A theatrical tribute to Don Lane at Newcastle's Civic Theatre, bringing a golden era of television back to the stage.
I Love Your Faces: The Don Lane Story comes to the Civic Theatre in Newcastle on Sunday 8 November, a theatrical tribute to the American-born entertainer who became a household name in Australian television. If you grew up with Don Lane on your screen, the title will ring a bell — it's one of his most famous lines, and the show takes it as a starting point.
It's described as a powerful, uplifting theatrical experience that brings a golden era of television back to the stage. The first half leans into that nostalgia, recreating the variety show format that made Lane a star: the music, the guests, and the broad, warm comedy that defined his time on the screen. It's a look back at the public persona most of us remember, the one that filled living rooms across the country.
But the show doesn't stop there. The second half shifts focus to the deeply personal story behind the fame, revealing the man behind the variety host. It's that transition — from the bright lights of the studio to the more private side of his life — that gives the evening its weight. The production is built around that contrast, moving from the public spectacle to the personal history.
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It's a tribute that works on two levels: as a celebration of a particular era of Australian TV and as a portrait of the man who fronted it. If you remember Lane's work, there's the familiarity of the variety format to enjoy; if you didn't, it's a way into the story of a performer who left a lasting mark on the country's television history. The show runs at the Civic Theatre on 8 November.
