my "of-course" life

By Toni Allayialis
Directed by Maryanne Lynch

“Applause rocked the theatre at CoCA in Abbott Street, Cairns. Most of the audience rose and gave her a standing ovation” Cairns Post

Writer/Performer and acclaimed singer, Toni Allayialis invites you to take a very special journey, mixing traditional and contemporary songs and storytelling to bring her Greek and Croatian ancestors and madcap Australian family to life.

The play is rich in culture, music, colourful characters and stories. Through her character Alithea, Toni Allayialis also explores ways that women of her own generation have sought to reconcile the traditional ways with a new life in Australia.

For Alithea, today is yet another “of-course day”. Like her grandmother’s before her, Alithea’s kitchen is filled with the bubbling aroma of garlic and tomatoes cooking in wine, the toddlers are screaming, she is on her own and there are buckets of nappies piling sky high. But this is Australia and a million miles from the traditions of the past. Or is it?

Here is what the reviewers and patrons said about My Of-Course Life last year...

“Applause rocked the theatre at CoCA in Abbott Street, Cairns. Most of the audience rose and gave her a standing ovation” (Cairns Post)

“Toni Allayialis gives an extraordinary performance” (Barfly)

“It is intense, witty and requires your full attention” (Courier Mail, 04 Oct)

This is Genuine Good Stuff, well written, well directed and passionately performed. My Of-Course Life is more than the ‘mere’ ethnic comedy of Acropolis Now or The Wog Boy. It’s a tale of a second-generation Australian as she reconciles her past and present, the strong cultural and historical influences on her life, and the need to establish a place in the present for her family. I sincerely hope the show tours. (M/C Online Reviews)

"...what a wonderful show is My Of-Course Life. I thoroughly enjoyed the production and am truly amazed at the abundance of talent Toni has. She is incredible."
(Pip Miller – unsolicited email from audience member)

“A wonderfully warm & humorous play, with an extraordinary lead performance. It touched us with its "truths" "laughs" & cultural diversities. Just beautiful...........of course!”
(Raelene Blandford – unsolicited email from audience member)

Toni Allayialis Biography

A singer, dancer, actor, composer, writer and teacher. She has sung for Paul Kelly, INXS, Vince Jones to name a few. Her theatre and film credits include, the Motown story, Pearls before Swine, the Fabulous Singlettes, Kelly’s Republic, Fast Talking, Mad Max beyond Thunder dome and most recently Testimony, The Legend of Charlie Parker for Sydney Festival 2002.

She has trained in Australia and overseas in Flamenco, African, Afro-Cuban, Creek and Polynesian dance and created a dance form called ‘Global Dance’. She is a member of Toni Nation, an original world music group who truly represent multicultural Australia. Having toured national wide and overseas performing at festivals in the Philippines, Singapore & Jamaica.

About JUTE
Established in 1992 Just Us Theatre Ensemble (JUTE) is an award–winning theatre company producing bold seasons of contemporary theatre from the  evocative North.

Awards:   2003 Queensland Writers Centre “The Johnno” award; 2004 Playlab Award.

Tours:  JUTE has toured throughout regional Queensland and to Brisbane, Darwin, Canberra & Sydney
 
About QPAC
The  Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) is Queensland's premier  venue  for live performance as well as a producer and presenter of cultural  product.  
My Of-Course Life was co-produced by JUTE and QPAC as  part of QPAC's Suitcase Series, which creates and promotes Queensland product that has the potential to tour.