7 July 2026
Trackside meets centrestage with Mary Rachel Brown’s The Dapto Chaser at the Ensemble.
The production, directed by Anna Houston proves to be a lot more than a night at the dishlickers, but a reflection on Australian society, our relationship with family, gambling, poverty and loss.
Errol Sinclair (Peter Carroll) was once the king of the Dapto dogs, that much is reflected by his walls which are covered in symbols of greyhound glory. Gazing down to earth, the scene isn’t as triumphant. A weathered figure surrounded by tattered up form guides, medicines, VB stubbies, an oxygen tank, an emergency button and a worn-out armchair that hosts Errol for the majority of his days. However for Sinclair, the armchair has become his front row seat to the races, that is if he can get reception on the wireless.
Carroll is a natural, almost as if he just wandered onto the stage and transformed into Errol. Through his worn out vocal delivery, strained physicality and short-tempered yet sharp cadence, Carroll gives an incredible performance.
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The audience is then introduced to his son Jimmy (Andre De Vanny), who has taken after his dad’s love of the greyhounds. But that’s pretty much as far as their similarities go. Jimmy has become the default carer for his Dad and has recently taken a job at the track as a lure driver. You’d think that would make Errol proud. Not under these circumstances as local hotshot Arnold Denny (Marco Chiappi) has recently taken control of the famous Dapto racecourse.
Denny has cut out the old way of doing business, flushing out characters like Errol. Chiappi is dangerously funny, strutting the stage with a suave yet sticky presence, as if he is about to sell the audience some dodgy Gold Coast real estate. He completely nails the character, a real highlight of the piece.
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Either way, Dapto is still the only track in town and a job is a job for Jimmy. His brother Cess (Justin Rosniak) also caught the racing bug from their Dad, as well as his competitive nature, stubborn confidence, tricks of the trade and knack for producing winners. Cess might look down and out, but he is onto a winner with his greyhound Boy Named Sue. This dog might just be Cess’ ticket to the land of milk and honey; Wentworth Park.
The Sinclairs have never been a wealthy family, but they have seen much better times. At least they still have the races, through the highs and lows. Rosniak is nothing short of impressive in his Ensemble debut. He embodies the tension that underlies the Sinclairs and the situation they find themselves in.
The Dapto Chaser is an instant classic that is uniquely Australian, fun, sincere and gripping. Theatre aside, it’s a thrilling night at the dish lickers!