What’s the first thing that would pop into your head if WasteWatch said: “opera”?
Pavarotti?
Verdi?
Shane Warne?
See, back in 2008, a marvellous musical based on Shane Warne’s life debuted in Melbourne.
It won rave reviews, with numbers like What An S-M-Mess I’m In, Bunny In The Headlights, and The Ball.
Of course, Warney’s life (and face) have undergone a few changes since 2008, and an updated version of the musical, complete with Liz Hurley and cosmetic surgery, was debuted in 2013.
This updated version is now set to tour India with Opera Australia as part of a cultural exchange programme, courtesy of a $55,000 grant from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
With cricket’s popularity in India surely we don’t need to fund a musical that should be able to cover its costs with ticket sales and support from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
DFAT’s own grant guidelines for the programme state that:
Strong preference will be given to projects that showcase Australian excellence to influential Indian audiences.
WasteWatch suspects that Warney has already showcased enough excellence for Indian audiences during his long career.
Your tax dollars at work!
William Shrubb
