On Our Selection

Steele Rudd’s classic Dad and Dave short stories are coming in the stage production 'On Our Selection'.

Presented by ARENAarts and directed by Peter Nettleton, the play was originally published in 1912 and has been described as Australia’s only successful folk comedy, performed hundreds of times in numerous countries.

"It’s told from the viewpoint of the original Aussie battlers—a family of pioneer subsistence farmers, their friends and acquaintances," Nettleton said.

"The play has a winning combination of theatrical ingredients, including life and death struggles, love triangles and political crusades.

"The main challenge is having a large cast of actors with varying levels of experience.

"There are also some very quick action sequences, a lot of scene changes and plenty of goings-on."

First performing with KADS and Darlington Theatres in the 1980s, Nettleton set up the comedy cabaret troupe ACME Theatre Co before working with Melville and Harbour Theatres as a director. He returned to acting with the Graduate Dramatic Society and Blue Room and Garrick Theatres.

Nettleton was named best director at the 2013 Hills Festival of Theatre and Dramafest for his production of The Bald Prima Donna and, more recently, directed No Strings Attached at KADS Theatre.

"I first read Steele Rudd’s short stories as a schoolboy," he said. "My mother’s forebears were subsistence farmers on Queensland’s Darling Downs, the setting for Rudd’s stories.

"I identified with the fighting spirit and recognised the dry sense of humour—and I also loved the movies and spin-off radio serial."