This story was originally published in September 2024 and Star Weekly has chosen to share it again for readers to enjoy.
Comedian, actor and screenwriter Damian Callinan has performed his acclaimed show ‘Double Feature,’ about his parent’s lives in post-war Australia, all over the country since he first debuted it in 2022.
But on October 1, the Yarraville resident will bring it to his adopted home for the first time, with a performance at Mantra Studios.
Since relocating from Preston last year, Callinan has quickly settled into life in the inner-west, where many of his comedy contemporaries also live.
“It’s got a really strong arts scene, not just comedy, but actors and musicians,” he said of Yarraville, adding “I’m a westie for life I think.”
Having never performed there before, Yarraville was the obvious choice for Callinan to begin his latest run performing Double Feature, his first since last year.
“Blowing the cobwebs off,” he said of the purpose of the Yarraville show, which will then be followed by dates through NSW, the ACT and Victoria until early November.
“There’s places in Australia I haven’t got to yet,” Callinan said in explaining why he was reprising the show rather than moving on to new material.
“This one’s close to the heart though, telling my mum and dads story, It feels special.”
That story centres on Callinan’s surprise discovery of his mother’s 1946 diary and is bookended with his father’s retirement diary which details their loving relationship and sadly, the tragedy that brought it to an end.
“When you do a biographical show like this it’s amazing how it connects to people,” Callinan said.
“We all lose our parents and it’s a part of our history that we’re losing, the people and stories of post-World War Two.”
Details: mantrastudiokitchenbar.com/events/
Cade Lucas.
