THERE are sporting legends, and then there’s John Newcombe.
The famous moustache, the booming personality, the incredible tennis career and the larger-than-life Australian spirit all come together in NEWK (The John Newcombe Story), playing at the City of Coffs Harbour’s Jetty Memorial Theatre for one night only on Thursday 29 October at 7pm.
The rollicking theatrical portrait of one of Australia’s most unforgettable sporting characters is written by award-winning Australian playwright Kieran Carroll and performed by acclaimed Melbourne actor Paul Armstrong. NEWK takes us back to the glory days of Australian tennis, when Newcombe was tearing up the court, collecting titles and becoming a household name.
But this isn’t simply a story about winning.
Set around Newcombe’s 80th birthday, the play looks behind the sporting legend to explore the man himself: ambitious, driven, fiercely competitive and always ready for the next adventure.
Along the way, we get a glimpse of the enormous demands of professional sport, the pressures on his family and the changing world of tennis as the amateur game gave way to full-blown professionalism.
And then there are the stories.
NEWK revisits the commercials and business ventures that made Newcombe a familiar face well beyond the tennis court.
Cinzano, bananas, Canon cameras and K-Tel tennis instruction albums all get their moment, alongside stories of a sporting era that feels both wonderfully familiar and a world away.
“A sense of nostalgia comes across in this play, which is a treat for all ages,” the Sydney Theatre Review wrote.
There’s plenty of comedy here, but beneath the laughs is a fascinating portrait of a man who lived life at full speed. Newcombe’s appetite for adventure, work and competition never really disappeared, even as life demanded a different pace.
Whether you remember watching Newk dominate the court or simply recognise that iconic moustache from Australian advertising history, NEWK offers a chance to revisit a fascinating chapter of Australian sporting culture.
So grab a drink, settle in and get ready for a very Aussie ride through tennis, triumph, family, fame and one legendary moustache.
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
