In Conversation with Paul Mitchell | The Ballad of Dan O'Malley: A Football Tragedy
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
In this week's backstage blog, we caught up with Paul Mitchell, writer of The Ballad of Dan O'Malley: A Football Tragedy, which opens next month at Explosives Factory.
Things get dirty on and off the field when a coach tackles corporate greed and corruption. 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. 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.
Q: Welcome to Theatre Works! How have rehearsals been shaping up? You've assembled quite the stacked cast to tell this story!
A: The rehearsal ball is bouncing beautifully. It's terrific watching actors make the story and characters their own - and footballs flying around the place while both dramatic and comedic action is taking place.
Q: For those unfamiliar, what would your crash course / spark notes be on the scandal upon which this is based?
A: Based on the true story of AFL club Melbourne’s 2009 ‘tanking’ saga – The Ballad of Dan O’Malley fictionalises the remarkable and tragic story of former Melbourne coach Dean Bailey: a man who lived and breathed football before being forced to take the fall for an organisation whose gambling revenue and broadcast deals appeared worth more than anyone’s reputation – or life.
Q: For someone who's never attended a game of footy, what do you think they'll discover when they come to The Ballad of Dan O'Malley?
A: You don't need to know football to understand the politics, passion, humour - and heartbreak - that this play puts on show. This is a story that asks everyone what they will do to protect from corporate greed and corruption the things we care for and love.
Q: What will surprise audiences about this work?
A: They'll be surprised that this play, that asks whose hands the heart of football should be in, also asks them to consider whether they are giving their power away to people who don't care about them.
Q: What has been the most memorable moment of your process so far?
A: It's pretty memorable moment when director Theresa Borg brings story and poetry to the way in which an actor bounces a football on stage!
The Ballad of Dan O'Maley: A Football Tragedy plays August 12-22 at Explosives Factory.