First there’s Laurie, the embattled coach, learning the hard way about surviving football. He’s desperately trying to hold together a team that hasn’t won the flag since its glory days almost 20 years ago. He’s being pressured to resign for lack of on-field success.

Danny’s the team captain and players’ rep. He’s just about past his prime, an old-style player who’s given his life to the club and undying loyalty to his coach. Then there’s Geoff, the world-weary star recruit who cost the club big bucks, but is now ‘sick to death of football’.

On the other side is Gerry, the club’s tight-fisted administrator. Gerry’s the new entrepreneurial face of footy, pragmatic and ruthless. Ted, the new club president is a megalomaniac meat pie manufacturer more interested in boardroom backstabbing than in the game. Finally there’s Jock – ex-star player, ex-coach and ex-president. Jock is everybody’s mate – a would-be Machiavelli if he only knew when to keep his mouth shut.

The club is at the crossroads: it’s near the bottom of the ladder, with finals hopes out of sight. Off the field things are getting vicious. Gerry, the sleazy administrator, is scheming to undermine the president’s power; president Ted’s playing havoc with the selection committee and the players are threatening to strike. It’s economic rationalism versus loyalty and tradition; pragmatism versus passion for the game. The stakes are high and – amongst the back-room boys – tactics are getting dirty.

Photo: Jeff Busby

The Club is a hilarious satire about sport, machismo and the machinations of desperate men.

Starring

Max Gillies
Ted Parker
Gary Sweet
Laurie Holden
John Wood
Jock Riley
Vince Colosimo
Danny Rowe
Matthew Dyktynski
Geoff Hayward
Jeremy Stanford
Jerry Cooper

"A majestic, watertight piece of writing, a true classic. The humour, social commentary, plot and characters are interwoven and perfectly balanced…this early example of [Williamson’s] work has simplicity, intelligence and emotional resonance."
THE AGE

"Vintage Williamson, a play that’s more than 20 years old but still doesn’t date…The humour is raucous, the atmosphere locker-room. With a great deal of wit Williamson exposes the jostling of egos and elbowing for power…"
HERALD SUN