The story of Ned Kelly comes to QPAC
The latest literary endeavour of Brisbane-based playwright Matthew Ryan, Kelly tells the story of the infamous brothers Dan and Ned Kelly.
Set solely in a grimy cell at Old Melbourne Gaol on the night before Ned’s execution, Kelly keeps as close to the murky truth as possible, while shedding new light on the story of Ned Kelly, capturing his spirit and transporting the audience to his side. In this fast-paced, action-packed play, Dan, disguised as a priest, visits Ned in his cell seeking forgiveness before heading to Queensland to start a new life.
While the real story of Dan Kelly is riddled with uncertainty and mystery, Matthew has used the little history available as a building block to fashion a folklore character with a future. Matthew’s seventh main-stage production in as many years, Kelly is saturated with moments of light and shade – the opposing perspectives of right and wrong, life versus death, and murderers versus heroes.
A Queensland Theatre Company production directed by Todd MacDonald, Kelly is showing from September 15 to October 20 at the Cremorne Theatre at QPAC.
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