A grimy old ball, a racquet made from a wooden fruit box, a pair of borrowed shoes … then the world at her feet. This is the heart-warming story of how Evonne Goolagong Cawley—our Evonne—rose from humble beginnings in an outback farming town to become a world-champion tennis player by the age of just 19.
With a tin wall for a court and a steely determination, little Evonne hits and hits and hits her way out of rural New South Wales and onto the world stage. On the way she must battle prejudice and homesickness and test herself to the very limits.
Sunshine Super Girl, by Yorta Yorta/Gunaikurnai writer Andrea James, is a funny and poignant take on the life of a talented sportswoman with a big dream. Infused with a wry Australian sensibility and a proud sense of belonging, it’s a story that will inspire and delight.
Andrea James is a Yorta Yorta/Gunaikurnai theatremaker and graduate of VCA. She was Artistic Director of Melbourne Workers Theatre 2001-2008 where she is best known for her play Yanagai! Yanagai! The play premiered at Playbox in 2004, was remounted in 2006 and toured to the UK. Andrea was the Aboriginal Arts Development Officer at Blacktown Arts Centre 2010-2012 and Aboriginal Producer at Carriageworks from 2012-2016 before launching a freelance theatremaker career.
She was recipient of British Council’s Accelerate Program for Aboriginal Art Leaders in 2013 and was awarded Create NSW Aboriginal Arts Fellowship in 2018. Andrea wrote and directed Winyanboga Yurringa at Carriageworks and Geelong Performing Arts Centre in 2016 and remounted at Belvoir in 2019. Her play Sunshine Super Girl, about Wiradjuri tennis star Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, premiered at Griffith in 2020 and 2021 Sydney Festival and underwent an extensive national tour in 2022 and was nominated for four Greenroom Awards.
Her play Dogged was written with collaborator Cath Ryan and premiered at Griffin Theatre in May 2021. Andrea is currently Associate Artistic Director at Griffin Theatre where she directed Ghosting the Party by Melissa Bubnic in May 2022. Andrea was recently awarded the Mona Brand Award for Women Stage and Screen Writers, Australia’s most prestigious writing prize for women and is currently writing a play Big Name no Blankets with Sammy and Anuypa Butcher for Ilbijerri Theatre about iconic Aboriginal Rock Legends, Warumpi.
The Impossible Dream | Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s journey to Wimbledon glory
From the Australian outback to Wimbledon glory, Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s journey is a tale like no other. The Impossible Dream, narrated by Ash Barty.
Learn more about the life and career of Evonne Goolagong-Cawley in this Citation for the Conferral of a Doctor of the University (honoris causa).
Andrea James brings Evonne Goolagong's life to the stage in Sunshine Super Girl
Sunshine Super Girl is the landmark Australian work that tells the heartwarming story of Wiradjuri Australian tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley.