Little Town Productions have been producing Christmas and Easter productions at Loxton, in the Riverland region of South Australia since 1999, with over 125 performances seen by approximately 40,000 people. John Gladigau, who is the founder and playwright of Little Town, is also a local farmer with a passion for telling positive stories about agriculture and celebrating rural communities. He is also a director of Grain Producers SA, and was a founder and partner in the well known Bulla Burra Farms, which is widely acknowledged as a successful collaborative family farming model.

In 2008, John organised a local dinner themed “If Farmers ruled the World”, which was hugely successful and received a lot of positive feedback. It has always been a dream of John’s to take this concept to another level by producing a specially written Little Town production focussed on what it means to be part of a farming family and celebrating living in a rural community.

The result was “Kick off ya Boots” (KOYB)– a unique dinner theatre event, which incorporated the inaugural production of “Living the Dream”. Written by John, and produced by the acclaimed Little Town team, the production used humour, music and at times confronting and tense dialogue to touch on subjects often unspoken of within farming families, including drought, financial pressures, succession and family communications. It was performed in three parts while a hearty 3 course country meal was served, and included parodies of popular songs rewritten to fit the theme and messaging of the production. The eight piece band which provided the music for the production had the audience tapping their toes and clapping along, and was supported by professional theatrical sound and lighting. The entire building was themed as ‘Kick off ya Boots’, from the entrance displays and table decorations, to the opportunity to have your boots shined as you entered. There was also positive messaging on the tables, in the restrooms and in the care packs which each participant took home with them.

It would be fair to say that the events were a resounding success, and the 3 x 170 seat dinners were sold out in 10 days, 4 weeks prior to opening night. Attendees included SA Premier, Steven Marshall, Senator Anne Ruston, Federal Member for Barker, Tony Pasin and State Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone. Senator Ruston made a public statement after the opening night that she would do all she could to ensure the production would reach every rural region in Australia as the concept and messaging was so important.

But it was not all about fun, as there was a strong mental health focus which impacted most of those who attended with a storyline which was at times raw and challenging. Little Town worked together with Associate Professor Kate Gunn of UniSA (and the founder of www.IFarmwell.com.au ) to create the messaging and themes for the night. After the production was over, Kate briefly spoke to the audience about Ifarmwell, and invited everyone to scan a QR code challenging them to commit to doing something different to manage their own wellness journey within the next two weeks.

KOYB returned with a updated production in 2022 “Walk the Road”, this time with 5 x 180 seats again selling out weeks in advance. A whole new production was written for 2024 titled “This Farming Life”, this time selling out 5 x 240 seats, as the life and times of the Conner family again explored the highs and lows of being part of the agricultural industry in rural Australia. This time, in partnership with the SA Drought Hub, packs of specially produced Conversation Cards created by Ifarmwell were given out to all attendees after being modelled in the show.

From the inaugural show in 2021, KOYB has worked together with Ifarmwell to create language, messaging, tools and strategies which inspires attendees to look at and manage their own wellbeing, and that of their families and friends. This relationship has continued to grow closer as the KOYB journey continues.

Reactions from those attending has been overwhelmingly positive, with many saying it has been their best night out in years, but more importantly most saying they identified with characters in the play and felt challenged to assess their own businesses, family communications, mental health and wellbeing as a result.

The events are all about kicking off your boots and have a good time. Leaving your worries at the door and enjoying the company of others. Realising what a great industry and community we live in.

To laugh.
To listen.
To think.
To enjoy.

Kick off ya Boots has been created in partnership with www.ifarmwell.com.au as a mental health and wellbeing initiative.

To the outside world, the Conners are the perfect farming family. Fifth generation farmer Jack, his devoted wife Jenna and two kids who want to come home onto the farm to continue to build the family legacy. That is until you pull back the curtain and expose the truth of what is bubbling away just below the surface.

For years Jack has promised Jenna a trip to Tasmania, but farm jobs are always going to take a priority. But he is open to Jenna’s wish to move into town and slow down a bit “in the future” and “once the Fergie tractor is restored”, despite the fact it is still at the back of the hayshed covered in dust.

Son Charlie is (in the words of Jack) “racking up expenses on the farm credit card while gallivanting across Europe” with his girlfriend Willow. Daughter Zoey has come back onto the farm after a period away “trying to find herself” – but still uncertain and frustrated by her parents lack of succession planning.
Meanwhile, Jenna’s town friend Vicki and Jack’s next door neighbour Harry are finding excuses to see each other, despite Harry thinking Vicki might find him to be “a bit of a fruitcake”. Fortunately, he has Jack to mentor him in his romantic endeavours…

And sometimes what we see on the surface does not reflect what is actually happening below.

Kick off ya Boots” returned in 2024, to multiple SOLD OUT performances, with a new season of the highly acclaimed dinner theatre Town production which took the Riverland by storm in 2021 and 2022. Once again audiences were treated to a wonderful production led by amazing local talent with lots of laughs and great music as they celebrate what it means to live and work in a rural community. And all while sharing a hearty country meal with friends, family and neighbours.

We once again received insight into the Conner family as they tackle the tough topics of succession, drought, financial security and unspoken truths as they go about their farming lives.

With the support of the SA Drought Hub, the 2024 live performance was professionally filmed. The resulting movie is now being taken across regional South Australia on a series of KOYB Community movie events, allowing even more farming and rural families to be impacted by the powerful messaging, parody music, humour and storyline.

2025/26 dates

Fri 14th March: Chaffey Theatre, Renmark (Movie Premiere)

Fri 21st March: John Doehler Hall, Murray Bridge

Fri 28th March: Maitland Lutheran School

Fri 11th April: Tintinara Memorial Hall

Fri 27th June: The Barn, Sedan

Sat 5th July: Tumby Bay Town Hall

Fri 22nd Aug: Robertstown Institute

Fri 17th Oct: Karoonda Town Hall

Sat 18th Oct: Pinnaroo Town Hall

Fri 7th Nov: Naracoorte Town Hall

Sun 9th Nov: Tatiara Civic Centre, Bordertown

Fri 14th Nov: Angaston Football Club

Fri 28th Nov: Piccadilly Theatre, North Adelaide

Sat 21st Feb: Paskeville Field Day Site

Fri 27th Mar: Kimba Town Hall

Sat 28th Mar: Cleve Town Hall

The Kick off ya Boots Community Movie Events Tour has been created in partnership with www.ifarmwell.com.au as a mental health and wellbeing initiative. It has been sponsored by the SA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, Ski for Life and Rabobank Client Councils.