NEWK – The John Newcombe Story Starring Damian Callinan

'Great value daytime theatre by ‘one of the best character comedians in the country’ (Herald Sun) 

Written by award-winning Australian playwright Kieran Carroll and performed by three-time Barry Award nominee and star of recent hit film The Merger, Damian Callinan, NEWK traces the life of the great Australian tennis champion of the 1960s and 70s, John Newcombe.  

Set in 2014 at Newk’s 70th birthday in Sydney, Newcombe’s journey travels from naïve 1960s schoolboy, to the No 1 player in the world in the 1970s, to his time as Davis Cup Captain, to the stroke he suffered in 2003. Numerous well-known guests drop by to celebrate his special day and share the memories.  

Both drama and comedy, the play portrays a highly determined and ambitious man burning through a quickly changing world. A grand story about wanting life to be a huge ride, where rest is secondary and finally how that zest and appetite for life never disappears but needs to be tempered. 

Celebrate Australian history, identity, and self-mockery through following Newcombe’s champion story through the nostalgia of the 1960s and 70s. 

More information

Tickets to events at Berninneit can be pre-purchased online and in person at the Bass Coast Shire Council Customer and Visitor Service, open daily at Berninneit, see hours here.

Available tickets can also be purchased prior to screenings and performances. Doors open 30 minutes prior to cinema sessions and 60 minutes prior to live performances. We strongly recommend that you pre-purchase tickets ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

Accessible seating is available.

Please check our FAQ page for more information on ticketing, refund policies, and contact details.

Berninneit is located at 91-97 Thompson Ave, Cowes and operated for the community by Bass Coast Shire Council.