australian television information archive

2008 Laura

Episode 1.01
Fri, December 04, 2009 (8pm, ABC3)
Written by Leah Purcell
Directed by Shawn Seet

We meet 10-year-old Laura. She borrows a tinnie to muck about in the canal. It sinks, taking with it the ashes of its owner's beloved dog. She can't find a way to own up and say sorry. It's 2008 and the Prime Minister is trying to do the same thing with her mob.

Cast: Maddie Madden as Laura, Pnia Hagege Dalton as Soriya, Bronwyn Penrith as Auntie Bev, Nicholas Papedemitiou as Michaelis, Billy McPherson as Lenny, Leah Purcell as Ellen, Olivia Stambouliah as Teacher, Rebecca Massey as Mrs Benson, Kris McQuade as Bev's Friend, Kane Stewart as Tony, Vince West as Terry, Angeline Penrith as Diane, Kiah Ferguson as Lorraine

Note: Pay close attention while watching this series, there are larger stories revealed as time regresses and the histories of various people, families and objects are revealed. My Place's debut coincided with the launch of ABC3.

1998 Mohammad

Episode 1.02
Mon, December 07, 2009
Written by Brendan Cowell
Directed by Shawn Seet

Mohammad is 10 and he's new at school and wants to join the cricket team. There are no places and he ends up playing with the girls — who prove to be the better side. It's 1998.

Cast: Narek Armaginian as Mohammed, Bridget Crowley as Danielle, Kris McQuade as Grandma, Wadih Dona as Omar, Anita Hegh as Emma, Tim Richards as Greg Hilliard, Jack Virgo as Brian Hilliard, Rebecca Massey as Mrs Benson, Nicholas Papedemitiou as Michaelis, Maria Angelopoulos as Sister 1

1988 Lily

Episode 1.03
Tue, December 08, 2009
Written by Greg Waters
Directed by Shawn Seet

Lily's cousin Phoung arrives with her parents from Vietnam. But the trophy cousin turns out to be a real threat to Lily's status at home and at school. It's 1988.

Cast: Sheena Pham as Lily, Caroline Nguyen as Phuong, Maria Tran as Thi Mai, Andrew Bibby as Mr McGrath, Nithya Bangalore as Anisha, Ljubica Peresic as Fatima, Cory Vi as Chinh, Quinn Le as Binh, Chris Cao as Tuan, Rebecca Massey as Mrs Benson, Bronwyn Penrith as Auntie Bev, Nicholas Papedemitiou as Michaelis, Nicholas Boersch as Sean, Emma Leonard as Nerine, Lara Mythillos as Lara (Soldier), Toby Bowring as Toby (Convict)

1978 Mike

Episode 1.04
Wed, December 09, 2009
Written by Nicholas Parsons
Directed by Michael James Rowland

Mike knows a lot about Australian muscle cars from 1968 to 1978 but the other kids think he's odd and he feels he's only got one friend, Ben. But is Ben a real friend? It's 1978.

Cast: Will Cottle as Mike, Christopher Baker as The Tippy, Jamin Bennett as Ben, Ben Winspear as Michaelis, Amanda Bishop as Janice, Victoria Haralabidou as Mama, Sam Parsonson as Jeff, Rebecca Massey as Mrs Benson, Louise Mignone as Sofia, Patti Tsarouhis as Nina, Kane Johnson as Stuart, Flynn Colby as First Boy, Harry Greenwood as Pat, Matthew Cahill as Mark

1968 Sophia

Episode 1.05
Thu, December 10, 2009
Written by Nicholas Parsons
Directed by Michael James Rowland

Sophia is 10. She's a spy for the yayas and she's determined to get rid of her brother Michaelis's Anglo girlfriend before he leaves for Vietnam. It's 1968.

Cast: Anastasia Feneri as Sofia, Ben Winspear as Michaelis, Amanda Bishop as Janice, Jaz Allen as Mareka, Victoria Haralabidou as Mama, Deborah Galanos as Yaya, Alex Blias as Baba, Stavroula Paphitis as Maroula, Maria Karagiannis as Second Yaya, Catina Hasapis as Third Yaya, Rebecca Massey as Mrs Benson, Panda Likoudis as Cousin Yannis, John Dellios as Manoulis, Kally Koutsogiannis as Gina, Joanna Griffin as Teacher, Archie Oxenbould as Bowler, Jacob McHutchison as Fielder

1958 Michaelis

Episode 1.06
Fri, December 11, 2009
Written by Tim Pye
Directed by Michael James Rowland

Michaelis is 10 and from Kalymnos. He wants to be Australian not Greek but even more he wants a television so he can watch Robin Hood and be accepted into the gang at the milkbar. It's 1958.

Cast: Jonathan Kollias as Michaelis, Alex Blias as Baba, Victoria Haralabidou as Mama, Annie Martin as Janice, Deborah Galanos as Yaya, Dimitri Solomou as Christos, Angus Russo as Gil McCormack, Kurt Schlede as Tom McCormack, Rebecca Massey as Mrs Benson, Mary Dimitropoulos as Maroula, Arky Michael as Kyrios Josephides, Stephen Shanahan as Mr McCormack, Alexa Ashton as Mrs McCormack

1948 Jen

Episode 1.07
Mon, December 14, 2009
Written by Alice Addison
Directed by Catriona McKenzie

Jen's dad died in the war. Now her mum is planning to marry Wal, who even though he has a car, definitely doesn't match up in Jen's eyes to her war hero real dad. It's 1948.

Cast: Monique Homes as Jen, Kate Box as Kath, Steve Rodgers as Wal, Susie Porter as Miss Miller, Emma Lung as Bridie, Luci Hughes as Janey, Nathalie Fenwick as Margie, Kieran Darcy-Smith as Grandfather, Chris Haywood as Mr O'Sullivan, Matthre Whittet as Mr McPhail, Scott Lowe as Foreman

1938 Colum

Episode 1.08
Tue, December 15, 2009
Written by Greg Waters
Directed by Catriona McKenzie

Colum is 10. He has two big ambitions; to stop his best mate Thommo's family from being kicked out of their house next door to his and to get up the nerve to ride his billy cart down Brick Pits Hill. It's 1938.

Cast: Alfie Carslake as Colum, Joel Barker as Thommo, Kate Box as Kath, Emma Lung as Bridie, Laurence Bruels as Jack, Susie Porter as Miss Miller, Chris Haywood as Mr O'Sullivan, Kieran Darcy-Smith as Pa, Justin Smith as Joe Blake, Ryan Johnson as PC Moroney, Matthew Whittet as Mr McPhail, Leon Burchill as Sid, Blake Giles as Older Boy, Paul Gleeson as Mr Thomson, Rhonda Doyle as Housewife, Lester Morris as Old Man

1928 Bridie

Episode 1.09
Wed, December 16, 2009
Written by Gina Roncoli
Directed by Samantha Lang

Bridie just wants to hang out with her big sister Kath and best friend Lorna, and be in on their secrets. After talking her way into tagging along, and wheeling her baby brother in his pram, Bridie sets off for what is meant to be a day of harmless fun and relaxation. It's 1928.

Cast: Holly Fraser as Bridie, Brenna Harding as Kath, Aimee Patmore as Lorna, Susie Porter as Miss Miller, Alice McConnell as Mumma, Kieran Darcy-Smith as Pa, Felicity Price as Mrs Thomson, Paul Gleeson as Mr Thomson, Edmond Cinis as Declan, Leon Burchill as Sid, Zachery Garred as Soldier

1918 Bertie

Episode 1.10
Thu, December 17, 2009
Written by Nicholas Parsons
Directed by Samantha Lang

Bertie steals his friend's pet rabbit for his magic show. He wants to raise money to buy a present for his brother Eddie who's coming home from the war. It's 1918.

Cast: Shardyn Fahey-Leigh as Bertie, Leon Burchill as Sid, Paul Blackwell as Mr Watson, Ewen Leslie as Mr Bracey, Susie Porter as Miss Miller, Fiona Booker as Edna, Maeve Dermody as Evelyn, Eloise Oxer as Rose, Andrew Hazzard as Eddie, Sebastian Robitschko as Laurie, Marcello Maio as Accordion Player

1908 Evelyn

Episode 1.11
Fri, December 18, 2009
Written by Blake Ayshford
Directed by Jessica Hobbs

Evelyn can't wait for cracker night. This year, for the first time, the family has their own box of fireworks. Unfortunately, Evelyn shows the box to her disbelieving neighbour Freddie with explosive results. It's 1908.

Cast: Lucy Howroyd as Evelyn, Jack Versace as Eddie, Billy Shaw as Freddie Muller, Susie Porter as Miss Muller, Eloise Oxer as Rose, Leod Ford as Vernon, Russell Dykstra as Mr Merry, Sky Tse as Leck Wong, Harry Cooks as Tom Muller, Cole Burgess as Urchin

1898 Rowley

Episode 1.12
Mon, December 21, 2009
Written by Tim Pye
Directed by Jessica Hobbs

Rowley longs for his father to come home. Convinced that good deeds will be rewarded, he'll do anything to help his mother and the other residents in the boarding house they live in. But then he discovers that his father may never come home at all. It's 1898.

Cast: Benson Anthony as Rowley, Sam Fraser as Tom Muller, Sacha Horler as as Elsie, Susie Porter as Miss Muller, Russell Dykstra as Mr Merry, Fiona Press as Miss Singer, Wayne Pygram as Bill, Paul Caesar as Russell Gartner, Wilson Moore as Jono Bayliss, Sky Tse as Leck Wong, Peter Lawless as Stan, Lucas Perry as Teacher

1888 Victoria

Episode 1.13
Tue, December 22, 2009
Written by Alice Addison
Directed by Jessica Hobbs

Victoria and her family have just moved into the terrace house that her father has built. She'll do anything to ensure that they stay there forever — including witchcraft. It's 1888.

Cast: Eliza Saville as Victoria, Lochie Nazer-Hennings as Wesley, Ashleigh Ross as May, Susie Porter as Miss Muller, Dan Wylie as Victoria's Father, Hayley McElhinney as Victoria's Mother, Dan Spielman as Irish Tradesman, Odessa Young as Alexandra Owen, Isabel Wilson as Emma Owen, Shakira Mareka as Aboriginal Girl, Owen Buick as Dunny Can Man, Graeme Ware Jnr as Henry Muller

Note: In March of 2010, the ABC confirmed in a press release that Screen Australia had decided to proceed with a second series which would complete the adaptation of the original book which covers a time period from 1988 to 1788.