Publisher's synopsis
A grimy old ball, a racquet made from a wooden fruit box, a pair of borrowed shoes … then the world at her feet. This is the heart-warming story of how Evonne Goolagong Cawley—our Evonne—rose from humble beginnings in an outback farming town to become a world-champion tennis player by the age of just 19.
With a tin wall for a court and a steely determination, little Evonne hits and hits and hits her way out of rural New South Wales and onto the world stage. On the way she must battle prejudice and homesickness and test herself to the very limits.
Sunshine Super Girl, by Yorta Yorta/Gunaikurnai writer Andrea James, is a funny and poignant take on the life of a talented sportswoman with a big dream. Infused with a wry Australian sensibility and a proud sense of belonging, it’s a story that will inspire and delight.
Upcoming resource
Andrea is a Yorta Yorta/Gunnaikurnai theatremaker and graduate of VCA. She was Artistic Director of Melbourne Workers Theatre 2001-2008 where she is best known for her play Yanagai! Yanagai! The play premiered at Playbox in 2004, was remounted in 2006 and toured to the UK. Andrea was the Aboriginal Arts Development Officer at Blacktown Arts Centre 2010-2012, Aboriginal Producer at Carriageworks from 2012-2016 and is currently Associate Artistic Director at Griffin Theatre.
She was recipient of British Council’s Accelerate Program for Aboriginal Art Leaders in 2013 and was awarded Create NSW Aboriginal Arts Fellowship in 2018. Andrea wrote and directed Winyanboga Yurringa at Carriageworks and Geelong Performing Arts Centre in 2016 and remounted at Belvoir in 2019. Her play Sunshine Super Girl, about Wiradjuri tennis star Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, premiered at Griffith in 2020 and 2021 Sydney Festival and an Australian national tour in 2022. Her play, Dogged written with Cath Ryan was shortlisted for AWGIE Best Stage Play and she is a recent recipient of the Mona Brand Award for Women Writers, Australia’s most prestigious writing prize for women.
Photo by Marnya Rothe, courtesy of Performing Lines
