Mr Bailey’s Minder

“Leo paints ordinary stuff and ordinary people but his picture’ll make them look special – make them beautiful and glowing and – But it’s not tizzying things up. It’s like Leo can see the specialness inside a thing so when a person looks at the painting they can see it too.”

Abusive, cantankerous and burned out by booze, Leo Bailey is one of Australia’s national treasures. A gifted painter and chronic alcoholic, he can no longer take care of himself. His resentful daughter has been through a succession of minders, until Therese comes along, fresh out of jail and determined to make a go of her limited options.

Mr Bailey’s Minder is a tough, funny and big-hearted play. It’s about shame and judgment, about who deserves to be loved and forgiven. It looks at how people exploit each other and where they find the beauty; and the qualities of transcendence, letting go and forgiveness.

Occasional coarse language

The cast:
Leo: Damian Jones
Therese: Emily Renalson O’Kane
Margo: Clare Hayes
Gavin/Karl: Henry Young

Stage Manager: Alex Begg

Set Design: George Tranter

Lighting Design: Craig Pearcey

Audio Design: Les Hart and Nelson Clemente

Costumes: Possum Ball

Props: Maria Haughey and Karin Bouvin

Prompt: Lois Collinder