Against all the odds, he’s betting on a miracle.

The Dapto Chaser is warts-and-all Australian comedy that gets its hands dirty with the adrenaline, sweat and guts of the dog racing sub-culture. The Sinclairs are a family trapped in the pressure cooker of gambling addiction and when things don’t go to plan, they are forced to gamble the most important commodity of all – their relationship to each other. Meet the Sinclairs, a family where dog racing is more than a sport, it’s a religion.

Playwright Mary Rachel Brown wrote The Dapto Chaser perched in the bleachers track-side, while director Glynn Nicholas will be going on an all-schnitzel diet to get it over the line.

The Dapto Chaser was commissioned and originally produced by Merrigong Theatre Company.

Content Warnings: dog racing, coarse language, violence, gambling addiction, alcohol abuse, cancer.

“Directed by Glynn Nicholas, who has a sure touch with the comedy, and it has a good cast adept at finding the moments where hope turns to despair and then back again.”

THE AUSTRALIAN

“Like a canine on cocaine, The Dapto Chaser is a get up and go show. Run to see it.”

AUSTRALIAN STAGE

“Playwright Mary Rachel Brown has scripted a whippet smart play, a family saga set in the sub culture of dog racing”

AUSTRALIAN STAGE

“All in all, The Dapto Chaser is funny, rude, illuminating and a fine play that’s meaningful and extremely entertaining. Not to be missed.”

STAGE NOISE

“a luscious mix of ingredients that make a spicy, unexpected, twisting, turning narrative. The four characters are richly fashioned and the actors grab them with both hands and make the most of them.”

STAGE NOISE

“Brown wrings humour from every twist of the plot and the play glows in this well acted and thoroughly realised production directed by Glynn Nicholas.”

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Cast

Danny Adcock, Noel Hodda, Jamie Oxenbould, Richard Sydenham

Creative Team

Playwright Mary Rachel Brown
Director Glynn Nicholas
Producer Dino Dimitriadis
Set and Costume Designer Georgia Hopkins
Lighting Designer Toby Knyvett
Sound Designer Daryl Wallis
Stage Manager Cara Woods
Photography by Robert Catto