The Tank is up and running again with a mega tour around Victoria being planned for 2009. It will start at the end of February and go right through to April. We are re-jigging the sets and as always making the thing move just that little bit quicker and smoother. The Zephyrs are already starting to work on some new tunes, while Harold, Dora and Roy are sharpening the familiar bunch of jokes, dances and songs that fans of The Tank have come to know and love.
For tour dates and details, see below... hope to see you at a show! 
THE TANK is a rollicking piece of musical theatre that features songs written and performed by Australia's own Mick Thomas (Weddings, Parties, Anything) and was written by his brother Steve. It celebrates the idea of family and spirit of place. The dry Tasmanian valley that provides its setting could be anywhere in Australia and the disfunctional characters that inhabit the story are at first glance ordinary rural battlers but in their world of water tanks, willow trees, chooks and chainsaws the people of The Tank are local experts who's lives are rich in drama and humour. In one and a half hours we take a journey through the life of Tasmanian country-woman Dora Carney as she battles bushfires, police, grasping councils, a water tank that's always empty and a violent alcoholic husband to raise her six kids. Her story is largely seen through the eyes of eldest son Harold. Born with one leg shorter than the other, Harold is rejected by his rugged, timberworker father and embarks on a life of juvenile delinquency from shoplifting to car theft and worse. Eventually Harold is forced to flee the long arm of Tasmania's law for the mainland, using his father's compo money from a timber felling accident to make his getaway. 
Against all the odds, Harold becomes a hugely successful car salesman and country & western singer on the Gold Coast and is able to repay his mum for her years of struggle with the biggest, shiniest new water tank that anyone in Dora's valley ever saw. Dora and Harold are special people who share a dogged quest for self respect and an unquestioned bond of love. Their story resonates with audiences of all ages and backgrounds .
The music is tight and precise, providing a whirlwind ride through a rural Tasmanian underbelly of chooks, crayfish and chainsaws. A blend of pacy, modern bluegrass, country and western, rock and lush ballads, the backing is provided by Mick Thomas and The Zephyrs featuring Mick on vocals and guitars, Mark 'Squeezebox Wally' Wallace on accordeon and vocals and Matt Ryan on double bass and vocals. Directed by Tania Bosak (Rektango) the Tank features a stunning and endearing performance from the Clip Clop Club's Gary Adams as Harold and stellar performances from Luke Elliot as his father Roy and Anthea Davis in the pivotal role of Dora. In 2005 The Tank was funded by Arts Tasmania for an extensive tour which started at The Brunswick Music Festival and proceeded to Western Australia, reaching folk in Perth, Karatha, Broome and Tom Price. It was also staged in Canberra at The National Folk Festival, for The Ten Days On The Island Festival Hobart, Roseberry and Burnie. FEBRUARY THURSDAY 26th FEB KARRALYKA THEATRE Mines Road, RINGWOOD EAST, VIC Bookings 03 9870 2888 or 03 9879 2933 or online at www.karralyka.com.au Show starts at 8pm FRIDAY 27th FEB DRUM THEATRE @ Dandenong Town Hall, 266 Lonsdale Street, DANDENONG, VIC Melways Ref: 91A E7 Bookings 03 9771 6666 or online at www.drumtheatre.com.au Show starts at 8pm SATURDAY 28th FEB COPAC THEATRE Corner of Gellibrand & Rae Streets, COLAC, VIC Bookings 03 5232 2077 Please check venue for show start time MARCH THURSDAY 5th MARCH KNOX PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE Corner of Mountain Hwy & Scoresby Road, BAYSWATER, VIC Bookings 03 9729 2787 Show starts at 8pm WEDNESDAY 11th MARCH SheppARTon Festival WESTSIDE PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE Echuca Road, MOOROOPNA, VIC Adjacent to Mooroopna Secondary College Bookings 03 5832 9511 Please check venue for show start time THURSDAY 12th MARCH GIRGARRE MEMORIAL HALL GIRGARRE, VIC Tickets $15 / $8 conc. from Girgarre Post Office 6 Morgan Cres Girgarre Bookings 03 5854 6200 Show starts at 7pm FRIDAY 13th MARCH GUNBOWER MEMORIAL HALL GUNBOWER, VIC Tickets $15 / $8 conc. from Gunbower General Store Main Street Gunbower Bookings 03 5487 1225 Show starts at 7pm SATURDAY 14th MARCH HEALESVILLE MEMORIAL HALL Maroondah Hwy, between Green & Wilson Streets, HEALESVILLE, VIC Bookings 03 5966 5040 Please check venue for show start time FRIDAY 20th MARCH SOUTHERN PENINSULA ARTS CENTRE @ Rosebud Secondary College, 245 Eastbourne Road, ROSEBUD, VIC Bookings 03 5986 8204 Please check venue for show start time SATURDAY 21st MARCH UPPER YARRA ARTS CENTRE 3409 Warburton Highway, WARBURTON, VIC Bookings 03 5966 5040 Please check venue for show start time THURSDAY 26th MARCH PLENTY RANGES ARTS & CONVENTION CENTRE 35 Ferres Blvd, SOUTH MORANG, VIC Bookings 03 9217 2317 or online at www.plentyrangestheatre.com.au Show starts at 8pm FRIDAY 27th MARCH POTATO SHED @ Bellarine Multi Arts Centre, Peninsula Drive, DRYSDALE, VIC Bookings 03 5251 1998 or email potatoshed@geelongcity.vic.gov.au Please check venue for show start time SATURDAY 28th MARCH APOLLO BAY FESTIVAL Foreshore, APOLLO BAY, VIC 7-8:30pm @ The Mechanics Institute Tickets online at www.apollobaymusicfestival.com or call Moshtix on 1300 GET TIX (1300 438 849) Show starts at 7pm SUNDAY 29th MARCH APOLLO BAY FESTIVAL Foreshore, APOLLO BAY, VIC 10am-11:30am (special hangover cure performance!) @ The Mechanics Institute Tickets online at www.apollobaymusicfestival.com or call Moshtix on 1300 GET TIX (1300 438 849) Show starts at 10am APRIL SATURDAY 4th MARCH KYNETON TOWN HALL 129 Mollison Street, KYNETON (MACEDON RANGES), VIC Tickets call 1300 888802 Please check venue for show start time ***** Available to purchase CD OF THE ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING (Studio/Live Album) $25 (plus postage/handling) 
Original cast recording of the stage play 'THE TANK' featuring Gary Adams, Jami Bladel and Matthew Fargher. Music performed by Mick Thomas, Andrew Smith & Dean Stevenson (THE ZEPHYRS). Available at shows or online through Paypal (secure site) by hitting on the link below... TAKE ME BACK TO THE TOP |