Beechworth’s famous annual Ned Kelly Weekend returns in just over two weeks, from 6 to 8 August with a lively program of events for the whole family including the return on Saturday 7 August of the acclaimed production, The Jerilderie Letter.
“In Lloyd Jones’ production, Kelly's shaved, white, severed head -- a death mask on a plinth -- does the talking. Peter Finlay is the actor. And what a mighty, controlled, hypnotic recitation he gives!”
Chris Boyd, Herald Sun Theatre Reviewer
Actor, Peter Finlay’s masterful performance of the bushranger’s explosive ‘manifesto’ has mesmerised audiences and critics alike since its debut at Melbourne’s La Mama theatre in 2007. The theatrically staged production sees the actor as Ned Kelly’s death mask, reciting all 8000 words of the iconic Jerilderie Letter with stunning visual images and music accompanying the performance. The production first appeared at the Ned Kelly Weekend in front of a rapt Historic Courthouse audience in 2008.
Beginning with a low, rhythmic murmur slowly bringing the words of the letter to life, Peter Finlay’s performance builds to a crescendo as he summons all the anger, outrage, violence and grief of the bushranger who was very much on borrowed time when he penned the famous document in Jerilderie.
The production is one of many special events of the 2010 Ned Kelly Weekend which this year commemorates the 130th anniversary of the committal hearing of the bushranger at the Beechworth Courthouse in August 1880. Other highlights include:
• The chance to meet the original cast of the classic TV miniseries, The Last Outlaw - including John Jarrett and Sigrid Thornton - at a gala cocktail party at La Trobe at Beechworth on Saturday 7 August from 7:30pm
• An exhibition on loan from the State Library of Victoria and the Victoria Police Museum of all four original suits of armour worn by Ned Kelly and the Gang
• On Sunday 8 August, a packed program of readings, re-enactments, talks, performances as well as a Geoffrey Robertson-style Hypothetical, The Tribulations of Eduardo & his Friends featuring an all-star panel of experts and commentators
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