The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race

Appleton is the quintessential small Australian country town. There are those in the town who embrace change, like long-time resident Barb. And there are those, like Barb’s friend Bev, who aren’t fans of the tree-changers and their city ways.

Penny returns to her childhood home just in time for the Appleton Show and its famous potato race, where the winning man’s prize is $1,000 and the winning woman’s prize is… $200? Not if Penny has anything to do with it. The determined doctor swings into action to right this wrong; she’s going to smash through the glass ceiling, one potato sack at a time.

Inspired by true events, Melanie Tait’s affectionate Australian comedy receives its South Australian premiere following triumphant seasons around the country. The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race is an effervescent, hilarious and big-hearted tale about women taking action and showing the world there’s more than one way to win a race.

Elena Carapetis brought out all the colours in End of the Rainbow at the Royalty Theatre in 2019 and I’m delighted that she returns to this charming theatre to direct a fresh new production of such a charming, laugh-out-loud and empowering play. Mitchell

Run time: Approx. 90 minutes (no interval)

Content: contains smoke and haze, strobe light effects, coarse language and simulated nudity
Age guide – 13+

Single tickets to The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race are now on sale!

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The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race is also available as part of our 2021 Subscription Packages.

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Audio Described Performances and Pre-Show Briefings

Saturday 12 June, 12.45pm (briefing), 2pm (performance) – Click here to purchase tickets
Tuesday 15 June, 5.15pm (briefing), 6.30pm (performance with post-show Q and A) – CANCELLED

Click here for the vision impaired pre-show introductory notes for The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race

Click here for the audio recording of the pre-show introductory noted for The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race

Venue Access

The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race will be held at the Royalty Theatre located at 65 Angas Street, Adelaide. The Royalty Theatre is a part of Adelaide’s history and has been serving the community for a very long time. The venue which seats up to 620 people over 2 levels comfortably.

The main entrance to the venue is wheelchair accessible. Please note that there is no designated wheelchair accessible car parking. Safe wheelchair accessible drop off/pick up area in close proximity to the venue entrance.

Getting to the Venue

The Royalty Theatre is easily accessible by public transport, including the tram (stop at Central Market), trains, buses and a free bus service that operates on a loop throughout the city and North Adelaide with stops on the corner of Victoria Square and Grote Street.

For more information visit https://adelaidemetro.com.au/

Car parking

There are a few car parks near the theatre.

• Moore Street Car park (Behind the Royalty Theatre): A pay and display car park.
• Wilson Car Park, 111 Angas Street: 200 m east of the theatre, there is a $5 flat rate entering after 4 pm weekdays and exiting before 5 am the following day.
• UPark Central Market: Exit the carpark via Gouger Street.  Turn left and head east along Gouger street, across King William Street. Gouger Street becomes Angas Street. Continue along Angas Street until you reach Moore Street. The Royalty Theatre is on your right.

Please note, there is a performance at the neighbouring Arts Theatre at the same time, which may affect parking availability.

State Theatre Company South Australia is following advice from the Australian Government Department of Health and SA Health regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and will continue to do so as the situation changes in South Australia and around the country. Please visit our Terms & Conditions of Sale page for COVID safe venue information.

Should conditions change, will provide updates via our website, social media, and/or direct communication with ticket buyers.

Before you attend an event, please read the pre-show email sent to ticket buyers to keep up-to-date with the latest guidelines. If you did not purchase your tickets, please ask the person who did to send you your pre-show email.

Tangent

Join our esteemed panel on Monday 17 May for our Tangent Talk on The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race. 

Subscriber Briefing

2021 Subscribers are invited to join us for exclusive Subscriber Briefing on Monday 31 May to learn more about the creation of the show.

Post Show Q&As

We hold Q&As with our artists and creative teams so that you can ask questions about the production.

Join us at the matinee performance at 11am on Thursday 17 June for Matinee Club, featuring a special post show Q&A hosted by Jane Doyle (7NEWS Adelaide).