Trent Dalton’s Love Stories @ Festival Theatre, Adelaide 14/3/2025
Love Stories is a play based on Trent Dalton’s book of the same name. Dalton has gained widespread recognition in recent years, particularly after his novel Boy Swallows Universe was adapted into a popular Netflix series last year. I had the privilege of hearing him discuss Love Stories at the 2022 Adelaide Writers’ Week, where he shared insights into his writing process. The book is a work of non-fiction, inspired by Dalton’s unique method of gathering stories—he set up a table and two chairs on a busy street in Brisbane and invited passersby to share their personal love stories.
This production affected me more deeply than I expected. Initially, I assumed it would be a simple anthology of love stories, but the play is far more intimate. It weaves together not only the experiences of others but also deeply personal elements from Dalton’s own life, including his relationships with his wife and father. This added layer of vulnerability made the production particularly compelling. Like life, the stories range from humorous to poignant, with some profoundly moving. The tale of Japanese migrant Sakura Tomii and another involving a Cherry Ripe chocolate bar were especially touching.
The cast of nine performers, along with an onstage cameraman, delivered immaculate performances. Jason Klarwein and Michala Banas play the central roles of the author and his wife. Both actors originated these roles during the play’s sold-out run at the Brisbane Festival last September. Klarwein and Banas, both highly experienced in stage and television, brought exceptional depth to their performances. Notably, Banas had previously appeared in the stage adaptation of Boy Swallows Universe.
The production’s use of technology was particularly striking. A large screen behind the actors helped to enhance the storytelling, while both a fixed camera and a mobile cameraman captured close-ups of the performers’ faces, allowing the audience to see their eyes, expressions, and reactions in stunning detail. This heightened the emotional impact of the play. One especially clever moment involved the camera movement during a dance scene, creating the illusion of a much larger crowd than was present. Thankfully, the multimedia elements were used judiciously, never overshadowing the performances.
The play was directed by Sam Strong, whose extensive credits include directing the first two productions of Jasper Jones in Melbourne and Brisbane—another remarkable play. His direction here was equally impressive, balancing the personal and universal aspects of Dalton’s storytelling with finesse.
One of the most emotionally powerful moments for me was when the author reflected on his father’s reluctance to show affection in the section called “The Story of Why I Reckon My Old Man Was Not Much of a Hugger”. This scene was heart-wrenching and beautifully executed.
A huge thank you to Adelaide Festival for bringing this production to Adelaide. The final two performances are completely sold out, but if you ever get the chance to see Love Stories—perhaps in Melbourne in the future—it would be well worth the trip.
Adelaide Festival Review By Richard De Pizzol
Season Closed