“Footy’s a religion. Havin’ it described as ‘just sport’ doesn’t do it justice,” Delveen (Pippa Grandison) enthusiastically declares at the beginning of Barracking for the Umpire. Grandison’s eyes light up as she expresses her passion and deep love for Australian Rules Football. This passion is intrinsically bound up in the family’s identity – while the play is about wider issues of family, love, support and connections; what really drives the piece is the way football informs each of the characters’ personal identities. From the retired Doug Williams (Steve Le Marquand), who was a legend in his day at the Donnybrook Football Club, to his son Ben (Ian Wilkes), a rising AFL star in his own right, football marks them all.

Barracking for the Umpire, Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA, 2022. Photo © Daniel J Grant

Barracking for the Umpire is the debut play of comedienne Andrea Gibbs, whose personal story is interwoven into the work. This Black Swan State Theatre Company production, directed by Clare Watson, is hilarious and heartbreaking. Tackling masculinity and pride head-on, it’s a comedy that hits hard with an emotional blow.

Set in the...