despair and disbelief that goes with being a full blooded supporter of one of the great old teams of Australian Rules.

Under the direction of Alicia Ben-Lawler, Neil Cole’s play, Essendon Champions. cleverly takes us to the awe-inspiring skills of past greats Albert Thurgood, Dick Reynolds, and John Coleman. Cliches abound as Des expounds on who could “arguably” be considered the best ever, and who was “arguably” unfairly targeted by umpires, fans and players alike.

Highly energetic performances from Melanie Madrigali and Matthew Richard -Walsh really raise the roof from their “stands” on stage – the scarves and beanies get a good workout! Coleman is nobbled. What does it take for a coach to win that Grand Final!
From the dark despair of the unexpected loss of 1902 and other notables that got away, to the start of Sheedy’s successful transition of style and self belief, and then the shattering of player spirits and numbness of hero James HIrd’s fall from grace, we’re taken on a roller coaster of emotions. That journalist just couldn’t remember to talk “supplements,” “not drugs”. Des Lane put up a memorable defence ...

Run with the ball on the highs and lows of this fascinating potted history at Chapel Off Chapel until May 7, Wed to Sat at 8.00pm, Sunday 5.00pm.

Tickets $42 - $49 Duration 70 mins. Bookings: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au

06/05/2023

"Matthew Richard Walsh.. morphs into Thurgood, John Coleman, Des Tuddenham and Sheedy." - Alex First, The Blurb.

Last shows - Book at Chapel Off Chapel

Featuring Alec Gilbert, Nicola Pohl, Melanie Madrigali and Matthew Richard Walsh.
Costumes by Romy Sweetnam
Graphic Design and Set by Sarah Yeung
Directed by Alicia Benn-Lawler

📸 Josh Lee📸

Publicity by Cracked Actors Theatre - CAT

06/05/2023

"High marks to Romy Sweetnam on costumes, that established and suited the era perfectly" - Tricia Ziemer, Weekend Notes.

Featuring Alec Gilbert, Nicola Pohl, Melanie Madrigali and Matthew Richard Walsh.
Costumes by Romy Sweetnam
Graphic Design and Set by Sarah Yeung
Directed by Alicia Benn-Lawler
Bookings at Chapel Off Chapel

📸 Josh Lee📸

Publicity by Cracked Actors Theatre - CAT

06/05/2023

The audience loved it! Two more shows till we close on Sunday. Don't miss Essendon Champions from Thurgood to Hird at Chapel Off Chapel. Get you tickets now.

06/05/2023

Neil Cole is the writer & producer of the play 'Essendon Champions from Thurgood to Hird' which has been on since April 26 at Chapel off Chapel, where he recently had a hit show 'Shawry' about the life of Collingwood champion Tony Shaw. The show is is a Simon Madden presentation directed by Alicia Benn-Lawler.

The critics have unanimously praised Neil's writing in this show.

"Essendon Champions is a fun-loving, heart-felt romp. It is a trip down memory lane that carries with it the hopes and dreams of future success to build on an at times troubled history. Neil Cole is a fine storyteller (his language is relatable) who manages to weave passion for the game and club into a 70-minute potted package" - Alex First, The Blurb.

"Essendon Champions. cleverly takes us to the awe-inspiring skills of past greats Albert Thurgood, Dick Reynolds, and John Coleman" - Maggie Morrison, The Local Paper/Melbourne Observer.

"A stellar cast of four dynamic actors carry this whimsical story swiftly along while kicking witty goals. This year the club celebrates 150 years strong, and this play does it with creative genius in a rare event." - Tricia Ziemer, Weekend Notes.

Neil is an award-winning playwright and has had 33 plays produced in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Chicago. These include Alive at Williamstown Pier, The Campaign, Personality Games, The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, Nina Simone Black Diva Power, An Evening With Billy Holiday, Groucho, The Broken Streamer and Songs From The Kop. Shawry.

He won the Griffin Theatre Award for the best new writing for theatre in 1999 and was short listed for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award in 2001. He won the Supreme Court of Victoria Aspire Award in 2017.

Neil is a public advocate on mental illness and has spoken extensively in Australia and overseas. He was the first politician to admit to having a mental illness namely bipolar mood disorder.

He has written two books “Colonel Surry’s Insanity” and his memoir “Stability in Mind” Neil was a lawyer and he set up the Flemington and Kensington Community Legal Service he was also a Member of the State Parliament of Victoria for 11 years.
Finals shows tonight and tomorrow afternoon! Photo by Sarah Yeung.

Publicity by Cracked Actors Theatre - CAT