The Cake Man

Written by Robert J Merritt 

 

Directed by Kyle J Morrison

FEATURING: Luke Carroll, Oscar Redding, George Shevtsov, James Slee, Tim Solly & Irma Woods

WRITER: Robert J Merritt                                                               

DIRECTOR: Kyle J Morrison                                                           

SET & COSTUME DESIGNER: Stephen Curtis

LIGHTING DESIGNER: Jenny Vila

SOUND DESIGNER / COMPOSER: Wayne Freer

STAGE MANAGER: Sue Wilkes

PRODUCTION MANAGERS: Mike Nanning (Perth) & Todd Wilson (Sydney)

​

The Cake Man is an absurd examination of white imperialism from a black point of view. Robert J. Merritt's ground-breaking play kicked off a renaissance of art and performance that laid the foundations of contemporary Aboriginal theatre.

​

Sweet William and his wife Ruby live on the missions with their 11-year-old child Pumpkinhead. William is unemployed and spends his days drinking. He has lost respect as a man and a father in Ruby’s eyes. Ruby finds solace in the Bible and remains a supportive wife and protective mother. Pumpkinhead helps where he can. Before he goes to sleep each night, he loves to hear Ruby's story of the Cake Man, a mythical figure who delivers cakes to the children to bring them hope when the spectre of despair is constant. Is the Cake Man just a story or does he really exist?

​

Everybody is waiting for The Cake Man...

​

Yirra Yaakin are teaming up with Sydney's Belvoir to give this forgotten gem its WA premiere. Robert J. Merritt, an inmate of Long Bay, watched his first opening night under police guard. The Cake Man is his real testimony, and from this legacy Black theatre was born. Kyle J. Morrison, leads an all-star cast representing the next generation of black theatre makers.