Set in the Pilbara in 1969, Panawathi Girl, David Milroy’s brilliant and heartfelt new musical for the Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, follows the homecoming of Molly Panawathi Chubb (Lila McGuire). Defiant and headstrong, activist and feminist, Molly’s worldview is the product of big-city living, a university education and the 1967 referendum. Molly travels to the small country town of her birth in search of her identity (panawathi means ‘dream’ in her mother’s Palyku language). She soon realises things back home are very different. Not for long though as the Rodeo is coming to town.

Panawathi Girl, Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, Perth Festival, 2022. Photo @ Dana Weeks

This attracts a pair of vacuous politicians – Gough Whitlam and John Gorton, no less – brilliantly played by Luke Hewitt and Geoff Kelso. A trio of hippies follow: Chris Isaacs is fun as Ron, a wannabe professional protest songwriter; Manuao TeAotonga plays the gender-fluid JoJo with great comedic timing (especially in drag as Geraldine Wax); and Grace Chow is unforgettable as the brash and outrageous Beth, whose song about a Palomino Pony firmly belongs in the front bar. Peter Docker and...