One-Man Show
More Than a Sentimental Bloke was a one-man performance created and performed by actor John Derum beginning in 1979. First staged in Australia, the production featured Derum presenting a selection of C J Dennis’s poems through dramatic recitation and performance. The show proved highly successful and toured extensively across Australia over a period of more than a decade, with performances in theatres, schools, and community venues. Its longevity and popularity made it one of the most enduring stage interpretations of Dennis’s work.
Of note Derum played the Sydney Opera House in Jan 1980, after which More Than A Sentimental Bloke was performed over 300 times in over 80 locations around Australia; culminating in Campbelltown in 1994. John Derum made one final encore performance as C J Dennis in Toolangi in 2014, and will perform again on 7 Sep 2026 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of C J Dennis at the Victorian State Library.