New Blood themes more powerful than ever

AN acclaimed musical production about a small regional town dealing with an influx of newcomers from the city is making a much-anticipated return to the local stage.

From macadamia lattes, potholes and yin and gin to serious issues such as the housing crisis, audiences are bound to relate to many of the issues covered in New Blood — The Musical.

The show’s creators met through Bangalow Theatre Company, where they were involved in the production Rent, and received seed funding through NORPA to write the musical, which they first performed at Newrybar Hall in 2022.

It was recognised with an award for outstanding new work at the Gold Palm Theatre Awards in 2022 and has since been staged in Sydney and at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

“It’s been a while since we performed it in the region, but we couldn’t not do it again to be honest,” co-creator and director Joel Cooper said.

“We’ve had so many people come up to us in the street and at parties saying they want to see it again.

“When we were deciding whether to do it, we did a run-through and the themes felt more relevant and powerful than ever.

“At the time we felt like we were writing something so current, but it’s almost like the themes are more extreme now.”

The characters include a developer who’s recently moved from the city, a journalist returning to the town she grew up in and trying to find her place, a café owner reaping the benefits of growth, and her husband, who is resistant to change.

Then there’s the couple’s daughter who is campaigning to get a pool built in the town – based on a real crusade that happened in Bangalow.

“I remember one of my first haircuts I had in Bangalow the hairdresser was telling me her parents were on the pool committee,” Cooper said.

New Blood — The Musical is on at Byron Theatre on October 25 and 26.

For more information and tickets visit byroncentre.com.au/theatre-events/new-blood—the-musical