THEATRE WORKS AND MONSTROUS THEATRE PRESENT
The Ballad of Dan O'Malley: A Football Tragedy
BY PAUL MITCHELL
12-22 AUGUST | EXPLOSIVES FACTORY
BY PAUL MITCHELL
The Ballad of Dan O’Malley: A Football Tragedy is based on the true story of AFL club Melbourne’s 2009 ‘tanking saga’. Bright-eyed Dan O’Malley takes the reins as coach of the Central Leopards in 2008. But the club is bottoming out financially and on-field – so administrators call for shady tactics to win future draft picks. O’Malley wants to do the best by the club – and the young men he leads – so the club’s demands tear at his soul.
When the truth comes out – and the future of the game is threatened – there’s only one scapegoat in The League’s sights. The League can’t afford to lose its gambling revenue or broadcast deals, but it can afford to lose Dan O’Malley, a man whose love for football is eclipsed only by his passion for mentoring young men. The Ballad of Dan O’Malley shows the damage done to the things we love when greed and power take over. It measures the cost of putting the heart of football in the hands of people who are willing to kick to the kerb anyone or anything but the mighty dollar. And, finally, it asks whether the pressure put upon Dan led to the tragedy of his untimely death.
VENUE
EXPLOSIVES FACTORY
Rear Laneway, 67 Inkerman Street, St Kilda
DURATION
80 minutes
WARNINGS
Coarse language; Adult themes
ACCESSIBILITY
Explosives Factory is accessed via a flight of stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.
PRAISE FOR PAUL MITCHELL / MONSTROUS THEATRE'S PREVIOUS WORK:
“You’re the Man is a confronting and powerful drama and Borg has cast strong actors that provide tension and conflict. Her direction is impeccable, and the set is exciting (Filipe Filihia). Paul Mitchell has written a wonderful cataclysmic play that provides new and challenging insight on the foreboding theme of domestic violence. A must-see show."
- Stage Whispers
“I was moved, maddened and ashamed of what unfolded, acutely aware of the prevalence of domestic violence in Australia today. You’re the Man should be seen and appreciated for turning up the heat on a pervasive issue that can’t be sidestepped and shows no signs of abating.”
- The Blurb
“The ending is a Shakespearean tragedy, made worse in the knowledge that this play has drawn on real life.”
- Theatre Matters
DATES + TIMES
Wednesday 12 August - 7:30pm (Preview)
Thursday 13 August - 7:30pm (Opening)
Friday 14 August - 7:30pm
Saturday 15 August - 7:30pm
Tuesday 18 August - 7:30pm
Wednesday 19 August - 7:30pm
Thursday 20 August - 7:30pm
Friday 21 August - 7:30pm
Saturday 22 August - 7:30pm
Theatre Works has a lockout policy for latecomers. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to ensure you don't miss out.
Refunds will not be issued to latecomers.
TICKETS
FULL PRICE
CONCESSION*
PREVIEW
$48.00
$38.00
$30.00
*Seniors, Student, MEAA, Health Care and Low Income card holders
Shows in the WITH THEATRE WORKS stream align strongly our values and missions - these works we co-produce and co-present with independent artists and/or companies. Projects within this stream receive significant producing, marketing, PR and production support in addition to free use of the venue and a generous box office split.
CREDITS
WRITER / CO-PRODUCER
Paul Mitchell
PRODUCER
Anton Berezin
DIRECTOR
Theresa Borg
CAST
Justin Bell
Ryland Mitchell
Emma Choy
Phillip Hayden
Miles Paras
Paul Mitchell
MEET THE ARTIST
PAUL MITCHELL AND MONSTROUS THEATRE
Monstrous Theatre and Paul Mitchell combined to produce Paul’s critically acclaimed play, You’re the Man, at La Mama Theatre in 2024. Monstrous Theatre’s key creatives, producer Anton Berezin and writer/director Theresa Borg, have previously produced plays such as Anne Being Frank (Sydney Opera House), and in October 2026 will co-produce with Victorian Opera The Spare Room, featuring Theresa's libretto adaptation of Helen Garner’s eponymous novel, at Playhouse Arts Centre Melbourne. Paul Mitchell is also a novelist, essayist and poet, and he and the Monstrous Theatre team are thrilled to bring The Ballad of Dan O’Malley: A Football Tragedy to Theatreworks in 2026.
