All About People

In April, I arrived in Sydney just after dawn, beginning a long-anticipated journey to reconnect with dear friends, relatives, and colleagues, some of whom I hadn’t seen in many years, and others now living with dementia. This wasn’t a typical holiday. It was a journey grounded in values that feel more vital to me with each passing year: the importance of showing up, of being truly present, and of recognising that relationships are not sustained through screens, but through time, attention, and shared space.

My travels didn’t stop in Sydney. After a week of reunions and reflection, I continued to New Zealand - a country I’d visited before, but this time I explored the North Island for the first time, touring and reconnecting with more long-standing friends. The landscapes were new, but the purpose remained the same: to honour connection, rediscover people and places, and live out the very values I work with in conflict resolution - empathy, understanding, and repair.

But back to that first evening in Sydney—an unforgettable one. Just hours after landing, I found myself watching Guys & Dolls under the stars at the spectacular open-air Handa Opera stage, with Sydney Harbour and the Opera House glittering behind me. I was accompanied by a dear friend, someone quietly heroic, caring full-time for a partner with dementia. This was his first evening out in over a year. The atmosphere was electric, but also deeply human, a celebration of life, love, and the art of making space for joy, even amid life’s heavier moments.

Guys & Dolls – A musical with more beneath the surface

Frank Loesser’s Guys & Dolls may be remembered for its catchy tunes and show-stopping numbers, but its power lies in its exploration of conflict—social, personal, and moral.

Set in Depression-era Manhattan, it pairs the thrill of underground gambling with the earnest righteousness of the Save-A-Soul Mission. On stage, two contrasting worlds collide: gamblers and showgirls versus missionaries and moralists. Two love stories unfold: one between suave Sky Masterson and upright Sarah Brown, and the other between hapless Nathan Detroit and ever-faithful Adelaide.

Director Shaun Rennie’s staging in Sydney leaned into this contrast with bold visuals and playful scale. The harbourfront became a vivid, outsized version of New York - a world of dice and dreams, love and longing.

From stage to real life: Conflict as transformation

As mediators, we often work in spaces where values clash, misunderstandings fester, and hope feels like a distant luxury. In many ways, Guys & Dolls dramatises this dynamic. It takes what seems a simple romantic comedy and offers a deeper exploration of transformation through conflict.

• Moral conflict: The tension between sin and salvation isn’t just religious—it’s the clash between freedom and structure, risk and safety, heart and head. We see Sky struggle with identity and authenticity, just as Sarah confronts her assumptions and idealism.

• Societal expectations: Adelaide’s 14-year wait for Nathan’s proposal, while comedic, is also a lens on the pressure placed on women to secure traditional roles, and on men to avoid emotional vulnerability. The tension is timeless, echoed in today’s dating culture, social media-fuelled norms, and reality TV’s romanticised drama.

• The possibility of change: Most meaningfully, the musical suggests that people can change—not perfectly, not painlessly, but genuinely. And that relationships, when nurtured with honesty and humility, can offer redemption. This belief also sits at the core of mediation: amidst disagreement, there is always the possibility of mutual understanding and a positive path forward.

The magic of the Harbour Stage

The setting itself was unforgettable. As the sun set and the orchestra struck its first chord, Sydney transformed into 1950s Manhattan. Every detail, from the shimmering costumes to the razor-sharp choreography, contributed to a theatrical spectacle that was both exuberant and emotionally grounded.

The cast, made up of Australia’s finest, delivered the big numbers with wit and polish. Luck Be a Lady, Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat, and A Bushel and a Peck burst with energy, while the more tender moments grounded the show in emotional reality.

A quirky bit of trivia for fellow theatre fans: Nathan Detroit’s original actor couldn’t sing, which is why the role includes just one musical number. Yet in this production, every character’s voice felt strong and distinct, highlighting how a fresh take can breathe new life into even the most familiar stories.

Final reflections: Then and now

As I sat by the harbour that evening, the final notes of the show fading into the night, I was struck by how relevant this story still is. Despite being written in the 1950s, and based on stories from the 1920s, Guys & Dolls speaks to something eternal: how humans navigate love, power, faith, fear, and the complex dance of connection.

Whether in the streets of Manhattan, around a mediation table, or across hemispheres in homes and gardens of old friends, the same questions echo: How do we live with difference? How do we rebuild trust? How do we choose love over pride, understanding over judgement?

If you’re interested in discussing mediation, conflict resolution, or how to move through differences constructively, please contact us geoffrey@allaboutpeople.uk