The Pink Twins

Editorial

22 July-1 August, 2009
Cremorne Theatre: QPAC, South Brisbane

Born in 1923, Dorothy and Moyia O'Brien were identical twins who lived out a dual pursuit and pleasure for all things pink, along with a commitment to occupational therapy and creating a safe place filled with love and care for the severely disabled.

Having established the Sunshine Welfare and Remedial Association (SWARA) in Brisbane more than 25 years ago, the place provides love, caring and support to people with disabilities - currently more than 100 - and has a staff made up almost entirely of volunteers.

The twins made a name for themselves through their valiant care for others, as well as their personal eccentricities: namely, an obsession with the colour pink. Dressing exclusively in varying shades of pink, residing in a pink house with pink furnishings, and driving a pink car, the pair inevitably made a name for themselves as The Pink Twins, and are the subject of a new musical of the same name.

To be staged at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, the dramaturgy was devised and written by artist Sue Rider with the musical accompaniment by John Rodgers. Fittingly, Dorothy and Moyia are not only played by twins, Anni and Maude Davey, but the singer-musicians in the show, Heather and Marjorie Michael, are also twins.

Julianne Gill