DUST
England. 2020. Pinderfields Hospital. Lockdown. 2:20 a.m.
A man fights for each breath, determined to make it home to Dot. In his isolated, morphine-fuelled delirium, we witness a frail man reliving his fragmented past: a boxer, a soldier, a boilermaker, a miner—dancing with Lady Luck as he battles to win. But is it fate, or sheer will to survive that determines when we return to dust? Dust is one man’s unforgettable journey, examining generational trauma, resilience, and survival against the backdrop of post-World War II England. Dust is dedicated to the servicemen who fought for their country, the seven men who tragically lost their lives in the 1973 Lofthouse Colliery disaster, and to every miner who lived their lives in darkness, so we could live in the light. This true story is humorous, heart wrenching and infused with northern grit and soul.
Presented by: Yellow Brick - Written by Charlaina Thompson in collaboration with Craig McArdle.
Charlaina is a playwright, award-winning drama educator and producer. Born in Australia and raised in the UK, she returned to Adelaide in 2001, completing her Master of Drama and Education at Flinders University. Affectionately known as Ms. T by her students, Charlaina has taught Performing Arts at four prestigious private schools, directing and producing over 100 productions, musicals, and original plays for Youth Theatre. Adelaide Fringe 2025 launches her theatre company Yellow Brick and its debut production 'Dust'. Charlaina is a recipient of Creative Australia's MatchLab grant to develop future work and has been awarded the Adelaide Fringe Artist Fund to premier 'Dust' at the Adelaide Fringe 2025.
Reviews & Fringe Feed Reacts
McArdle takes Thompson’s nuanced text and builds the rhythm of his expansive, yet immaculately measured performance to perfection. - John Doherty, That Guy in The Foyer