If you had to choose somewhere for an out-of-town tryout, Noosa would be perfect, wouldn’t it? That just happens to be home base for Australia’s greatest playwright, David Williamson.
Williamson, 84, half-heartedly announced his retirement some years ago and since then has never been more prolific. It’s about 60 plays now – but who is counting? Even the great man isn’t sure of the exact number.
His shows are still selling out, particularly at the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney which has become the venue for an annual Williamson premiere. He’s a bit grumpy they are not putting on his plays in Brisbane much lately, but that’s another story.
Then there’s Noosa, or more specifically, the Noosa alive! festival, which he and wife Kristin co-foundered, although it started its life as the Noosa Long Weekend Festival.
It attracts big names year after year and has become a boutique festival, like no other. This year the line-up is impressive. As well as the premiere of a new Williamson play there will be in-conservation events with culinary icon Maggie Beer, celebrated actor and author Bryan Brown, musician and new novelist Robert Forster, and others.
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Queensland Ballet will return with another world premiere season, and the festival program also includes the classical brilliance of the Grigoryan Brothers and a Music of the Night Gala Opera Dinner at the newly refurbished Elysium Noosa (I’ve stayed there recently and it is magnificent). Other guests include Osher Gunsberg with his show, So What? Now What?, and Ursula Yovich who Sings Nina Simone. There will be food trucks and other foodie events, free live music, kids’ activities and plenty more.
Noosa alive! CEO Damien Anthony Avery-Rossi says the program reflects the spirit of Noosa, “bringing together world-class artists, compelling storytelling and unforgettable live experiences in one of Australia’s most beautiful destinations”.
Winter in Noosa is pleasant, actually. When we first heard the title of Williamson’s new play, Coping with Winter, we assumed it might be about that. Not so. The winter of the title is a man, not a season. Gabriel Winter. And the play is a darkly funny piece examining ambition, power and family and the emotional cost of success. Williamson has spent decades holding a mirror to Australian society through sharp satire, compelling characters and deeply human storytelling.
His new play, to star Erik Thomson, Renai Caruso and Janneke Williamson, will be directed by Rory Williamson, the playwright’s son. It will be presented for four performances only at The J Theatre on July 22 and 23.
“We try them out here and then I can tinker with them a bit,” Williamson he says. “But Noosa gets to see it first.”
Last year’s Williamson, Sleeping Dogs, also starred Erik Thomson (Packed to the Rafters, SeaChange and other TV shows) and Williamson says he is thrilled to have the Tasmania-based actor back again.
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“I first worked with Erik on a play of mine, The Puzzle, in South Australia back in 2024,” he says. “I thought he was terrific and I tried to entice him up here.”
The enticing wasn’t too difficult, as Thomson says he enjoyed his Noosa stint last year and is looking forward to another.
“I live in Hobart so it’s a good time of the year to be in Noosa,” Thomson says. “This will be my third Williamson in three years. David is so prolific, particularly for someone who was supposed to retire years ago. But he just has stuff he wants to say.”
And Thomson says he is thrilled to help. Thomson, who we will next see on screen in Netflix’s forthcoming six-part series of My Brilliant Career, says Williamson’s plays are entertaining and that’s important because “theatre cannot be boring”.
“David has catalogued our culture and he’s an elder of our industry and our art and I don’t think we value our elders enough,” Thomson says. “I saw The Removalists last year and it’s still such a vital work all these decades later. It highlights the importance of people like David and how he focusses our attention on issues and the social landscape.”
Williamson’s new play centres on Gabriel Winter, a right-wing type, a media mogul who is romantically interested in Ellie (Renai Caruso), a woman who is an academic in the field of Human Wellbeing. Ellie is not interested in him, but Amy (Janneke Williamson) is, although she may be more interested in his money.
“Given that the play is directed by my son Rory, who knows my work so well, I’d be surprised if there’s ever a dull moment,” Williamson says. (It’s a bit of a family affair since the actor Janneke Williamson is Rory’s wife.)
His protagonist, Gabriel Winter, having a soft spot for Ellie, ends up running some of her rather left-wing think pieces in his publication – and that’s part of the fun.
“I had fun writing it because I liked the thought of someone from the far right having to defend left-wing views,” Williamson says.
It sounds like typical David Williamson fare, which is good news. Williamson is our most prolific playwright and our most entertaining. His plays are accessible and always pertinent, and we can be grateful that his retirement didn’t take.
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