Growing up Italian in Australia is a one-man stage show presented by Joe Novella, best-selling author of the much-loved book, "Pepe and Poppy - Tarantella V Zorba". Joe takes his audience back to the 1970s and 80s when disco was big, V8s ruled the roads and Countdown ruled Sunday nights. A time when clubs like Boulevards and The Underground, Hippodrome and Chevron were jumping. When bands like Pseudo Echo exploded over dance floors.

A first generation Italian Australian, Joe is the son of Calabrese immigrants who came to Australia seeking a better life during the 1950s and 60s. As part of the show, Joe speaks about his experiences growing up in a Calabrese culture in suburban, Melbourne. About being half Italian and half Aussie. About how family always came first, and the importance of celebrations like baptisms and weddings, which more often than not, were bigger than Hollywood blockbusters.

Joe will share stories of courage and ones that will make the audience fall off their seats laughing, stories that will move you and uplift you, stories of food and music, stories that are a celebration of the Calabrese culture that lives on in today's generation.

And you'll also be entertained by the incredible voice and soulful guitar of Matthew Tripodi, as he sings classic Calabrese folk tunes like Calabrisella Mia and Cucciu Bellu.

And you don’t need to be from the south of Italy to come to the show, Joe’s storytelling celebrates multiculturalism on all levels and will resonate with young and old from all backgrounds.

So, if you’re looking for a night out with a unique experience, come along and celebrate the beautiful culture of the Southern Italians and its impact on the Australian cultural landscape, with Joe and Matthew.