Toy Symphony by Michael Gow
Ad Astra Theatre Company presents
Toy Symphony by Michael Gow

18 Apr 2024 to 27 Apr 2024

Toy Symphony follows the journey of Roland Henning, a playwright suffering from dreaded ‘writers’ block’.

As he embarks on a voyage of self-reflection in the hope of finding himself again, we are given glimpses of his troubled past, and the possible causes of his current malaise. The audience is thrown into a challenging relationship with Henning, as he confronts behaviours that delve into his bullying, self-gratifying and narcissistic past.

Although one of his lesser-known works, Toy Symphony reinforces playwright Michael Gow as someone deeply attached to the concept of dramatic tension! In 2016, in his own keynote address at the National Play Festival, Gow talks about the agony of theatre paraphrasing Aristotle when he says “Drama is the description of a struggle.” We see the character of Roland Henning as someone who is full of struggle…with his past and present, with himself and with others. Even we, as an audience, struggle with some of the themes put forward in the play.

The production is a clever combination of real time storytelling with moments of flashback and elements of magical realism. Along the way, we meet characters from the present day, those from his childhood and every now and then, a figure from history who appears and disappears on the whim of Roland’s imagination. It is uncomfortable, disconcerting and hilarious, as the young Roland’s ‘magical’ ability to summon up historical characters, battles with the many adults in his childhood who are desperately trying to suppress his imagination.

Michael Gow was the artistic director of Queensland Theatre company from 1999 – 2010 and he had not written a full-length play while fully engaged in this role. In 2007, his play Toy Symphony received its world premiere production at Sydney's Belvoir St Theatre. It was a critical and popular success. Toy Symphony was awarded Best New Australian Work at the 2008 Helpmann Awards, and the production was also nominated for Best Play. The production also won four Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Mainstage Production.

Share This Event:   
Venue
The Loading Dock - Qtopia Sydney
Session TimesTicket PricesDuration
2 hours
Restrictions/Warnings
You may also like... The Twits The Twits
5 Jul 2025 to 19 Jul 2025 Session Times
Saturday 5 July 202511:30am, 2pm, 6pm
Sunday 6 July 202511am, 1:30pm
Tuesday 8 July 202510:30am*, 1pm
Wednesday 9 July 202510:30am, 1pm
Thursday 10 July 202510:30am, 1pm
Friday 11 July 202510:30am, 1pm
Saturday 12 July 202511:30am, 2pm, 6pm
Sunday 13 July 202511am, 1:30pm
Tuesday 15 July 202510:30am, 1pm
Wednesday 16 July 202510:30am, 1pm
Thursday 17 July 202510:30am, 1pm
Friday 18 July 202510:30am, 1pm, 6pm
Saturday 19 July 202511:30am, 2pm
Tickets from $39.95 + $8.95 booking fee
Play
The Half-Life of Marie CurieThe Half-Life of Marie Curie
13 Jun 2025 to 12 Jul 2025 Session Times
Friday, 13 Jun 2025 7:30 pm
Saturday, 14 Jun 2025 2:00 pm
Saturday, 14 Jun 2025 8:00 pm
Sunday, 15 Jun 2025 5:00 pm
Tuesday, 17 Jun 2025 11:00 am
Wednesday, 18 Jun 2025 8:15 pm
Friday, 20 Jun 2025 11:00 am
Friday, 20 Jun 2025 6:15 pm
Saturday, 21 Jun 2025 4:30 pm
Saturday, 21 Jun 2025 8:15 pm
Sunday, 22 Jun 2025 2:00 pm
Wednesday, 25 Jun 2025 11:00 am
Wednesday, 25 Jun 2025 6:15 pm
Thursday, 26 Jun 2025 6:15 pm
Friday, 27 Jun 2025 8:15 pm
Saturday, 28 Jun 2025 8:15 pm
Sunday, 29 Jun 2025 2:00 pm
Tuesday, 01 Jul 2025 11:00 am
Tuesday, 01 Jul 2025 6:15 pm
Wednesday, 02 Jul 2025 11:00 am
Wednesday, 02 Jul 2025 6:15 pm
Thursday, 03 Jul 2025 8:15 pm
Friday, 04 Jul 2025 8:15 pm
Saturday, 05 Jul 2025 2:00 pm
Sunday, 06 Jul 2025 5:00 pm
Tuesday, 08 Jul 2025 8:15 pm
Wednesday, 09 Jul 2025 8:15 pm
Thursday, 10 Jul 2025 11:00 am
Thursday, 10 Jul 2025 6:15 pm
Friday, 11 Jul 2025 8:15 pm
Saturday, 12 Jul 2025 4:30 pm
Saturday, 12 Jul 2025 8:15 pm
$43-95
Play
The Lady Vanishes The Lady Vanishes
20 Jun 2025 to 26 Jul 2025 Session Times
Fridays and Saturdays 7.30pm
Sundays 4.30pm
$30-$35
Play
The 39 StepsThe 39 Steps
2 Sep 2025 to 6 Sep 2025
$65-$120
Play
Josephine Wants to DanceJosephine Wants to Dance
20 Aug 2025 to 21 Aug 2025 Session Times
20/08/25 -10AM
20/08/25- 6PM
21/08/25 - 10AM
21/08/25 - 12PM
Play