Many Saints of Newark breakout and lead in Netflix’s upcoming Italian epic Briganti, Italian star Michela De Rossi, heads an talented cast in SBS’ World War Two dramedy While The Men Are Away, with shooting underway in Sydney.
Joining Michela are key cast Matt Testro (Jack Irish, The Gloaming), Phoebe Grainer, Jana Zvedeniuk (Bump), and supporting cast Googoorewon Knox (Black Snow), Sacha Horler (The Dressmaker, The Letdown), Tara Morice (Dance Academy, Strictly Ballroom), Katrina Foster (Rake) Ella Scott Lynch (Upright), Rebecca Massey (Utopia), Tony Llewellyn-Jones (Colin from Accounts), Evan Stanhope (Thor: Love & Thunder, Christmas Ransom), Jing Xuan Chan (Harrow), Warren Lee and introducing Zavier Morris. Previously announced cast members include Benedict Hardie (Nautilus, The Invisible Man), Gemma Ward (The Great Gatsby), Max McKenna (Jagged Little Pill, Muriel’s Wedding the Musical) and Shaka Cook (Hamilton).
While The Men Are Away is a queer revisionist historical dramedy for SBS set in 1940s rural Australia. While the men are off fighting in WW2, the people who have been excluded from power suddenly find themselves running the show. Two Women’s Land Army recruits from Sydney arrive in the country and undergo a heady course in race relations, rural politics, spirituality, sex, and personal growth - oh, and farming.
L-R: Michela De Rossi, Phoebe Grainer, Jana Zvedeniuk, Matt Testro. Source: SBS
De Rossi plays Francesca, an Italian immigrant struggling to run her husband’s farm after he enlists (or does he?) 'Frankie' is joined by Gwen (McKenna) and Esther (Zvedeniuk), somewhat naive city-recruits of the Women’s Land Army to deliver the farm’s annual apple harvest. Helping Frankie is Aboriginal farmhand Kathleen (Grainer), and conscientious objector Robert (Testro).
As the tragedy of war gets close to them their lives become intwined in surprising ways that test their relationships, prejudices and identities in ways they never could have imagined. And once they experience life as it could be, it’s impossible to go back.
Series Showrunner and Co-Creator, Kim Wilson says: “I’m beyond thrilled to have Michela bringing her incredible talent to our lead role. The character of Frankie is fiercely independent, intelligent, charming and complex. Michela delivers all of this, and so much more. She’s the perfect addition to a phenomenal cast.”
SBS’ Commissioning Editor, Julie Eckersley: “While the Men Are Away is an irreverent, witty and queer celebration of social outsiders, and the revolution of being who you really are. The extraordinary talent of Michela joining the cast puts a cherry on the top of what promises to be a truly delightful and heart-warming series.”
Director Elissa Down leads the eight-part series, with director Monica Zanetti joining to direct an episode. While The Men Are Away is produced by AACTA Award-winning producer Lisa Shaunessy. Created by Kim Wilson, Alexandra Burke and Monica Zanetti, the series is written and developed by the trio, alongside Magda Wozniak, Enoch Mailangi, Jada Alberts and Sam Icklow.
Clockwise from top left: director Elissa Down, director Monica Zanetti and cast Max McKenna, Gemma Ward, Shaka Cook and Benedict Hardie. Source: SBS
While The Men Are Away will premiere on SBS later this year.
While The Men Are Away is an Arcadia production for SBS with major production investment from Screen Australia, and financed in association with Screen NSW.
