Riverside Theatres to Preset THE ONE DAY OF THE YEAR, 24-28 March

On the 100 year anniversary of the Gallipoli landing, Riverside Theatres presents Christine Harris and HIT Productions' fresh take on the Australian classic The One Day of the Year. Originally banned, this controversial and thought-provoking 1960s production by Alan Seymour is brought back to the stage at Riverside Theatres from 24 to 28 March 2015.

The One Day of the Year questions the meaning of Anzac Day. For war veterans like Alf Cook and his friend Wacka Dawson, it is a day to commemorate history, celebrate heroism and conjure pride. But for Alf's son Hughie, Anzac Daybrings a different reality, one that brings the dignity of Australian diggers to its knees and into the gutter via one too many down to the pub.

Sparking huge controversy on its release, the play's first ever production had a policeman stationed at the stage door to ward off the angry public and death threats were issued to the author. The play's controversial past gives insight into Australian history and promotes great discussion.

Directed by Denis Moore, the production features a stellar cast including Peter Hardy (The Boy from Oz) as Alf, Christine Keogh (The Kitchen Sink) as Dot, Don Bridges (TV's Neighbours) as Wacka, Luke Clayson (TV's The Broken Shore) as Hugie, and Olivia Solomons (Inside the Masterpiece) as Jan.

Director Denis Moore said, "For the first time on the Australian stage, Seymour's play had the courage to cast a searching eye over one of the nation's sacred symbolic days, Anzac Day, and to examine, with honesty tempered by compassion, the rifts that open up between family members, generations and classes as a result of this veneration."

The One Day of the Year is the first of three shows at Riverside Theatres in 2015 to commemorate the ANZAC Centenary. The production looks at national legend through the eyes of generation, class and character. A challenging and poignant work, it holds as much significance today as it did more than 50 years ago.

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