Get the lowdown on the most radical show around
| | | | | GROOVY GROMMETS GALORE | | Barons | | |
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Hello there,
I'm Ben O’Toole and I’m an actor who has been working in Australia and the US for over 10 years now. If you don’t know who I am, that’s OK; I’m still trying to figure it out myself. What I do know is I play ‘Snapper’ in ABC’s upcoming Barons, and I had a damn good time doing it. Keep your eyes out for the premiere on Sunday 24 April, 8.30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV.
The backdrop of Barons is surf culture in the early 70’s, and ultimately follows the commercialisation of the surfing sport. At the core of the show, it’s a story about friendship and love, and how ambition and greed can ruin things considered to be sacred. It’s a real ensemble piece, branching out to address many different aspects of identity; be they sexual, racial, or commercial.
The show is a lot of fun, it's cheeky and brave and asks some important questions surrounding issues we face today. So many things change, and yet so many things stay the same. I think Barons does an excellent job of illuminating what we should keep about ourselves and embrace, and what we should change.
The 70’s feels like a period everyone gets nostalgic over, even if they didn’t live through it. The music, the world, no phones, people being present… A lot of people took to surfing during the pandemic. The beautiful thing to come out of that I think is it forced people to slow down a little and be present. You can’t sit on your phone out the back, you must be watching for the next set; figuring out why everyone else is better than you; laughing with your mates when you fall; giving over to mother nature, the waves make you be present and in the moment – out there nothing else exists but the waves and your ability to connect with mother nature.
I’m so proud to be a part of Barons because in a world full of chaos and ever-changing behaviour, it’s an escape. I even learned to surf, maybe not very well, but I learned and I'm going to keep it up.
Ben
| All episodes streaming now! | | All episodes of Barons are available to binge on ABC iview. What are you waiting for? It's time to hit the beach! | | |
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| That 70s Show | | This short video features the Barons cast and crew discussing that iconic Aussie 70s culture that sits at the heart of the new series. From free love, to the new groove, to the impossible ideal of the perfect wave, this clip has it all. | | |
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