Nick Enright and Justin Monjo’s stage adaptation of Tim Winton’s novel Cloudstreet is already an unofficial national treasure. This monumental piece is comparable to other masterpieces of the novel-cum-epic-theatre genre, such as the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Nicholas Nicklelby or Shared Experience Theatre’s Anna Karenina (seen in Brisbane in 1998), in its theatrical range, yet exceeds even the scope of these works in broaching a national myth. While some might find Winton’s …showed first 75 words of 1051 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1051 total…right blend of physical awkwardness and spiritual prescience required for this crucial role in Winton’s vision. Bit 6 Cloudstreet is a theatrical tour de force that outstrips even the original novel in its monumental, and fundamentally optimistic, view of the Australian experience. Despite its length, it never palls, largely perhaps because its varied and constantly changing texture is even more engaging than its overall shape or message. It deserves to become a certified national treasure.