This is theatre at the very top of its game: complex, enlightening and thoroughly accomplished.

***** Maxim Boon, The Music

A conservative politician, a leader, a man in a snappy suit, an athlete in a bad tracksuit. Meet A Prudent Man – an amalgamation of the right-wing politician that haunts us all.

Written and directed by Katy Warner and performed by Lyall Brooks, A Prudent Man takes an unapologetic look at a man in control of everything on the edge.

This man has some things he needs to get off his chest. This man has some things he needs you to hear.

And by God you’re going to sit up and listen!

A darkly comic mixture of the Howards, the Abbotts, the Camerons and the Thatchers of the world, A Prudent Man looks at what it means to be a decent human being, and what it means to be right – in more ways than one.

What makes the Cory Bernardis and Pauline Hansons of this world tick? What would happen if their world started to shift ever so slightly?

This is not a show about one politician or political event, this is a speculative piece inspired by real life events and people.

Awards

2016 Victorian Green Room Awards – Best New Writing (Independent Theatre) (nominated) | 2016 Melbourne Fringe Awards – People’s Choice Award (winner), WA Touring Award (winner) and  Best Performance (nominated) | 2017 Perth Fringe Award Best Theatre (nominated)

Performance History

First Performed at the 2016 Melbourne Fringe Festival, Arts House

Written and Directed by Katy Warner | Performed by Lyall Brooks | Producer Adam Fawcett | Lab Kelpie Productions | Images by Pier Carthew

A Prudent Man has toured Australia and New Zealand, with productions at Brisbane Festival, Darwin Festival, Perth Fringe Festival, Harcourts Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival (NZ) and an extensive national 2018 Australian tour.

Find out more about the show and touring here.

Reviews

“Fringe” can sometimes be a euphemism for “low rent”. Not so for Lab Kelpie, which in my humble opinion is one of Australia’s most exciting independent theatre companies on the rise. Not only is the delivery of this show as slick as a political spin doctor, this new text by Katy Warner is as assured as it is incisive. – Maxim Boom, The Music 

A Prudent Man is unfortunately and terrifyingly accurate. Those with interest or experience in politics will connect with A Prudent Man on another level from the ‘general population’, but it’s certainly profound and gripping viewing for all. You simply must see this shocking commentary on conservative politics. – Dani Rothwell, Theatre People