Coming to ABC: Comedy Legend Dawn French to star in Sean Tan's animated series about growing up in Perth
Comedy legend Dawn French is set to star in the animated series based on Sean Tan's best-selling illustrated anthology, Tales From Outer Suburbia.
The celebrated comedian and actress, best known for her starring role in classic 90s sitcom The Vicar of Dibley and for being one half of the iconic 'French and Saunders' comedy duo, will join the voice cast for the 10 x 22-minute series, currently in development and coming soon to ABC.
Described as 'a uniquely Western Australian take on growing up in Perth', the 10-episode series will make its world premiere this week at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France.
Created by Highly Spirited and Flying Bark Productions, the series was produced out of both Flying Bark in NSW and WA-based Siamese, with Tan, an Academy Award-winning writer/artist/filmmaker, overseeing the series as Creative Director.
Based on Tan's memories of growing up in the northern suburbs of Perth, the story centres around 'almost 13 year-old' Klara and her six year-old brother Pim, who move to Outer Suburbia with their newly single mother, Lucy.
'The siblings' summer holiday turns into a series of unexpected and surreal adventures, with the family encountering weird and miraculous phenomena as they adapt to their new reality,' the release reads.
Dawn French voices Klara and Pim's Grandma.
'Grandma is amazing. She's courageous and adventurous, she's quite chaotic, she's a bit bonkers,' French said.
'What drew me to the character, and the whole project, is it's quite possibly the strangest thing I've ever read!
'It's very surreal — you understand it on a visceral level but you also don't understand it, so you're drawn in to try and make sense of slightly surreal things.
'This is a series about big, big themes: themes of rejection, forgiveness, absence, loss, grief, judgment, friendships.
'I think it's absolutely crucial that we make good quality shows for children and for families because it's a shared experience when you watch something together.'
'Dawn brings a unique warmth, confidence and levity to a character that audiences really needed to trust during difficult moments, and I can't imagine a better performance,' Creative Director Shaun Tan said.
'She is the anchor of reassurance in a sea of animated weirdness, the hand you want to hold tight as the tide fills the room.'
Alongside French, the series also stars Geraldine Hakewell (Lucy) and newcomers Brooklyn Davies (Klara) and Felix Oliver Vergés (Pim) as the family at the centre of the story — Austin and Love on the Spectrum's Michael Theo also lends his voice.
Sreenwest Chief Executive Officer Rikki Lea Bestall said: 'Screenwest is beyond proud to support this quintessentially Western Australian take on growing up in the 'burbs of Perth — and what a coup to have Dawn French amongst the cast.
'Shaun Tan is an incredibly talented creative whose works resonate with young and old.
'We cannot wait to see this series on screen, and congratulate everyone involved for Tales From Outer Suburbia being selected to make its world premiere at Annecy.'
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The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Who knew infidelity could be laugh-out-loud funny?
Riviera Revenge (M, 94 minutes) 4 Stars A family lunch in the gardens of a fine house in the French countryside sets the stage in the opening scenes of this witty French comedy which focuses on a mature-age couple with decades of family relationship drama. On this occasion, a birthday has brought three generations of the family together. The two adult sons, along with a pregnant wife and four granddaughters, and an adult daughter are in attendance to celebrate with Annie (Sabine Azema) who is trim and attractive, and as calm and contained as her husband Francois (Andre Dussolier) is disagreeable. It doesn't take long for the fault lines in the family to be exposed. Francois, a retired general, is an uptight conservative who can't accept that one of his sons is a gentle marionettist, even though the other has followed in his footsteps. And he can't help making it plain that it's time a grandson arrived. The couple's children wonder what mum sees in him. Is he a great lay? When the guests have fled, Francois retreats to the attic to clear some clutter. He discovers a bundle of old letters, ardent letters to his wife revealing a passionate affair with a certain Boris (Thierry Lhermitte). Annie eventually admits to it. Francois was away, she immersed in small children, someone had found her desirable nonetheless, but she loves him still and it happened 40 years ago. Francois sleeps in the study. It is good to see these two lead actors, Dussolier and Azema, who complement each other well, dominate the frame. And interesting to discover that Azema appeared in many films by the late celebrated director, Alain Resnais, and became his wife. As Francois digs in deeper, feeling keenly that he has lost face, he becomes a figure of fun. An unbending Gaullist, a lifelong patriot who owns a bust of Napoleon, an upright man who declares time and time again that he has never cheated. We just about believe him. Revenge must be served, hot rather than cold, while Francois has his rival in his sights. Former army colleagues can't be convinced to help him take revenge so he and Annie will have to go to Nice where Boris lives, identify and confront him with the dishonour man-to-man. An aging former hippie who used to play guitar will surely be no match for a former military man. Boris is not, however, as expected. He cycles around town and wears a black belt at his martial arts classes. Still not content to let bygones be bygones, Francois is undeterred and the tone shifts to farce. But Francois' decision to reconnect with a former lover of his own introduces another tonal shift. He finds her, and it is a ruefully tender moment. The points that writer-director Ivan Calberg makes about relationships are sharp and insightful. While the ensemble of actors is all an asset to the production, which, at a crisp hour and half, doesn't outstay its welcome. It is a changed world that the old republican, Francois, has yet to come to terms with. It's not something a visit to a nudist beach will put to rights. A rush of social changes has made it a place where women are independent, where young men can pursue their artistic talents and where young women are free to choose their sexual orientation. His daughter Capucine (Josephine de Meaux) has yet another revelation for him. There is still much to come to terms with for this representative of the traditional, conservative classes. This terrific comedy replete with laugh-out-loud moments is a refreshing export from a country where levels of sexism is sometimes surprising, and where the attitudes to infidelity seem to differ from our own. And where the president could take a mistress or two and expect to have the details of his private life discreetly hidden from view. Riviera Revenge will endear itself to women especially. It's not that the title of this cheeky farce is misleading, it's just that the original French one works so much better. N'avoue Jamais, translating to "Never Admit to Anything" casts a different slant on things and is a better fit with the closing revelations. And, by the way, it did ever so well at the box office in France. They liked it too. Riviera Revenge (M, 94 minutes) 4 Stars A family lunch in the gardens of a fine house in the French countryside sets the stage in the opening scenes of this witty French comedy which focuses on a mature-age couple with decades of family relationship drama. On this occasion, a birthday has brought three generations of the family together. The two adult sons, along with a pregnant wife and four granddaughters, and an adult daughter are in attendance to celebrate with Annie (Sabine Azema) who is trim and attractive, and as calm and contained as her husband Francois (Andre Dussolier) is disagreeable. It doesn't take long for the fault lines in the family to be exposed. Francois, a retired general, is an uptight conservative who can't accept that one of his sons is a gentle marionettist, even though the other has followed in his footsteps. And he can't help making it plain that it's time a grandson arrived. The couple's children wonder what mum sees in him. Is he a great lay? When the guests have fled, Francois retreats to the attic to clear some clutter. He discovers a bundle of old letters, ardent letters to his wife revealing a passionate affair with a certain Boris (Thierry Lhermitte). Annie eventually admits to it. Francois was away, she immersed in small children, someone had found her desirable nonetheless, but she loves him still and it happened 40 years ago. Francois sleeps in the study. It is good to see these two lead actors, Dussolier and Azema, who complement each other well, dominate the frame. And interesting to discover that Azema appeared in many films by the late celebrated director, Alain Resnais, and became his wife. As Francois digs in deeper, feeling keenly that he has lost face, he becomes a figure of fun. An unbending Gaullist, a lifelong patriot who owns a bust of Napoleon, an upright man who declares time and time again that he has never cheated. We just about believe him. Revenge must be served, hot rather than cold, while Francois has his rival in his sights. Former army colleagues can't be convinced to help him take revenge so he and Annie will have to go to Nice where Boris lives, identify and confront him with the dishonour man-to-man. An aging former hippie who used to play guitar will surely be no match for a former military man. Boris is not, however, as expected. He cycles around town and wears a black belt at his martial arts classes. Still not content to let bygones be bygones, Francois is undeterred and the tone shifts to farce. But Francois' decision to reconnect with a former lover of his own introduces another tonal shift. He finds her, and it is a ruefully tender moment. The points that writer-director Ivan Calberg makes about relationships are sharp and insightful. While the ensemble of actors is all an asset to the production, which, at a crisp hour and half, doesn't outstay its welcome. It is a changed world that the old republican, Francois, has yet to come to terms with. It's not something a visit to a nudist beach will put to rights. A rush of social changes has made it a place where women are independent, where young men can pursue their artistic talents and where young women are free to choose their sexual orientation. His daughter Capucine (Josephine de Meaux) has yet another revelation for him. There is still much to come to terms with for this representative of the traditional, conservative classes. This terrific comedy replete with laugh-out-loud moments is a refreshing export from a country where levels of sexism is sometimes surprising, and where the attitudes to infidelity seem to differ from our own. And where the president could take a mistress or two and expect to have the details of his private life discreetly hidden from view. Riviera Revenge will endear itself to women especially. It's not that the title of this cheeky farce is misleading, it's just that the original French one works so much better. N'avoue Jamais, translating to "Never Admit to Anything" casts a different slant on things and is a better fit with the closing revelations. And, by the way, it did ever so well at the box office in France. They liked it too. Riviera Revenge (M, 94 minutes) 4 Stars A family lunch in the gardens of a fine house in the French countryside sets the stage in the opening scenes of this witty French comedy which focuses on a mature-age couple with decades of family relationship drama. On this occasion, a birthday has brought three generations of the family together. The two adult sons, along with a pregnant wife and four granddaughters, and an adult daughter are in attendance to celebrate with Annie (Sabine Azema) who is trim and attractive, and as calm and contained as her husband Francois (Andre Dussolier) is disagreeable. It doesn't take long for the fault lines in the family to be exposed. Francois, a retired general, is an uptight conservative who can't accept that one of his sons is a gentle marionettist, even though the other has followed in his footsteps. And he can't help making it plain that it's time a grandson arrived. The couple's children wonder what mum sees in him. Is he a great lay? When the guests have fled, Francois retreats to the attic to clear some clutter. He discovers a bundle of old letters, ardent letters to his wife revealing a passionate affair with a certain Boris (Thierry Lhermitte). Annie eventually admits to it. Francois was away, she immersed in small children, someone had found her desirable nonetheless, but she loves him still and it happened 40 years ago. Francois sleeps in the study. It is good to see these two lead actors, Dussolier and Azema, who complement each other well, dominate the frame. And interesting to discover that Azema appeared in many films by the late celebrated director, Alain Resnais, and became his wife. As Francois digs in deeper, feeling keenly that he has lost face, he becomes a figure of fun. An unbending Gaullist, a lifelong patriot who owns a bust of Napoleon, an upright man who declares time and time again that he has never cheated. We just about believe him. Revenge must be served, hot rather than cold, while Francois has his rival in his sights. Former army colleagues can't be convinced to help him take revenge so he and Annie will have to go to Nice where Boris lives, identify and confront him with the dishonour man-to-man. An aging former hippie who used to play guitar will surely be no match for a former military man. Boris is not, however, as expected. He cycles around town and wears a black belt at his martial arts classes. Still not content to let bygones be bygones, Francois is undeterred and the tone shifts to farce. But Francois' decision to reconnect with a former lover of his own introduces another tonal shift. He finds her, and it is a ruefully tender moment. The points that writer-director Ivan Calberg makes about relationships are sharp and insightful. While the ensemble of actors is all an asset to the production, which, at a crisp hour and half, doesn't outstay its welcome. It is a changed world that the old republican, Francois, has yet to come to terms with. It's not something a visit to a nudist beach will put to rights. A rush of social changes has made it a place where women are independent, where young men can pursue their artistic talents and where young women are free to choose their sexual orientation. His daughter Capucine (Josephine de Meaux) has yet another revelation for him. There is still much to come to terms with for this representative of the traditional, conservative classes. This terrific comedy replete with laugh-out-loud moments is a refreshing export from a country where levels of sexism is sometimes surprising, and where the attitudes to infidelity seem to differ from our own. And where the president could take a mistress or two and expect to have the details of his private life discreetly hidden from view. Riviera Revenge will endear itself to women especially. It's not that the title of this cheeky farce is misleading, it's just that the original French one works so much better. N'avoue Jamais, translating to "Never Admit to Anything" casts a different slant on things and is a better fit with the closing revelations. And, by the way, it did ever so well at the box office in France. They liked it too. Riviera Revenge (M, 94 minutes) 4 Stars A family lunch in the gardens of a fine house in the French countryside sets the stage in the opening scenes of this witty French comedy which focuses on a mature-age couple with decades of family relationship drama. On this occasion, a birthday has brought three generations of the family together. The two adult sons, along with a pregnant wife and four granddaughters, and an adult daughter are in attendance to celebrate with Annie (Sabine Azema) who is trim and attractive, and as calm and contained as her husband Francois (Andre Dussolier) is disagreeable. It doesn't take long for the fault lines in the family to be exposed. Francois, a retired general, is an uptight conservative who can't accept that one of his sons is a gentle marionettist, even though the other has followed in his footsteps. And he can't help making it plain that it's time a grandson arrived. The couple's children wonder what mum sees in him. Is he a great lay? When the guests have fled, Francois retreats to the attic to clear some clutter. He discovers a bundle of old letters, ardent letters to his wife revealing a passionate affair with a certain Boris (Thierry Lhermitte). Annie eventually admits to it. Francois was away, she immersed in small children, someone had found her desirable nonetheless, but she loves him still and it happened 40 years ago. Francois sleeps in the study. It is good to see these two lead actors, Dussolier and Azema, who complement each other well, dominate the frame. And interesting to discover that Azema appeared in many films by the late celebrated director, Alain Resnais, and became his wife. As Francois digs in deeper, feeling keenly that he has lost face, he becomes a figure of fun. An unbending Gaullist, a lifelong patriot who owns a bust of Napoleon, an upright man who declares time and time again that he has never cheated. We just about believe him. Revenge must be served, hot rather than cold, while Francois has his rival in his sights. Former army colleagues can't be convinced to help him take revenge so he and Annie will have to go to Nice where Boris lives, identify and confront him with the dishonour man-to-man. An aging former hippie who used to play guitar will surely be no match for a former military man. Boris is not, however, as expected. He cycles around town and wears a black belt at his martial arts classes. Still not content to let bygones be bygones, Francois is undeterred and the tone shifts to farce. But Francois' decision to reconnect with a former lover of his own introduces another tonal shift. He finds her, and it is a ruefully tender moment. The points that writer-director Ivan Calberg makes about relationships are sharp and insightful. While the ensemble of actors is all an asset to the production, which, at a crisp hour and half, doesn't outstay its welcome. It is a changed world that the old republican, Francois, has yet to come to terms with. It's not something a visit to a nudist beach will put to rights. A rush of social changes has made it a place where women are independent, where young men can pursue their artistic talents and where young women are free to choose their sexual orientation. His daughter Capucine (Josephine de Meaux) has yet another revelation for him. There is still much to come to terms with for this representative of the traditional, conservative classes. This terrific comedy replete with laugh-out-loud moments is a refreshing export from a country where levels of sexism is sometimes surprising, and where the attitudes to infidelity seem to differ from our own. And where the president could take a mistress or two and expect to have the details of his private life discreetly hidden from view. Riviera Revenge will endear itself to women especially. It's not that the title of this cheeky farce is misleading, it's just that the original French one works so much better. N'avoue Jamais, translating to "Never Admit to Anything" casts a different slant on things and is a better fit with the closing revelations. And, by the way, it did ever so well at the box office in France. They liked it too.
Herald Sun
2 days ago
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2 days ago
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