Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson set for Australian premier season

Just after a run of leadership drama, Sydney’s Squabbalogic is bringing its own political wheeling and dealing to the table in the form of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, the punk rock political superstar you might also know as the 7th President of the United States.

Peter Meredith will star in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Peter Meredith will star in Squabbalogic’s Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

From 14 August to 1 September, The Factory Theatre will play host to this bad-boy President and his fellow players.

A cult musical favourite that transferred from off-Broadway to Broadway in just 2010, this is a hilarious and oddly moving show. It moves at a cracking 90 minute pace, and stuff goes down: Jackson is a sexypants guy that wants to wreck the banks, kneecap the courts, evict the natives, and rule the world. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks about it, either. His motto is, essentially, “To be a hero, sometimes you’ve gotta be an asshole.”

“The parallels between politics then and now are really spooky,” says director Craig Stewat.

“Not to mention how closely this chapter of US history, tracing displacement of their native population, eerily mirrors our own country’s dark past.

“It’s the perfect antidote to our upcoming Federal election. Maybe our pollies could learn a thing or two from our version of Andrew Jackson.”

A rock musical that’s like Saturday Night Live, The History Channel, and pop punk punk all in a blender doesn’t come along every day, and it’s a real treat. With a killer score, a clever book, and a smashing cast that includes WAAPA graduate Peter Meredith (Jekyll & Hyde), Monique Salle (A Chorus Line), Toby Francis (Blokelahoma) and Louise Kelly (Mamma Mia) – your mind just might be blown.

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson will play at the Factory Theatre in Marrickville. For tickets and more information, visit www.factorytheatre.com.au 

Cassie Tongue

Cassie is a theatre critic and arts writer in Sydney, and was the deputy editor of AussieTheatre. She has written for The Guardian, Time Out Sydney, Daily Review, and BroadwayWorld Australia. She is a voter for the Sydney Theatre Awards.

Cassie Tongue

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *