Play-Come-Rock-Concert to Revive 1970s Brisbane Punk Scene at Northcote Town Hall, Sept 30-Oct 5

Direct from the Brisbane Festival, Elbow Room's tribute to the punk rock heyday of Brisbane, Prehistoric, comes to Northcote Town Hall from Tuesday 30 September - Sunday 5 October, 2014. Whisking audiences back to the police clashes and underground music scene of the Bjelke-Petersen era, Prehistoric is a play-come-rock-concert not to be missed!

Under the fundamentalist premiership of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who reigned in Queensland for two decades from 1968-1987, Brisbane was widely considered as Australia's cultural backwater and is marked by an era of hard-hitting conservatism, police brutality and corruption. However, amidst the tense political climate, Brisbane's music scene in the 1960s and 70s flourished and gave a voice to rebellion, inspired by the likes of Britain's The Sex Pistols and The Stooges.

The show follows four young people as they form a punk rock band and discover the thrills and life lessons of self-expression under a corrupt and intolerant government. A music-infused play by Marcel Dorney and produced by Elbow Room, Prehistoric will evoke the drama and passion from this notorious chapter in Queensland's history.

Featuring Brisbane actors Kathryn Marquet and Anthony Standish and original music by Elbow Room, Prehistoric will transport audiences to the heart of "Pig City" (as Brisbane was dubbed) with dark ironic humour, the grunge and grit of 1970s Queensland.

Presented as part of Speakeasy's Melbourne Fringe Festival season, Northcote Town Hall will be transformed into a satellite Northside festival hub with a mini-season of 5 award-winning and Melbourne premiere productions. Presenting a cross-section of contemporary dance, side-splitting comedy and a rock n' roll concert like no other, Melbourne's Fringe Festival will come to life in this one-stop-shop for all art-lovers from Wednesday 17 September - Sunday 5 October, 2014.

Darebin Arts' Speakeasy program of independent theatre is the home of cutting-edge performing arts north of the Yarra. Presenting a year-round program of new, exciting and dangerous theatre productions from around Australia, Speakeasy seeks to enliven the greater Melbourne area with world-class art and performances.

Prehistoric
Presented by Darebin Arts' Speakeasy and Elbow Room
9pm, Tuesday 30 September - Saturday 4 October, 2014
8pm, Sunday 5 October, 2014
Opening Night: 9pm, Wednesday 1 October, 2014
Northcote Town Hall, Studio 2Tickets from $21

Brisbane Festival dates: Tuesday 23 - Saturday 27 September, 2014. For more information visit brisbanefestival.com.au.

For tickets and more information darebinarts.com.au/speakeasy or call 03 9481 9500.

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