Playing To Win

A cabaret about football, feelings, and falling dangerously in love with Jamie Elliott

Football and musical theatre shouldn’t work together. Then again, neither should a bowl cut and a long-sleeve Collingwood jumper... yet here we are.

Playing to Win is Will Hanley’s one-man love letter to footy, feelings, and Collingwood small forward, Jamie Elliott. From a forensic roast of AFL club songs to post-traumatic growth to mixed netball, Will stitches bangers and ballads to stories of internalised homophobia, loyalty, and an unruly relationship with sweat.

It’s funny. It’s nostalgic. It’s occasionally tender enough to make a back-pocket blink. And yes, you will leave humming a theme song you didn’t plan to defend on the tram home.

For theatre lovers, footy tragics, and anyone who’s ever felt “too much” for a change room or a chorus line, Playing to Win is a night where football guernseys meet tap dancing, and trying - truly, madly, deeply - counts as a victory.

About Will Hanley

Will Hanley is a performer and educator. Credits include Chicago (Billy Flynn), The Boy from Oz (Peter Allen), Jersey Boys (Frankie Valli), Anything Goes (Billy Crocker), Pippin (Leading Player), and Cabaret (Emcee), with seasons for CLOC and others. Offstage, he consults with schools on culture and creativity. He believes in big feelings, small forwards, and the power of a key change.