Advertisement
ABOUT THE SHOW:Wendy's final play, That Christmas in '75 is set in the working-class suburb of Unanderra during the hot summer of 1975, the play follows Thelma Anderson and her family as they prepare for Christmas against a backdrop of political upheaval and neighbourhood dramas. The Andersons, living in Housing Commission fibro cottages, are surrounded by migrant families – the Websters, the Papadopolouses, and the Rosettis – whose lives and secrets comically intertwine with their own.
As Gough Whitlam’s dismissal plays out on the radio, Thelma frets over lost budgerigars, her son Steve hides from responsibility in his backyard shed, and Dawn struggles to keep her family and Christmas preparations together. Meanwhile, mysterious bundles of chicken wire sculptures, secret dowries, and backyard gossip fuel a web of misunderstandings, alliances, and comic tensions among the neighbours.
Blending politics with the personal, That Christmas of ’75 is both a nostalgic snapshot of Australian suburban life and a warm-hearted, humorous look at resilience, class, and community spirit during a time of national uncertainty.
CHARACTERS:
Thelma Anderson - Nearly eighty, sharp-witted and outspoken, Thelma is the matriarch who observes life in Unanderra with humour and nostalgia. She’s tough, practical, and unafraid to meddle in her neighbours’ affairs.
Steve Anderson - Thelma’s son, a working-class man who hides in his shed with home brew and politics. He is passionate about Whitlam and the Labor Party, but often careless and comically exasperating.
Dawn Anderson - Steve’s wife, practical, hardworking and weary of domestic drudgery. She dreams of more from life than factory work and family chaos, but stays grounded in humour and resilience.
Elizabeth Webster - A polite but anxious neighbour, married to George. She fusses with domestic routines, tries to be helpful, and nervously keeps secrets she can barely manage.
George Webster - Elizabeth’s husband, proud of his poultry breeding and full of self-importance. Conservative, pompous, and opinionated, he often clashes with Steve and hides projects from his wife.
Roula Papadopolous - Elderly, eccentric, and mostly speaking Greek, she wanders unpredictably, causing worry for her family. Both comic and poignant as an old-world presence in a new land.
Stamatina Papadopolous - Roula’s daughter-in-law, hardworking and strong. She juggles family, factory work, and tradition, dreaming of better opportunities for her daughters while dealing with her husband’s stubborn pride.
Enrico Rosetti - The neighbour from Italy, loud, passionate, and forever constructing grand projects from concrete and chicken wire. He is both admired and ridiculed for his eccentric artistry and devotion to Maria.
REHEARSALS:
7:30PM-10:30PM Tuesdays & Thursdays at The Phoenix Theatre
PRODUCTION DATES:
8:00PM-10:00PM Friday 14th November 2025
8:00PM-10:00PM Saturday 15th November 2025
2:30PM-4:30PM Sunday November 2025
8:00PM-10:00PM Wednesday 19th November 2025
8:00PM-10:00PM Friday 21st November 2025
8:00PM-10:00PM Saturday 22nd November 2025
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Co-Directors/Mise-en-Scenes: Steen & Nick Kilpatrick
Advertisement
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Dharawal Country, 24 Bridge Street, Coniston, NSW, Australia, New South Wales 2500, 24 Bridge St, Coniston NSW 2500, Australia, Wollongong
