• Sarah Kendall: Australian Tales

  • The BBC Radio 4 Australian Trilogy Shows
  • By: Sarah Kendall
  • Narrated by: Sarah Kendall
  • Length: 2 hrs and 54 mins
  • 5.0 out of 5 stars (12 ratings)

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Sarah Kendall: Australian Tales  By  cover art

Sarah Kendall: Australian Tales

By: Sarah Kendall
Narrated by: Sarah Kendall
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Publisher's Summary

Multi-award-winning storyteller Sarah Kendall brings her critically acclaimed, funny and moving live shows to audio. 

In the first trilogy of shows, each takes us on a trip, giving us a unique snapshot of small-town life in Australia in the late '80s and early '90s. At a time when most people were seeing Australians through the filter of Home and Away and Neighbours, Sarah presents a darker underbelly to the stereotype of the sun-loving, happy-go-lucky Aussie teenager.

The second trilogy jumps backwards and forwards in time and place, offering a single show in three parts. Sarah presents a collection of seemingly unrelated short stories and memories, which together combine to form a narrative that grapples with the interconnectedness of life and the nature of luck. 

These cinematic stories blend comedy and tragedy in equal measure; Sarah always keeps the big laughs coming without ever diminishing the drama. Her tales blend intricate narratives with a cast of memorable characters, bringing events to life in front of your very ears.

The first episode - 'A Day in October' - won Best Scripted Comedy (Longform) at the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2018 and the 2018 Writers' Guild Award for Best Radio Comedy and was the Silver ARIA winner for Best Storytelling. 

Trilogy 1
Part 1: A Day in October
Part 2: Touchdown
Part 3: Shaken

Trilogy 2
Part 1: Seventy-Three Seconds
Part 2: One-Seventeen AM
Part 3: Seventy-Five Years 

Written and performed by Sarah Kendall.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 as Australian Trilogy: Series 1 and Australian Trilogy: Series 2.

Produced by Carl Cooper.
Photo credit: Rosalind Furlong.
A BBC Studios Production.

©2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Critic Reviews

 "A mini masterpiece of tragicomic storytelling." (The Times)

"An ode to all the ugliness and beauty of adolescence." (The Guardian)

"Her tale is funny, tender and has a finale that absolutely knocked the wind out of my sails." (The Herald Scotland)

What listeners say about Sarah Kendall: Australian Tales

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Sarah Kendall is amazing!

These are funny, thoughtful, well tied together stories, told by a master performer. Kendall travels time and space and brings it all together for a terrific listen.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 06-29-21

Hilarious and profound

Probably the best thing I have ever listened to. So funny, but also quite profound. Found this after being fully caught up on my podcasts and I just adore it.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 05-23-21

Utterly brilliant; it has everything

Sarah Kendall is a genius storyteller. She covers ground from mundane to existential in a style that is all her own. The closest I can describe it as is a collage of characters, voices and registers, looping back and forward through time to produce stories you could never repeat, delivered with amazing timing - often comic, but also incredibly intelligent and sometimes brave, sad and shocking. Are they true? If only we knew. My whole family loves these tales of childhood in 80s Australia and has adopted plenty of (wholly inappropriate for an 11 year old) catchphrases!

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  • Mrs. C. A. Wynne
  • 11-05-22

Crafted stories

This is such gentle clever engaging listening. Performed more than read, moving as well as funny. Very adorable and enjoyable. Recommend 💙

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  • wim booth
  • 10-20-22

Perfect

I heard these on radio 4 and had been trying to track them down, so pleased they’re on audible. Short stories that make you laugh, cry and put everything into perspective. Her Dad’s wisdom about the stars is a life lesson. Thank you Sarah.

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  • C. Naples
  • 09-20-22

Incredibly well crafted and funny as hell

Poignant yet frequently hilarious stories that weave around and through one another. They have the ring of truth but are told with such conviction that it doesn't matter at all if they are not.

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  • BookHopper
  • 10-03-21

Amazing!

As others have said, this is truly brilliant - funny and very absorbing. Everything is woven together very cleverly.

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  • Lauri Sim
  • 04-25-21

Touching, Honest and Hilarious

Sarah Kendall is one of the most underrated comics around. Plain speaking, funny and touching this book is a must listen.

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  • Elenor Lambert
  • 04-22-21

Heartening and hilarious

Such a wonderful story teller. Clever and warm. Had me hooked and chuckling from the off.

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  • H. Thomas
  • 03-30-21

A highly talented story writer and teller

Sarah Kendall has everything a good storyteller needs: Her stories are constructed beautifully with great understanding of humour Her comic timing is fantastic She does the thing great comedy does, which is to tell stories which pick the listener up and carry them between laughter and catching their breath with awe

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  • A. S. Alderman
  • 02-02-21

Brilliant!

A flawless comedy performance; at times moving and life-affirming, that doesn't wear out with repetition.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 11-27-21

what luck to have found this!

Just loved it and now Sarah Kendall. an incredible story teller. laughed and cried hard !
beautiful!

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  • Kate
  • 04-19-21

So Enjoyable

I binge listened to this in one session and loved every minute spent with Sarah Kendall. She is so funny and a great storyteller, I laughed out loud many times. She also did a television series called Frayed, if you can find it, it is really great too.

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  • Katie
  • 12-02-20

Storytelling at its best

Beautifully written and performed. A roller-coaster of emotion is in each story filled with warmth, heatache, tragedy and humor.