Audience happy with the ‘Happiest Refugee’ Anh Do

An audience of 580 was entertained, and alternately moved to laughter and compassion as comedian Anh Do shared his life story in his one man show ‘The Happiest Refugee’ at The Crossing Theatre on Friday night.

The audience was one the venue’s biggest-ever for a one person stage performance.

The attendance was another reminder that Narrabri is fortunate to have a venue for major shows seating up to 800 people and confirmation that big names in entertainment will attract a big crowd.

Another ‘big show’ has been the Paul Hogan concert which saw a seated audience of 620.

As with the Hogan show, Friday’s audience was drawn from across the shire and the region, with Moree, Coonabarabran and Gunnedah well represented, again underlining the value of The Crossing Theatre in bringing people to Narrabri to eat, sleep and spend in local shops when they come for a show.

“I estimate that up to 20 percent of the audience was from out of the immediate area,” said The Crossing Theatre acting venue manager Paul Shelley.

“Tickets started to sell very quickly as soon as it was announced that Anh Do was booked,” he said.

The mix of ages of the audience, from primary school pupils to pensioners was a testament to the appeal of the actor, comedian, artist and author.

A contingent of Rowena Public School pupils who have been studying Anh Do’s autobiography, ‘The Happiest Refugee’ was among the audience.

The popular Vietnamese born Australian comedian won the audience with his down to earth
recounting of his journey as a refugee from the Vietnam War and his arrival at the age of three in Australia in 1980.

Anh Do’s life has been one of triumph over adversity, notably near death experiences as a refugee, achievement, opportunities seized, and success.

Anh Do struggled in his early school years, but went on to achieve a high HSC result, completed a five year law degree, became a successful comedian and artist, short listed as a finalist for the Archibald prize, winning the People’s Choice award in 2017, wrote a best selling book ‘The Happiest Refugee’ which won the Australian Book of the Year prize and along the way is raising a family of four children with his wife Suzanne.

He has starred in many television shows and acted in numerous films, with a movie of his life, with Anh Do playing his father, now in the pipeline.

Anh Do attributed his successes to the positive influence of his mother who always urged him to ‘aim high’ and his father who told him ‘just have a crack at it’ if in doubt.