An irreverent, wry and witty reimagining of 1940s Australia, While The Men Away stars Italian actor Michela De Rossi (Many Saints of Newark and lead in Netflix’s upcoming Italian epic Briganti), who leads an exceptional cast of rising Australian stars including Max McKenna (Jagged Little Pill, US Tour of Dear Evan Hanson), Phoebe Grainer (Tiddas, Black Cockatoo), Jana Zvedeniuk (Bump), Matt Testro (Jack Irish, The Gloaming), Shaka Cook (Hamilton), Benedict Hardie (Nautilus, The Invisible Man).
In the eight-part dramedy series, Australia’s at war, so a lot of the men are away for a bit. And to be honest this is pretty exciting for anyone who isn’t a man!
While The Men Are Away follows Frankie (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 (McKenna) and Esther (Zvedeniuk), the freshly enlisted naïve city-recruits of the Women’s Land Army, to join herself, local Indigenous farmhand Kathleen (Grainer) and certified coward Robert (Testro).
Phoebe Grainer and Michela De Rossi in 'While The Men Are Away'. Credit: SBS / Lisa Tomasetti
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.
“While the Men Are Away is an absolutely delightful revisionist history with a twist of truth,” says SBS Head of Scripted, Julie Eckersley. ”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.”
Phoebe Grainer as Kathleen and Shaka Cook as Murray. Credit: SBS / LisaTomasetti
Director Elissa Down (Ivy + Bean, The Black Balloon) leads the series, with co-creator, writer and director Monica Zanetti (Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt), Iggy & Ace) directing episode seven.
While The Men Are Away is produced by AACTA Award-nominated producer Lisa Shaunessy (Sissy, 2067, Hipsters), in her first scripted series for production company Arcadia. While The Men Are Away is created by Arcadia’s Alexandra Burke (Sissy), acclaimed writer Kim Wilson (Deadloch, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart), and AACTA Award winning writer and director, Monica Zanetti (Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt)). Showrunner, Wilson wrote and developed the series with, Burke and Zanetti, alongside Magda Wozniak, Enoch Mailangi, Sam Icklow and Jada Alberts.
Gwen (Max McKenna) and Sadie (Gemma Ward). Credit: SBS / Lisa Tomasetti
Along with the impressive roster of rising talent, the series also stars household names Gemma Ward (The Great Gatsby, Black Balloon), Sacha Horler (The Dressmaker, The Letdown) and Tara Morice (Dance Academy, Strictly Ballroom).
All 8 episodes of While The Men Are Away will be available to stream free on SBS On Demand from Wednesday 27 September, with double episodes premiering on SBS each Wednesday at 8.30pm.
The series will be subtitled in five languages, streaming on SBS On Demand in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. All eight episodes will also be available with audio description.
