The poetry, life and times of Andrew (Banjo) Paterson and Henry Lawson.

Banjo and Lawson explores not just the poetry of arguably Australia’s two best known bush poets but Australia as it was from their birth in the 1860’s until Paterson’s death at the height of WW2 in 1941. Not just a poetry reading or lecture, Banjo and Lawson is a piece of theatre with costumes, props, set and objects from the era all used to transport the audience to an Australia long ago.

For the most part, the show is chronological. It shows students the volume and depth of each poet’s work, how much our country changed and how the introduction of new technology in each new decade impacted on the poets’ lives.

This is the story of simultaneously popular opposites; a romantic and a realist. Deafness, wealth, alcoholism, poverty, a law degree, jail, sanatoriums, labouring, war, marriage, children, travel, teachers, family and colleagues were all big influences on one or the other of these two giants of Australian poetry.

Of course the focus is on their poetry: their contrasting images of bush folk, “Past Carin’ “and “The Man from Snowy River”; their similar love of the Australian larrikin, “When Your Pants Begin To Go” and “Mulga Bill’s Bicycle”; and their boisterous poetic debate, City v Country, that boosted the sales of the Bulletin Newspaper in 1892.

In the brilliant hands of actor Andy Bramble the poetry and character, life and times of these pioneers of Australian Poetry are transformed into a funny, informative, engaging piece of theatre.

Banjo and Lawson provides an immersive experience of the past for Year 9 History students studying The Industrial Revolution and the Making of the Australian Nation. English students in Years 7-10 gain insight into the society and experiences that created two of Australia’s best known poets. Teachers’ resources can be downloaded which integrate the performance directly into teaching and learning programs.