SBS has announced the new Original series While The Men Are Away, an irreverent, wry and witty reimagining of 1940s Australia.
Premiering on Wednesday, September 27, the eight-part dramedy series Frankie (Michela De Rossi), who’s left in charge of her suffering apple farm after her husband is sent to war (or was he?). She enlists Gwen (Max McKenna) and Esther (Jana Zvedeniuk), the freshly enlisted naïve city recruits of the Women’s Land Army, to join herself, local Indigenous farmhand Kathleen (Phoebe Grainer) and certified coward Robert (Matt Testro).
Often (but not always) wildly historically inaccurate, While The Men Are Away is about people who don’t normally hold the reins of power suddenly having them shoved in their hands and told to giddy the hell up.
It’s about five individuals who find each other, and for a glorious moment in time, sample a life tinged with promise, hope and acceptance. And once they taste it, it’s impossible to go back.
Cast of While the Men Are Away, SBS
Starring alongside De Rossi (Many Saints of Newark), McKenna (Jagged Little Pill), Grainer (Tiddas), Zvedeniuk (Bump) and Testro (Jack Irish) is Shaka Cook (Hamilton), Benedict Hardie (The Invisible Man), Gemma Ward (The Great Gatsby), Sacha Horler (The Dressmaker) and Tara Morice (Strictly Ballroom).
“While the Men Are Away is an absolutely delightful revisionist history with a twist of truth. It is warm-hearted and clever and full of characters you will fall in love with. And being a half-hour drama, it is the kind of series you will want to devour in a day or two,” SBS Head of Scripted, Julie Eckersley said.
“Tackling aspects of our history that has so often been left off the page, with the brilliant Kim Wilson and our writing team, superb direction by Elissa Down and Monica Zanetti, and a stunning ensemble cast, led by Italian star, Michela De Rossi, has been a true pleasure,” series co-creators, Alexandra Burke and producer and partner at Arcadia, Lisa Shaunessy said in a joint statement.
Phoebe Grainer and Michela De Rossi. SBS
“We know audiences will connect with these (not so historical) characters, and be inspired to make a good fist of it, as the Women’s Land Army always did!”
Director Down (Ivy + Bean) leads the eight-part series, with co-creator, writer and director Zanetti (Iggy & Ace) directing episode seven.
While The Men Are Away is produced by AACTA Award-nominated producer Lisa Shaunessy (Sissy, 2067), in her first scripted series and was created by Arcadia’s Alexandra Burke (Sissy), acclaimed writer Kim Wilson (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart), and AACTA Award-winning writer and director, Zanetti.
All eight episodes of While The Men Are Away will be available to stream free on SBS On Demand from Wednesday, September 27, with double episodes premiering on SBS each Wednesday at 8.30 pm.