Snapshots | Steve Turner

Regardless was a national theatre production about young people living on the street, presented through mime, circus, dance, music and a minimum of dialogue.

National magazine cover featuring the Regardless theatre production, June–August 1985 — National magazine cover, June–August 1985: “Critics rave about ‘Regardless’.”

The “Regardless” theatre tour

Steve joined the project in 1984. In 1985, the Grazed Knee Theatrics troupe took the story of young people living on the street to theatres and communities across Australia as part of International Youth Year.

The production centred on an ageing circus performer who had fallen on hard times and was also living on the street. Through his encounters with a group of young people, he began to see their potential, build relationships with them and encourage them to understand that their lives had value.

The show was presented mainly through mime, with only a small amount of dialogue. Steve’s stage character was known as “Stud.”

Built on a shoestring

The troupe faced serious funding challenges. Early grant applications were declined because the project was considered too ambitious. After the performers managed to get the production running on a shoestring budget, a later application was declined because funding was not provided to programmes already operating.

Despite those setbacks, the troupe continued touring. Over the ten months the troupe spent on the road, the production was performed for more than 100,000 people and received standing ovations in cities and towns around Australia.

The company was also invited to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, but the cost of taking the production overseas made the trip impossible.

A surviving national record. The magazine cover and newspaper reports below preserve the tour’s public story, its cast and the critical response it received around Australia.

From the press archive

Restored performance photograph from the 1985 Youth reacts newspaper article about Regardless — Performance photograph from the 1985 “Youth reacts” article about Regardless. Restored from the original newspaper clipping.

Restored 1985 newspaper photograph of Nicola Schultz, Steve Turner and Mark Hammat rehearsing Regardless — Nicola Schultz, Steve Turner and Mark Hammat during the 1985 Regardless tour. Restored from the original newspaper clipping.

Restored 1985 newspaper photograph of Mark Hammat, Nicola Schultz and Steve Turner performing in Regardless — Mark Hammat, Nicola Schultz and Steve Turner in the 1985 production Regardless. Restored from the original newspaper clipping.

Newspaper reviews of the 1985 production Regardless, including Magical show with a message — Press reviews including “Magical show with a message.”

Magazine feature titled Critics rave about Regardless with photographs from the theatre production — A magazine feature documenting the national tour and its critical response.

One very memorable year

The tour remains an important part of Steve’s creative history—a project built around theatre, music, encouragement and the belief that people can discover value and potential in themselves.