My Cousin Frank: powerful solo show to make Melbourne debut for NAIDOC Week

The remarkable story of Australia’s first signed Indigenous Olympian, Francis Roy “Frank” Roberts, is coming to Melbourne this July.

Written and performed by renowned Bundjalung artist Rhoda Roberts AO, the production will run at Arts Centre Melbourne from July 9 to 12 as part of this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations.

Making its Naarm/Melbourne debut, My Cousin Frank offers a moving and intimate portrait of Ms Roberts’ cousin Frank – a proud Widjabul Wia-bal and Githabul man who rose from the Cubawee Reserve outside Lismore, New South Wales, to represent Australia in boxing at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

His selection as a welterweight marked a historic moment: he became the first Aboriginal athlete officially chosen for an Australian Olympic team.

Described as an “extraordinary feat of solo storytelling”, My Cousin Frank has already captivated audiences.

After a successful premiere season in 2024 at the Byron Theatre and Star Court Theatre in Lismore, it sold out again earlier this year during its run at the Adelaide Festival.

A trailblazer in First Nations performance, Ms Roberts said she felt a strong responsibility in bringing this largely untold chapter of Australian history to light.

The process of writing this story has been a deeply personal and transformative one, involving extensive research, community consultation and my own reflections

“It’s been a journey of uncovering my family’s history and ensuring the authenticity of the narrative, all while aiming to make an impact on the audience. My Cousin Frank serves as both a celebration of achievements and a call for deeper reflection on our past and the work still to be done.”

The production highlights Frank’s resilience both inside and outside the boxing ring, and his commitment to family, community, and cultural survival.

“It struck me that Lismore is home to Australia’s first Aboriginal Olympian signed to an Olympic team, a fact that had been largely overlooked. Imagine how proud Lismoreans would be to know this part of their history,” she said.

After its Melbourne run, My Cousin Frank will continue its national tour, heading to HotHouse Theatre in Wodonga from August 13 to 16, with additional venues to be announced.

“Cousin Frank has become a warrior, a sportsman, a local hero, and his story is no longer overlooked.” •