Phillip Hinton

Alana Valentine blends the detail from the thousands of letters sent to Lindy Chamberlain with a reconstruction and re-imagination of events to deliver an insight into what life was like for one of Australia's most iconic figures following the disappearance of baby Azaria Chamberlain on August 17 1980.

Riverside Theatres will present Letters to Lindy, the latest work from award-winning playwright Alana Valentine (The Sugar House, Dead Man Brake, Parramatta Girls) from 12th to 14th July, as part of its national tour.

Following its critically acclaimed world premiere seasons in 2016, Merrigong Theatre Company is proud to announce the national tour of Letters to Lindy by award-winning playwright, Alana Valentine (Dead Man Brake, Head Full of Love, Parramatta Girls).

You could be guaranteed, no matter where you went or who you were with that at the time her disappearance went public, the circumstances around the death of baby Azaria Chamberlain was the topic of every conversation in Australia. Opinions polarised around the involvement of her mother, Lindy Chamberlain whom some believed to be the fame-hungry, cold-hearted murderer, others the victim of a tragic freak accident involving a dingo and the phrase that became famous the world over. Either way, scrutiny upon Lindy, who was given a life sentence before being released four years later upon the discovery of further evidence. Whilst living between nationwide roles of villain and victim, Lindy received upwards of 20,000 letters. Many years later, with Lindy remarried and living in America, Australian playwright Alana Valentine was granted the ability to write a play based on this mass of correspondence and Lindy's experience. Letters to Lindy is a remarkable, surprising and touching reflection not so much on Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton herself, but on the impassioned public who one way or another found her so easy to relate to.