A timely and thought-provoking production that will linger in viewers' minds — this is powerful theatre
Theatre Review: Dear Son
Presented by: State Theatre Company South Australia and Queensland Theatre Company
Reviewed: 30 July, 2025
It’s nice sometimes to go into a piece of theatre knowing very little about the production. It’s even greater when that piece of theatre is so good it leaves a lasting impact on you and stirs every emotion within.
Dear Son is simply an incredible piece of theatre. It is powerful, raw, emotional, funny, captivating, and at its centre so much warmth and heart. State Theatre Company South Australia and Queensland Theatre Company have produced a production that everyone should find the time to see.
Dear Son is based on the book by Thomas Mayo. Mayo’s book is a collection of letters written by First Nations men about life, love, racism, culture and toxic masculinity. The book was adapted for stage by Isaac Drandic and John Harvey and has resulted in a powerful and timely piece of theatre.
As a father and a son myself, the messages in this show hit home hard. There is so much in this production that is relatable. Co-Adaptors Isaac Drandic and John Harvey have done a remarkable job creating the stage version of this work, with well-placed humour throughout to break the tension.
Drandic, who also directed this production, has assembled an exceptional cast. Jimi Bani, Waangenga Blanco, Kirk Page, Aaron Pedersen and Tibian Wyles have sprinkled their own personal experiences with family through the play, giving Dear Son such depth. Dear Son is a true ensemble piece with no weak link amongst the cast. These talented story-tellers pull you into the production — you laugh with them, feel their anger and even cry with them. This is theatre at its finest. Bani, Blanco, Page, Pedersen, Whyles along with Drandic have crafted such a believable piece of theatre you forget you are watching a show and you feel you are sitting around a campfire with them sharing a yarn.
Kevin O’Brien’s set design is incredible. A simple sand cover stage with a tinned-roof outback cook house, wooden tables and benches and a tree, it created a playground for the cast to weave their stories and provide a backdrop for some well placed projection. David Walters’ breathtaking lighting design elevated the emotions within the production. His design almost created another character in the way scenes were lit.
Dear Son is one of those shows that will linger in the minds of anyone who sees it. It is thought provoking and makes you reflect on your own life and the relationships with your children and father figures. We need more productions like this that tackle the hard-hitting themes that are in Dear Son so we can acknowledge our past, but also shine a light to the future and make a change for the better.
Reviewed by Ben Stefanoff
Photo credit: David Kelly
Venue: Odeon Theatre, Norwood
Season: 26 July – 16 August, 2025
Duration: 70 minutes with no interval
Tickets: Adult $99 / Concession $90 / Under 30 $35 / Student $35 (plus booking fees)
Bookings: https://statetheatrecompany.com.au/shows/dear-son/
