New musical theatre work Driftwood – The Musical will be presented May 13-14 at the Alexander Theatre, Monash University and May 18 – 28 at Chapel Off Chapel in Prahran.
Driftwood – the Musical tells the story of renowned Austrian-Australian sculptor Karl Duldig and his artist/inventor wife, Slawa Horowitz-Duldig, based on Eva de Jong-Duldig’s critically acclaimed memoir.
Adapted for stage by award-winning playwright Jane Bodie and directed by Wesley Enoch, with musical direction and original music composition by Anthony Barnhill, the musical follows Karl and Slawa’s romantic and artistic lives in pre-war Vienna, Slawa’s ingenious invention of the foldable umbrella and their miraculous escape from the Holocaust to living out their lives as artists in Melbourne.
“Driftwood is a show not of our time but for our time. History has so many lessons to teach us and, as we start to recover from a once-in-a-century pandemic, we are reminded of our resilience and the collective power of the human condition,” says Enoch.
“Through historic narratives we can demonstrate to the future known ways forward, vocabularies of change and the human instinct to tell stories that unite us. Karl and Slawa’s story is a deeply moving and compelling one. With the power of music and the human voice we are very excited to bring this gripping drama to stage,” says Enoch.
Karl Duldig and Slawa Horowitz-Duldig’s granddaughter, soprano Tania de Jong performs the lead role of Slawa.
“The work poignantly explores the loss that families encounter when they are dislocated by war, whilst illuminating an immigrant experience that is uniquely Australian,” says de Jong.
“I am so inspired to be playing the role of my extraordinarily creative grandmother who invented the foldable umbrella
Actor and singer, Anton Berezin who recently performed with Opera Australia in Evita and whose theatre credits include Sweeney Todd, Wicked, The Producers, Side Show Alley, How To Succeed in Business plays the male lead role of Karl. Playing Slawa’s sister Rella is jazz songstress and musical theatre actor Fem Belling (The Boy From Oz, Hairspray and Fame).
Sara Reed whose musical theatre credits include Billy Elliot: The Musical, Jane Banks in Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins and Bielke in Fiddler on the Roof opposite Anthony Warlow plays Eva, whilst Troy Sussman (Aladdin, Les Miserables Australian and West End productions) plays multiple roles, rounding out the all-Jewish cast.
Season Details:
May 13 – 14 at Alexander Theatre, Monash University, Fri 1pm and 7.30pm; Sat 2pm and May 18 – 28 at Chapel Off Chapel in Prahran, Tue – Sun at 7.30pm, Wed and Thu 1pm, Sat and Sun 2pm
Tickets: Standard $59, Conc $49, School Students and Teachers $29
Bookings: Monash and Chapel Off Chapel
Duration: Two hours incl. interval
Recommended for ages 12+
Information: www.driftwoodthemusical.
com.au

• Cheryl Threadgold