Following acclaimed seasons at Sydney Theatre Company and Brisbane’s La Boite Theatre, Dylan Van Den Berg’s celebrated play Whitefella Yella Tree will make its long-awaited Victorian debut this November with University of Melbourne Arts and Culture (UMAC).
Hailed by the Sydney Morning Herald as “a new Australian classic”, the play has captivated audiences since its 2022 premiere at Griffin Theatre Company with its moving portrayal of love, Country and Blak queerness. It’s a story that balances heartache and hope — a deeply human work that speaks to connection and identity.
“I never dreamed two lovestruck boys under a lemon tree would have such long legs! I’m over the moon to see Whitefella Yella Tree return to the stage, once again under the sharp and generous direction of Amy Sole and Declan Greene,” said playwright Dylan Van Den Berg. “And I’m equally excited for audiences to meet our dreamy new cast, Joseph Althouse and Danny Howard, who bring heart, heat and cheek to these boys. This story means a great deal to me, and I’m so proud to see it take root again.”
Set “once in a blue moon, in the middle of nowhere”, Whitefella Yella Tree follows two young Aboriginal men, Ty and Neddy, whose chance meeting beneath a lemon tree blossoms from wary friendship into something far deeper. Unbeknownst to them, their tender romance unfolds on the edge of a world on the cusp of irreversible change.
Starring Joseph Althouse (The Visitors) and Danny Howard (Jacky), and co-directed by Declan Greene and Amy Sole, the production has been described by The Guardian as “a gorgeous, smart piece of writing” — blending humour, vulnerability and history in equal measure.
Whitefella Yella Tree runs from 13–15 November 2025 at UMAC. Tickets available at www.umac.melbourne or via Ticketmaster.
