Trent Dalton takes journalism to the stage in adaptation of Love Stories
Journalism runs in Trent Dalton’s veins and that’s why it was important the adaptation of his best-selling book, Love Stories, appropriately honoured the tales of joy, heartache and passion everyday Australians entrusted to him.
Journalism runs in Trent Dalton’s veins and he knows how important it is to tell a story right.
That is why the adaptation of his best-selling 2021 book, Love Stories, for the stage needed to keep the stories of everyday Australians near word-perfect.
“The thing I love most of all about this is that it’s verbatim … it’s just love quotes and we’ve just strung them into theatre,” Dalton said.
“I’ve never seen real-life journalism put on stage.”
The award-winning author and writer for The Weekend Australian Magazine sat on a busy Brisbane street corner in 2021 with a gifted Olivetti typewriter and asked 150 strangers for a love story.
A third of the tales of joy, heartache and passion will be captured on stage for Brisbane Festival, held together by fictionalised representations of Dalton and his wife of two decades, Fiona Franzmann. They are portrayed by Jason Klarwein and Michala Banas.
The couple met in January 2000 in the newsroom of the now-defunct publication, Brisbane News. They spent months dissecting their relationship to share a warts-and-all version of their marriage, in order to honour the stories shared with them.
“You gave us your heart and soul, so maybe it’s just giving you a bit of ourselves as well,” Dalton said.
Playwright Tim McGarry said Ms Franzmann would send him eagle-eyed and meticulous script edits by email, which Dalton later explained was the habit of a former journo.
One the original storytellers, actor and comedian Ashlee Cairns, 33, said it was a surreal experience to see her post-roadtrip break-up with a former boyfriend, which happened while she was wearing just her underwear, play out on stage. Everyone who had story adapted was invited to a workshop with the actors.
“I am a completely different person than I was when I sat down and spoke with Trent,” Ms Cairns said. “So, watching someone else say my words, it almost doesn’t feel like me.”
Love Stories has already come full circle, with new tales branching from it.
Walter Mikac’s story of love was cut short in 1996, when his wife Nanette and daughters Alannah and Madeline were killed in the Port Arthur massacre. However, he began a new chapter on Wednesday evening when he proposed to his partner of seven years, Bridgette, following a preview of the show.
“She has been there to hug me when I cry,” Mr Mikac said. “I could not think of a more caring, compassionate person to share my life with.”
His question – “will you marry me?” – was met with a tearful but resounding: “Absolutely”.
Love Stories will run from September 13 to 29 at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are on sale now.
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