Matt Byrne takes True Story of Dad to Holden Street

Matt Byrne returns to the stage with his Fringe hit The True Story Of Dad at Holden Street on August 15.

The solo piece was a Five Star hit at Norwood for the 2020 Fringe and Byrne says it is the perfect show “to help MBM get going again in Adelaide.”

Byrne will present the show in The Studio at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. ”in my favourite theatre space.”

Theatre identity Byrne’s father Kevin passed away at 98 in March 2019 after a long and happy life and this is Matt’s hilarious and touching tribute to him.

Audiences loved the show and critics raved about it:

“Matt Byrne’s “The True Story of Dad” is a wonderful tribute that we can all relate to about a man who could be anyone’s dad!” ATG – Five Stars

“Humour and whimsy with familiar nostalgia.” – The Barefoot Review

“A gentle and whimsical reminder of our own parents!” – Encore Magazine.

“Kevin John Byrne was a house painter, a soldier, a Catholic, a truck driver, a joker, a Father of Five and a Port supporter,” Byrne said.

“He played the guitar, loved his wife Gwen and his five children, cherished his fruit trees and hated possums. Dad could tell a Dad joke, sing a song, make us laugh and when he sadly left us I realised it was time to tell his story.”

“The Cowboy” as Dad was known by his family, was raised at Sutherlands in SA’s dusty Mid-North by his dear mother Bridget.

“Dad was one of six children, left fatherless by typhoid when he was only seven,” he said.

“Dad loved the radio where he first heard and imitated Aussie legends like Roy Rene. He played cricket and couldn’t bear to watch fruit fall off a tree as they had so little.

“Dad was a gentle man whose greatest achievement was his family. He was so happy the day we all had a house of our own. He had a lifelong battle with opposition footy supporters … and possums, and the stories are many and hilarious.”

Byrne said Holden Street can currently play to 50 per cent capacity.

“So we can have a good crowd, in the afternoon and the evening,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see theatre underway again at the venue and a great chance for me to tell Dad’s story again.”