DEAR SON – LETTERS OF LOVE

Queensland Theatre’s production of Dear Son is a brilliant piece of storytelling, delivered with warmth, humility, and infectious humour. Directed by Isaac Drandic and based on the book by Thomas Mayo, the play is a salute to the comradery between First Nations men, who are part of families, communities, and the country. They tell their story, gradually revealing more of their selves, all the while supporting each other and helping each other to see their narratives through.

This all-men cast deals with male issues: becoming a father, parenthood stereotypes, toxic masculinity. Five actors – Jimi Bani, Waangenga Blanco, Trevor Jamieson, Kirk Page, and Aaron Pedersen – each start with a greeting in his language. Warmth and sense of fun fill the room as the five men begin to wave to people in the audience. Family, community and togetherness, setting the tone for the whole show.

“Dear Son…” He is struggling to put his feelings into words. The love, the regrets, the hopes, the guilt. We all go through these within our own stories. A son becomes a brother, a father, an uncle, a grandfather, and with each new title his perspective on the world changes through his growing family. How do we define family? Parenthood? Manhood? Dear Son is a celebration of the bond between men, unafraid of being honest and vulnerable.

The play touches on progressively more and more serious issues. Racism, toxic masculinity, violence, drink… How do you fight? The fight is within you, but also with the stereotypes that continue to push you down. “Thank you for the courage and the resilience that we sometimes forget to have.” These words sum up the enduring human spirit that underscores this production, which bring serious concerns to the surface bathes in ample quantities of lighthearted humour. After all, an open heart and a sense of humour is how we survive challenges. Dear Son shows us how love can persist despite time, distance and heartbreak. This sense of continuity of time beautifully captured by the fire that continues to burn throughout the show.

“My ancestors are with me.”

Good theatre should make you feel ignorant. It should arouse curiosity to expand and to learn, with a healthy dose of humility. Dear Son is an exceptional piece of theatre. Revelations, eye-openers, and the realization that you are not alone with your doubts, fears, and hopes. Superbly relatable, this play needs to be seen by every Australian.

Dear Son is playing at the Queensland Theatre until 19 July 2025.