Kick Off Ya’ Boots – How a Little Riverland Town Took Theatre to the Paddock
In farming towns, creativity doesn’t always get centre stage — sometimes it’s hiding behind a stethoscope, sometimes behind a pair of dusty work boots. For the Riverland town of Loxton, it stepped into the spotlight with Kick Off Ya’ Boots — a theatre production born in the bush and now touring the state on the big screen.
The story starts with Little Town Productions, a group of Loxton locals who’ve been putting on hugely popular Christmas and Easter performances since 1999.
When COVID rolled in and life got heavy, local farmer (come playwright) John Gladigau decided to put together something that might lift people up and for regional people to celebrate where they live. What he created was Kick Off Ya’ Boots — a story that tackles the big issues that families on the land know all too well – drought, succession, money worries and the big one….communication . But it’s not all serious — it’s packed with humour, hope and some toe-tapping fun thanks to 70s and 80s classics cleverly rewritten with farm-life lyrics.
It’s a true family affair, too. The cast of 13 includes everyone from teenagers to retirees — even the town doctor and his family take centre stage. John’s sister Leanne keeps things on track as coordinator, while her husband Paul makes sure the tech runs smoothly. Together, they prove that you don’t need to live in the city to find your stage — sometimes you just need to find your crew.
After a string of sold-out live shows, Kick Off Ya’ Boots scored funding to have the performance filmed professionally. Now, the “dinner-movie” version is touring small towns across SA — pairing the story of the Connor family with hearty country meals, laughs, and a night out that leaves you feeling uplifted and inspired.
Leanne says that while the music and comedy draw people in, it’s the messages that stick –
“It’s about communication between family, mental health, looking after each other and remembering what’s important in life. Those things are all cleverly woven into the storyline.”
It’s no surprise then that the show has struck a chord — not just in Loxton, but right across rural SA and even interstate. This is theatre built by and for small towns, with a heart for farming life and community connection.
And it just keeps growing. March’s movie premier at the Chaffey Theatre in Renmark was a big hit, before it hit the road to the Murray Mallee, Yorke Peninsula, South East and Tumby Bay. More movie dinners are scheduled for the Mid North, Barossa, South East and the Yorke Peninsula, where plenty of belly laughs and “a-ha” moments will be had.
For the latest info on where you can catch Kick Off Ya’ Boots, click here.
