Wonderland Productions explores intergenerational conflict through dark comedy
Local council corruption rarely seems like promising material for compelling theatre, but Claire Haywood's Get Sando uses small-town politics as a framework for examining larger questions about activism, journalism ethics, and the eternal friction between generations. Premiering at Flightpath Theatre this November, the production promises dark comedy that explores how the fight for justice plays out when family loyalties collide with moral convictions.
The premise centres on Brianna, an online journalist temporarily living with her parents while homeless, who becomes fixated on exposing Sando, a local councillor with a questionable history. This setup immediately establishes the economic insecurity affecting younger generations, while creating the forced proximity that makes family drama possible.
The conflict between Brianna and her mother Marian operates on multiple levels. Marian, a retired social worker trying to leave her stressful career behind, finds her past choices and ethics questioned by her daughter's obsession with Sando. This dynamic reflects broader generational tensions about how to pursue social change, choosing between institutional channels and measured advocacy, or through media exposure and public pressure.
The addition of Micky, a local misfit on personal vendetta against Sando over a suspected unsolved murder, adds thriller elements to what could otherwise remain domestic drama. This character suggests the play will explore how personal grievance and public accountability intertwine, particularly when official channels fail to deliver justice.
Haywood's choice to describe the work as a "dark family comedy" indicates that dysfunction can be both painful and absurd. The best family drama finds humour in recognisable patterns, while acknowledging genuine emotional stakes. The challenge for the performers will be to maintain this balance throughout, ensuring neither the comedy nor the darkness overwhelms the other.
The landscape Haywood navigates is ambitious: boomers versus millennials, retirement versus entitlement, environmental activism, media ethics, and local corruption. The risk with such broad thematic scope is to present mere superficial treatment of complex issues. The success of the show will depend on whether these themes emerge organically from the story and characters, rather than feeling imposed by agenda.
Bill, the father who is preoccupied with raising chickens while mother and daughter battle, provides necessary comic relief and perhaps perspective on how ordinary life continues despite ideological warfare. His hobby farming represents someone seeking simple pleasures amid complexity, a recognisable response to contemporary political exhaustion.
Along with all that, the casting brings considerable screen experience to the stage. Di Smith and Mark Lee's television credentials (with combined credits such as A Country Practice, Redfern Now, and Gallipoli) are comfortable with both dramatic weight and comedic timing. Their presence alongside Susan Ling Young (The Office, Hungry Ghosts) and emerging talent Emily Sinclair present the generational range that should serve the production's themes.
While Haywood's dual role as writer and director provides a unified creative vision, combining such roles can inadvertently remove the productive tension that a separate writer and director can create. But her extensive credits in both theatre and screen writing suggests comfort across forms (though theatre directing requires different skills than writing for multiple media).
Today, conversations about intergenerational conflict, media responsibility, and local government accountability continue to pepper public discourse. We'll see whether Get Sando offers fresh perspectives on these well-worn topics or confirms familiar positions. Get Sando's promise is to deliver theatre that acknowledges complexity while delivering entertainment.
Get Sando runs November 12-22 at Flightpath Theatre. Tickets and further information: https://www.flightpaththeatre.org/whats-on/get-sando
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