VENUES, PRESENTERS AND INDUSTRY FEEDBACK
“Driftwood The Musical was one of the most successful new Australian works we have ever seen here at Chapel in our 27 year history. Houses were full and audiences were absolutely thrilled and heartened to see an original story so beautifully portrayed. An outstanding creative team including national talents Anthony Barnhill, Tania de Jong and Gary Abrahams brought this extraordinary true story of renowned Stonnington local Eva de Jong-Duldig to life. Driftwood is living proof that our audiences have a large appetite for new, original, Australian music theatre.”
Cate Crowley, Chapel Off Chapel
“Quite meta in its execution, this is a show prepared to take risks and challenge theatrical conventions.”
Theatre People
“It is rare to see a new Australian musical as good as ‘Driftwood The Musical’. I was lucky to see it at Sydney’s Eternity Playhouse. As lead actor and producer of this premiere production, Tania de Jong embodies all the attributes of her grandmother, Slava Horowitz-Duldig – resolute, imaginative, passionate and committed to making a difference to people’s lives in the telling of this moving, sophisticated and entertaining chamber musical. The creative team excels in every department. The music is attractive, inventive and performed live, while the talented cast deliver the songs with vocal strength and dexterity. Design sets the period perfectly and the projections illuminate this indelible family story before, during and after World War II. It reveals Jewish heritage and celebrates everything from the invention of the foldable umbrella to tennis champions. In summary, ‘Driftwood The Musical’ is an engaging night in the theatre that tells a wonderful and inspirational story of creativity, resilience and perseverance. Easily accommodated in larger and smaller theatres, it is the perfect show for future metropolitan and regional touring. Audiences will love it!”
Robert Love, Performing Arts Specialist at Love Stages and Former Director Riverside Theatres Parramatta
“Driftwood The Musical was one of the most successful new Australian works we have ever seen here at Chapel in our 27 year history. Houses were full and audiences were absolutely thrilled and heartened to see an original story so beautifully portrayed. An outstanding creative team including national talents Anthony Barnhill, Tania de Jong and Gary Abrahams brought this extraordinary true story of renowned Stonnington local Eva de Jong-Duldig to life. Driftwood is living proof that our audiences have a large appetite for new, original, Australian music theatre.”
Cate Crowley, Chapel Off Chapel
“It is rare to see a new Australian musical as good as ‘Driftwood The Musical’. I was lucky to see it at Sydney’s Eternity Playhouse. As lead actor and producer of this premiere production, Tania de Jong embodies all the attributes of her grandmother, Slava Horowitz-Duldig – resolute, imaginative, passionate and committed to making a difference to people’s lives in the telling of this moving, sophisticated and entertaining chamber musical. The creative team excels in every department. The music is attractive, inventive and performed live, while the talented cast deliver the songs with vocal strength and dexterity. Design sets the period perfectly and the projections illuminate this indelible family story before, during and after World War II. It reveals Jewish heritage and celebrates everything from the invention of the foldable umbrella to tennis champions. In summary, ‘Driftwood The Musical’ is an engaging night in the theatre that tells a wonderful and inspirational story of creativity, resilience and perseverance. Easily accommodated in larger and smaller theatres, it is the perfect show for future metropolitan and regional touring. Audiences will love it!”
Robert Love, Performing Arts Specialist at Love Stages and Former Director Riverside Theatres Parramatta
“Our identity is defined by the breadth of cultures that make up our nation and it is vital our stages are places where diverse stories can be shared. With so many migrant stories framed by hardship and hope, the universal themes in this new Australian work of courage, sacrifice, generational secrets, and the power of family connected deeply and directly with many members of our community.”
Belinda Gibson, Glen Street Theatre
“The production of Driftwood was an incredible story brought to the stage as a wonderful new Australian Musical, portraying this incredible story of the hardship experienced by so many in our past history and one of great inspiration. The cast and musicians were outstanding as this true event unfolded on hardship, survival and success live on stage. Congratulations to all the creatives, cast and crew, on a thoroughly moving experience of live theatre.”
Brendan Maher, Albury Entertainment Centre
“As an audience member, I thoroughly enjoyed Driftwood and was so pleased to see a new Australian musical take the stage. I believe that the stories of migration for Australian history are so important and it was wonderful to see these stories played out with the humour, brevity and the compassion they deserve. Personally, as a child of migrants, I was touched by the honesty of their stories and I was brought into their world with music and care. The production is such an important story to be told, and I look forward to hearing of its future successes across Australia.”
Heidi Irvine, Frankston Arts Centre
“We attended a performance of the wonderful new show Driftwood in Sydney last week. The show is quite extraordinary in every way and the story is riveting and quite breathtaking. The incredible journey of the Duldig family is both harrowing and uplifting at the same time. The cast is exemplary and both the score and libretto are extremely memorable. Driftwood deserves a long and successful journey to be seen and heard by everyone.”
Peter Coleman-Wright AO & Cheryl Barker AO
“Such a profound joy to see this wonderful, heartfelt work yesterday. In an age where the popular musical seems to be based on a Disney animation or shall I kindly say, a more light-weight style of work; Driftwood The Musical encapsulated the essence of why I want to go to the theatre and see a live work that lives in front of me. There I was sitting in the very last row of the theatre (which could have been a struggle re relating to any work I was viewing) and yet this great piece evolved right in front of me. There is such a universal power when you’re watching and engaged in a true story, one that was played so vividly, truthfully and poignantly as Driftwood. And a story such as Driftwood has it all. The storyline is remarkable and it’s true. Beautifully executed and played by yourself and your great cast and indeed the score which supported every nuance and all the action in the plot to perfection. It will stay with me for some time.”
Robyn Arthur, Actress
“Thanks so much for the opportunity to see the work. What an amazing family you have. Such a beautiful and heart-rending story with a relevance that sadly it seems will never go away – given that humans are always at war and we seem entirely incapable of learning from history.”
Karen Patterson, Manager – Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre
Angus Fitzsimons, Playwright
“I was lucky enough to catch the incredible new inspirational musical “Driftwood” tonight. It was an incredibly powerful and evocative love story of survival. The entire cast were superb. The music and lyrics by Anthony Barnhill intoxicatingly beautiful. This is a wonderful story that needs to be told. It is heart-breaking and beautiful. A story of triumph over adversity. Grab yourself a ticket as it will be playing for one more week in Melbourne before moving to Sydney May – June.”
Rhonda Burchmore
“I went to see ‘Driftwood The Musical‘ at Chapel Off Chapel last night. It’s a beautiful story superbly told. Some truly stunning performances. I highly recommend. Let’s support these new Australian works.”
Matt Hetherington
“I’ve had a couple of disappointing theatre experiences lately. But DRIFTWOOD last night was the opposite! So great I can’t stop raving about this heartfelt new Australian musical. Catch it at Eternity or Riverside in Sydney while ye may. I saw it at Glen St. Going again to Eternity. Very short runs. It gestated in Melbourne but is bound for NYC soon. A true, heart-wrenching story with intriguing twists and turns, exquisitely directed and sung. Universal themes, especially as they relate to the Australian migrant/refugee experience & family.Just beautiful. Anton Berezin & the rest of the talented small cast knocked it out of the park. And the original, tuneful music is beautifully sung & played. I bawled at the end, so did my 88 yr old theatre buddy, Adrienne Noble. It was nice to actually care about the protagonists for once.”
Meredith O’Reilly, actress
“This musical based on a true story is one of the best productions I have seen for a long while. At Glen St, Riverside and Eternity Theatre. Quite brilliant and moving.”
Director, Carla Moore
“What a strong, storytelling piece with fantastic momentum. I was just lulled into the magnetic, dramaturgical choices in the scripting and performances. Congratulations!”
Heather Fletcher, Lecturer in Music
“Congratulations on your marvellous musical play. So well staged and acted and so emotional. And to you Eva for allowing your story to be told. The standing ovation said it all. Bravo!”
Natalie Miller AO, Executive Director, Sharmill Films and Joint Executive Director, Cinema Nova
