After a year in development, Never Always Ever Was premieres this June on Victoria’s Surf Coast, with a special one-night-only performance in Anglesea - bringing a powerful international new work to a community that mirrors the landscapes and tensions at its core.

Written by Melbourne playwright Fleur Murphy, this striking new production is presented by the National Celtic Folk Festival in collaboration with Ireland’s C21 Theatre Company. Showcasing a high-calibre ensemble of Australian and international artists, including performers from Ireland, the work brings together exceptional talent across continents.

Blending theatre with music, the performance features live music on stage, deepening the emotional resonance and cultural texture of the piece.

Spanning from the 1980s to the 2040s, Never Always Ever Was follows Danny, a young man from Belfast searching for purpose, and Julia, a Port Fairy graduate determined to turn her passion for environmental conservation into action. Their chance meeting on New Year’s Eve 1989 sparks a story that ripples across generations.

Told through four pivotal moments in time, the play traces one family’s journey against a backdrop of environmental change and shifting coastlines — themes that will strike a chord with coastal communities like Anglesea. At its heart, it is a story of place, memory, and the quiet acts of care that shape our future.

This dynamic two-hander unites an actor from Northern Ireland and one from Australia, capturing the shared resilience of communities living alongside the sea — and the ties that bind them across oceans.

Cast & Creatives -

Director - Stephen Kelly, from Ireland

Writer - Fleur Murphy

Designer - Sophie Woodward

Performer - Richard Clements, from Ireland

Performer - Amanda LaBonté

Musician - Gerry McKeauge

Stage Manager - Jayson Fry

This season is presented by National Celtic Folk Festival and c21 Theatre in partnership with the City of Greater Geelong, Geelong Arts Centre, Regional Arts Victoria and Culture Ireland. Supported by Anglesea Performing Arts.

Contact the host of Never Always Ever Was - Anglesea - one night only

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