The Understudy

Next date: Tuesday, 09 June 2026 | 02:30 PM

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The Understudy is a deep dive into the part of Australian touring life audiences never got to see — the musician who held the whole show together when the spotlight wasn’t on him. Michael “China” Walker spent decades as the quiet backbone of John Paul Young and The AllStar Band, the multi-Instrumentalist who could step into any role at a moment’s notice. Keys, guitar, bass, drums, vocals — whatever kept the night alive, China delivered it.

This production brings that hidden job into the light through the songs that defined the Countdown generation and the backstage stories that shaped an era. Candid, funny, and often a little naughty, these tales come straight from the road — the kind of memories bands still laugh about long after the crowd has gone home.

A standout feature of the show is its use of hologram technology, in some spots, allowing audiences to watch China perform multiple instruments at once, and in other spots, bringing back lost friends to play with the band. The holograms fade - he’s joined by the AllStar Band – 3 OG's plus guys from Stylus, TMG and Tommy Emmanuel's band - and the room transforms into a high-energy celebration of the music, the mayhem, and the magic of Australian touring life. It’s a tribute to the unsung hero — the understudy who kept the show rolling, night after night.

 

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Please call the Box Office on 49274111 if you have Wheelchair, Companion Card or particular accessibility requirements before completing your booking.

Ticket transaction fees may apply to purchases. Fees are based on your method of payment, delivery and the specific event you are attending.

EITHER a fee of $5.50 per transaction will apply for a booking made with the box office by telephone

OR a fee of $1.75 per ticket will apply for tickets purchased online.

Delivery charges if applicable are detailed at Check-Out.

These fees are current until 30 June 2026

 

When

Location

Pilbeam Theatre, Cnr Victoria Parade & Cambridge Street, Rockhampton City, 4700, View Map