Australian Story’s show of force

Move over Hamish and Andy.

Monday’s Australian Story will present the first of a two-part story in which a number of Aussie entertainers travel to Iraq and Afghanistan to entertain the troops.

General Peter Cosgrove will introduce the documentary which sees Angry Anderson, Tania Zaietta, Ami Williamson and others in Baghdad, Kabul and Kandahar.

In the second ep, they travel the Route Irish in Baghdad, where six people are killed the same day. They will also be seen having a spot of golf on the top floor balcony of one of Saddam Hussein’s bombed out palaces.

Press Release:

Show of Force is a fly-on-the-wall documentary about what it’s like to be a visitor in a theatre of war.

‘When my daughter Ami was offered the trip to Iraq … I was very proud … It sort of smacks of the Bette Midler, Bob Hope thing, you know. I think there’s something legendary about it, and I think she feels that too.’ — John Williamson (Ami’s father)

Join seven entertainers, one compere and twelve members of the Royal Australian Navy band as they venture into Iraq and Afghanistan with the Australian Defence Force for the adventure of a lifetime.

Angry Anderson, Brielle Davis, Ami Williamson, Fred Lang, The Wolverines and Tania Zaetta take us along for the ride in this 2-part Australian Story special, introduced by General Peter Cosgrove.

The entertainers conquer Kabul, Kandahar and Tarin Kowt (TK) in Afghanistan, and travel the infamous Route Irish in Baghdad before giving a farewell performance for our troops retreating from Iraq.

But the good times and great gigs ‘inside the wire’ provide a surreal contrast to the sobering realities of life outside, on the battlefront.

PART ONE
‘It’s just every now and again the reality of what I’m doing really hits … and I just kind of pull myself up and go, “Oh my goodness, I’m going to Iraq!” And you really kind of understand the magnitude of it.’ —Brielle Davis, Singer

The anticipation and excitement of travelling across the world to meet our military personnel is contagious. The entertainers are plunged from one extreme situation to the next. How will they cope with a Hercules landing into TK during active fire? Will Ami find a private room to swap her battle fatigues for a stage frock in five minutes?

‘There was absolutely no sleep last night … must have been about three in the morning, machine guns, rifles, helicopters overhead and all of us woke up and just went, huuuh … it really hit home that this is not fun and games. That it’s serious stuff going on out there and I feel very safe being in here, but still it’s pretty damn freaky.’ —Tania Zaetta, Compere

PART TWO
The team heads into Iraq and experience a frightening trip along the infamous Route Irish in Baghdad, where six people are killed that day. This is followed by a spot of golf on the top floor balcony of one of Saddam Hussein’s bombed out palaces. The final gig is a farewell concert for Australian troops who will be pulled out of Iraq in June. Everyone belts out the unofficial anthem of the defence force, The Angel’s Will I Ever See Your Face Again? to the Iraqi sky.

Producer: Wendy Page
Executive Producer: Deb Fleming

Part 1: 8pm, Monday 12 May, ABC 1 + 8pm, Tuesday 13 May, ABC 2
Part 2: 8pm, Monday 19 May, ABC 1 + 8pm, Tuesday 20 May, ABC 2

Press Release / Photo: Australian Story