The Slab Boys became O'Punksky's third professional Independent theatre production at the Crossroads Theatre in Forbes Street Darlinghurst.
Due to it's popularity and growing mainstream support, Slab Boys helped to galvanise a new wave of Independent theatre producers in Sydney during the mid 1990's this grew into a movement that saw the rise of Burning House, Hair of the Dog, Theatre 20/20, Brink, Tamarama Rock Surfers and Pork Chop the legacy of which resonates today at venues like The Old Fitz, 505 and the Kings Cross Theatre.
Trivia fact:
This production of The Slab Boys was an opportunity for many recent WAAPA graduates including the shows director Andrew Lewis and actors: Robert Willox, Andrew S Gilbert, Gerald Lepkowski and John O'Hare.
From its inception O'Punksky's The Slab Boys was predominately a gathering of ex-pat West Aussies living in Darlinghurst, Sydney (known as the West Coast Mafia) they formed an ensemble to create this popular hit show for O'Punksky's.
Cast:
Denise Roberts
Lysa Kelly
Kim Lewis
John O'Hare
Robert Willox
Gerald Lepkowski
Andrew S Gilbert
James Hagan
Costumes: Alison Leonard
Set: Jonathan Sweet
Lighting: Zbyszek Wesolowski
Program cover for Slab Boys designed by Jonathan Sweet & Paddy Dickson.
THE SLAB BOYS BY JOHN BYRNE.
Robert Willox (McCann) batters Spanky Farrell (O’Hare)
and Alan Downie (Lepkowski) in a rage of working class anger and frustration.
Teddy Boys: Robert Willox (Phil McCann ) and John O'Hare (Spanky Farrell) scrap like roosters by day in the carpet factory Slab Room at night they are out cutting the rug in the Glasgow dance halls.
This carpet factory, colour mixing Slab room is set in Paisley, Glasgow, Scotland.
THEY work in the 'slab room' grinding up pigments used to dye the fabric designs.
There's Spanky Farrell the ratbag fitting in a little work amongst "skiving about", Phil McCann the smooth talking "Teddy Boy"with dreams of getting up and out, and Hector McKenzie (Kim Lewis) the wimpy youngster, butt of all their jokes and slapstick. Into this set up is plunged upper class Alan Downie (Gerald Lepkowski) whose father has set him here for work experience....more to come.
This carpet factory, colour mixing Slab room is set in Paisley, Glasgow, Scotland.
THEY work in the 'slab room' grinding up pigments used to dye the fabric designs.
There's Spanky Farrell the ratbag fitting in a little work amongst "skiving about", Phil McCann the smooth talking "Teddy Boy"with dreams of getting up and out, and Hector McKenzie (Kim Lewis) the wimpy youngster, butt of all their jokes and slapstick. Into this set up is plunged upper class Alan Downie (Gerald Lepkowski) whose father has set him here for work experience....more to come.
The infamous Crossroads Theatre on Forbes Street Darlinghurst.
Trivia: The adjacent St Peter's lane was a renowned beat for hookers and transexuals during the 1980's through the 1990's.
The theatre is now part of the Sydney Church of England Girls School.
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Before the closure, St Peter’s Lane had been a decades-old transvestite prostitution site.
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