My Cousin Frank

Powerful, enlightening and entertaining, My Cousin Frank is a storytelling experience with one of Australia’s greatest artistic and cultural leaders, Rhoda Roberts AO, presented as part of the 2025 Adelaide Festival in the Space Theatre – Adelaide Festival Centre from 3 March.

In 1964 Francis Roberts, Australia’s first signed Indigenous Olympian, travelled to Japan to compete in the Tokyo Olympics and dine with Emperor Hirohito. There was one catch – he couldn’t use an Australian passport because Aboriginal people weren’t considered citizens.

In this compelling, moving and uplifting evening of storytelling and sharing, one of the preeminent cultural figures of her generation, Rhoda Roberts AO, introduces us to her cousin Frank, a man who spent his entire life fighting tirelessly, both in the boxing ring and for his family and culture.

At the heart of My Cousin Frank is the powerful narrative of resilience, identity and the pursuit of excellence in the face of adversity.

Through a heartfelt fusion of storytelling, culture and history, Roberts sheds light on Frank’s extraordinary journey from rural Australia to the world stage, exploring the challenges he faced and his remarkable achievements.

Directed by Kirk Page, My Cousin Frank will leave you inspired and profoundly connected to this exceptional piece of Australian history.

“My role in staging this storytelling project was to ensure that the essence of Frank’s journey and the Roberts family’s spirit were vividly conveyed. What attracts me to this story is its profound significance and emotional depth. It’s a story that needs to be told,” said Page.

My Cousin Frank
Space Theatre – Adelaide Festival Centre, King Willian Road, Adelaide
Season: 3 – 5 March 2025
Information and Bookings: www.adelaidefestival.com.au

Image: Rhoda Roberts in My Cousin Frank – photo by Kate Holmes