ADELAIDE FRINGE REVIEWS 2019

"★★★★★ - Do the Roosters win the Grand Final? Go see for yourself. Double bravo for writing and performing!" - The Barefoot Review

"★★★★ 1/2 - Damian Callinan has crafted another delightful Australian tale" - Kryztoff RAW

Image:Simon Schluter / Fairfax Syndication

Now an acclaimed feature film adaptation starring Damian Callinan, Kate Mulvany & John Howard, Callinan returns to the stage with the one man tour de force that inspired the Cinefest OZ Prize nominated ‘instant classic.’

The dysfunctional Bodgy Creek Roosters Footy Club is in trouble & will either have to fold or merge with their arch rivals - the Hudson’s Flat Cougars. But prodigal son coach Troy Carrington has other ideas; to save the club he embarks on a programme to recruit refugees & unwittingly takes the community on a journey of change.

Read More about Damian Callinan: The Merger at Adelaide Fringe

"What's On - Opening Week Shows to Check Out" - InDaily

Accolades for Damian Callinan: The Merger (Film and Theatre)

Gala Centrepiece at the Melbourne International Film Festival 2018

Screened in more than a dozen countries at the Global Migration Film Festival (Nov/Dec 2018) including Nigeria, UK, Romania, Canada and Egypt.

A centrepiece film for both the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival and the Glasgow International Film Festivals (Feb 24-Mar 3);

The opening film at the Socially Relevant Film Festival NY – a festival dedicated to social

issues.

WINNER: Cinema Australia Audience Award

NOMINEE: Cinefest Oz Prize nomination

NOMINEE: AACTA nominations for Fayssal Bazzi (Best Supporting Actor) and Kate Mulvany (Best Actress)

NOMINEE: the Australian Film Critics Awards - Kate Mulvany

NOMINEE: Barry Award, Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2010

NOMINEE: West Australian Editor’s Choice Award, FRINGE WORLD 2016

Reviews for Damian Callinan: The Merger

"★★★★ ½ - The Merger is the kind of theatre that makes my life as a theatre-goer worth living. It's a well-crafted play, hilarious and gutsy, charming and dangerous, provocative and subversive" - ArtsHub

"★★★★ ½ - Callinan is one of Australia's most talented character actors. The way he makes an easy and totally believable switch between wildly diverging characters is testament to his skills" - The West Australian

"★★★★ - He is a sharp comic performer and raconteur. What is surprising is the nimbleness and nuance in his characters. All the focus is on Callinan and he holds it expertly" - Sydney Morning Herald

About Damian Callinan

Damian Callinan is a multi award-winning stand-up comic, actor and writer. He is best known to TV audiences for his roles on Skithouse, Before The Game, Spicks and Specks and the Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala. It’s for his prolific output of live shows that Callinan is best regarded. His most decorated one man show The Merger (Barry Award nomination) now a feature film (released mid 2018). His other award winning shows include Sportsman’s Night [Barry nomination & Best Comedy Melbourne Fringe], Spaznuts [Piece Of Wood Comedians Choice Award at MICF], Proxy Heroes [Barry nomination], his comedy dance show The Cave the Rave [ABN Amro Edinburgh Foreign Exchange Award], and The Lost WW1 Diary (Best Comedy nomination FRINGE WORLD [Perth] & part of the Victorian VCE Playlist in 2017). Callinan has toured nationally with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) with State Theatre Company SA, Road Trip with Mickey D, Townfolk, and Swing Man.

For more on Damian Callinan and The Merger, please visit his website, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Media Release

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