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The Club (1980 film)

The Club
Written by David Williamson
Date premiered 1977
Place premiered Melbourne
Original language English
Subject football
The Club
TheClubDVD.jpg
The Club - (DVD cover)
Directed by Bruce Beresford
Written by David Williamson
Starring Jack Thompson
John Howard
Graham Kennedy
Production
company
South Australian Film Corporation
New South Wales Film Corporation
Distributed by Roadshow
Release date
18 September 1980
Running time
96 minutes
Country Australia
Language English
Box office A$899,000 (Australia)

The Club is a satirical play by Australian playwright David Williamson. It follows the fortunes of an Australian rules football club over the course of a season, and explores the clashes of individuals from within the club. It was inspired by the backroom dealings and antics of the Victorian Football League's Collingwood Football Club.

The play was first staged by the Melbourne Theatre Company on 24 May 1977 at the Russell Street Theatre. It toured Australia-wide, breaking all previous box office records, and had seasons in Germany, the United States (where it ran under the name Players) and the United Kingdom. It is popular with amateur theatre groups and secondary school students, having been in the senior English syllabi for four Australian states for many years.

In 2007, The Club was re-produced and toured throughout Australia, starring John Wood.

A film version was produced in 1980, written by David Williamson, directed by Bruce Beresford and starring John Howard, Jack Thompson, Graham Kennedy and Frank Wilson. The film was described as a "hilarious, sharply observed slice of life".

The film features Mike Brady's 1978 football anthem "Up There Cazaly".

The club pay a high price for Tasmanian recruit, Geoff Hayward (Howard). Geoff does not play well initially, infuriating the dedicated coach, Laurie Holden (Thompson). With the club playing so badly, Laurie's coaching days look to be over soon.


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