Barracking For The Umpire takes to Geraldton stage to explore the humour and heartbreak of country footy

Footy — a staple of entertainment in so many Aussie households, is taking a new form next Wednesday as Barracking For The Umpire goes on show at the Queens Park Theatre. It is Andrea Gibbs’ first time writing a play, adding another notch to her belt which already carries radio presenter, comedian, actor and writer on it. The title of the play is a nod to an inside joke within her family. When her dad had to retire from his beloved Donnybrook footy team in the 70s after a few too many hits to the head — he turned to umpiring. “My mum would joke she was the only one barracking for the umpire,” Gibbs said. The play follows multiple storylines around the Williams family returning home to Donnybrook to celebrate their patriarch Doug’s lifetime achievement award at the local footy club. With a sports journalist daughter, a professional AFL-playing son and a child who never left their hometown, the Williams family begin to see the devastating impact high contact sports can have. The plays throws a spotlight on an issue that has only recently started to get its fair share of attention — the aftermath concussions can have in the form of permanent brain injury, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Doug’s character is followed by a figment of his imagination, Coach — a 1970s football coach who is also there to show the toxic masculinity that has been associated with AFL. Gibbs is proud to be bringing the show on a regional tour. “For me, I didn’t get those opportunities growing up in the country — to see theatre, especially theatre about ourselves,” she said. “It’s quite often the arts and sport are pitted against each other . . . I see the drama in both things. Good theatre and good sport can make your heart sing and break your heart at the same time. So, it just makes sense to put them both together.” As part of her research, Gibbs spoke to multiple AFL and WAFL players including medically retired West Coast Eagle premiership player Daniel Venables to understand what Doug might be experiencing. “The challenge was that he’s a very lovable character and I needed that feeling around him, but also one of the signs of CTE is aggression,” she says. “So it was trying to make someone lovable, while having an aggressive moment, while making it a comedy. Keeping it light-hearted is where my family came in as inspiration as well. The banter that goes on there is very much reflective of what happens in my family; the teasing along with the hugs.” The show is something Gibbs describes as “bringing people into the theatre space that have never engaged with it before and giving them a really bloody good time.” The cast includes Michael Abercromby, Pippa Grandison, Joel Jackson, Steve Le Marquand, Ebony McGuire, Jo Morris and Ian Wilkes. Tickets are available at the Queens Park Theatre website for the show which is on Wednesday night at 7.30pm.