Showtime!

by Judy Nunn

In Showtime! comedy, tragedy, passion and betrayal play out - both onstage and off . . .

Judy Nunn's latest bestselling novel will take you from the cotton mills of England to the magnificent theatres of Melbourne, on a scintillating journey through the golden age of Australian showbusiness.

'So, Will, are you going to come with me and my team of merry performers to the sunny climes of Australia, where the crowds are already queuing and the streets are paved with gold?'

In the second half of the 19th century, Melbourne is a veritable boom town, as hopefuls from every corner of the globe flock to the gold fields of Victoria.

And where people crave gold, they also crave entertainment.

Enter stage right- brothers Will and Max Worthing and their wives Mabel and Gertie. The family arrives from England in the 1880s with little else but the masterful talents that will see them rise from simple travelling performers to sophisticated entrepreneurs.

Enter stage left- their rivals, Carlo and Rube. Childhood friends since meeting in a London orphanage, the two men have literally fought their way to the top and are now producers of the bawdy but hugely popular 'Big Show Bonanza'. The fight for supremacy begins.

Waiting in the wings- Comedy, tragedy, passion and betrayal; economic depression, a pandemic and the horrors of World War One...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Book Club, Historical, Audiobook, Adult

528 pages, Paperback

Published September 28, 2021

About the author

Judy Nunn (born 13 April 1945) is an Australian actress and author.

Judy Nunn's career has been long, illustrious and multifaceted. After combining her internationally successful acting career with scriptwriting for television and radio, Judy decided in the 80s to turn her hand to prose. The result was two adventure novels for children, EYE IN THE STORM and EYE IN THE CITY, which remain extremely popular, not only in Australia but in Europe. Embarking on adult fiction in the early 90s, Judy's three novels, THE GLITTER GAME, CENTRE STAGE and ARALUEN, set respectively in the worlds of television, theatre and film, became instant bestsellers. Her subsequent bestsellers, KAL, BENEATH THE SOUTHERN CROSS, TERRITORY, PACIFIC, HERITAGE and FLOODTIDE confirm her position as one of Australia’s leading popular novelists.

Reviews

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️s

This book was right up my alley as I’m a big fan of the theatre. Showtime! pays tribute to Australia’s travelling Vaudeville circuit during the 1880s to the 1920s. This is a tale of ambition and heartbreak on and off the stage.

Dive into this incredible story and see where it takes you. It took me on a wild ride and didn’t let go until the final page. Loved it.




Audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by Penguin Random House Australia Audio
Read by John Derum, Judy Nunn
Duration: 19 hrs 12 min. 1.25x Speed

[Eden High · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been a devotee of Judy Nunn’s books since she first published and have all her adult fiction books on my book shelves.
However, for the first time I have been disappointed in her work not because of her writing technique but because of content.
I found Showtime was a non-story, was quite boring and very slow moving. It read more as a historical piece on Australia’s entertainment industry.
Judy publishes every two years. I look forward to each new book, as other than for Showtime, I really love her writing.

[Just · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally read a Judy Nunn book in days not weeks. This story was so labourious for the first half to two thirds that I really struggled and nearly gave up. The last third of the book was its saving grace!

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
A magnificent read about two feuding family dynasties in the bygone era world of theatre.
In the late 1880’s, most are panning for gold but also craving entertainment.
Brothers Will and Max Worthing and their families arrive from England to entertain.
Masters in all things performance and showmanship.
But soon there’s competition.
Carlo and Rube, best friends rising from a bleak orphanage to conquer the world.
A successful new partnership becomes dark and then rivals are formed……
Trusted Aussie author Judy Nunn returns to the shelves (yes, a year ago, I finally picked it up) with a story of behind the energetic lives and scenes of two different families whose worlds collide.
Delving deep into the birth of the theatre in Australia revealing a tale of passion, deception, secrets, romance, betrayal and blood.
There’s so much to love in this epic novel and with Judy’s history of her own experience in theatre you are getting an authentic account of this life.
There’s many members of this cast but I found it very easy to follow, having many opinions, good and evil, on most.
Well developed characters, a gripping plot, a flamboyant setting all tied up with a satisfying conclusion.
In simple terms, I loved this book.
Grab a copy if you haven’t read it and go on this wild ride.

[Jean Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this book at the beginning but it improved towards the end. Conflict between families at the end of the century continues until after WW1 when hatred comes to a climax. The description of the battlefields of France were very realistic.

[Ita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story, even more so after talking with Judy last night via zoom for work. She is such a natural story teller and so interesting.

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had this book winking at me from my bookshelf for almost a year. I knew it would be a wonderful saga, which it was, and I’m so glad I finally made the time to read it.

It follows the fortunes of fictional theatrical family, the Worthings, from the late 1800s when they establish themselves in early Australian show business. Along the way they come across theatrical producers Carlo & Rube and the two families create a successful show biz partnership…until a tragic event rips them apart.

There’s a lot to love in this book. I particularly loved the immersive qualities of it, the way Nunn brings to life an old world thanks to her exhaustive research. And she fills this world with characters - both real and fictional - that are truly layered, unique and real. The result is a story that will stay with me a long time.

Nunn moves her story through Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart and her characters are witness to events including Australian Federation, the plague of 1900 and World War One. This is a must-read for historical fiction lovers and a should-read for everyone else.

[Cheryl Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read every Judy Nunn adult book and have been engrossed from beginning to end. Sad to say I just didn’t feel it with Showtime. I felt the first half of the book was slow and drawn out, historical details of the War held interest but again slow moving and then the ending to me was too quick to wrap the story up.

[Mel Corser · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly this book was a low point for me. I have never adopted ‘speed reading’, or skipped pages and chapters. I cannot point point whether it was content or pace, not for me.

[Glenn Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Showtime was a surprise for me. I have never read a Judy Nunn book before and wouldn’t have chosen this book if I saw it on a bookshelf. The book was given to me by a friend and I accepted it to be polite. In all honesty I wasn’t looking forward to reading it as i already had a full pile of books in my “to read” pile. I was also ready to put it in the DNF pile if I couldn’t get into it. The saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” is so true. This is beautifully written historical fiction which cleverly intertwines significant moments in Australian history, the birth and growth of the Entertainment industry in Australia, and a truly amazing story of two fictional families covering a period of some 40 years. I have observed some comments about the book being too slow or too long, but i did not find that at all. I was engaged from the first chapter and was left wanting more by the final chapter. Judy is a wonderful writer and it is obvious that an enormous amount of research went into this book. For someone who has never been interested in the Australian entertainment industry, I found it both fascinating and educational. But above all, like with all good novels, there needs to be a great underlying story. And in this case there most definitely is. The character development was amazingly good. My only criticism is the bitter hatred over several decades towards Carlos from both Rosie and Will seemed baffling and OTT. Especially from Rosie….i just couldn’t figure out what he had done wrong. And yet she wanted to literally kill him?

[Book My Imagination · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second half of the 19th century, Melbourne is a veritable boom town, as hopefuls from every corner of the globe flock to the goldfields of Victoria. And where people crave gold, they also crave entertainment.
🎭Enter brothers Will and Max Worthing along with wives Mabel and Gertie. Follow this group of four as they meet, move and create an entertainment industry like no other. Go along on their tours around Australia, be with them when they create, love, lose, weep and join forces with Carlo and Rube as they unite to create an amazing travelling, entertainment industry. But remember, what happens on tour stays on tour! At least this is what is meant to happen.
A great read that certainly got me away from every day life. Judy Nunn is a storytelling queen 👸 and this was a great way to start my Judy Nunn following. Only 15 more books to read! 😅🤣

[Tracy Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Dymocks Joondalup ( WA ) and Caffn8 Joondalup for my uncorrected advanced proof.
At just under 500 pages this is a big read. I enjoyed this historical saga of the entertainment world starting in England in 1882 and ending up in Australia and finishing at the end of World war I.
Very well written and researched I learnt a lot about the entertainment world and how performers had to keep adapting their acts and shows to provide fresh and exciting entertainment. It's a long read and maybe could have been shortened a bit but overall I found the story of mostly the Worthing family exciting and entertaining. This is my first Judy Nunn book so I can't compare it to her other books but loved it.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've read a Judy Nunn novel - and I don't know why.
She is such a terrific story teller and I learn so much about history and events in the way she dramatises the life and times that represent the title of her novels.
This one, about the development of travelling entertainment shows and vaudeville in Australia, is a cracker. With seemingly real characters wrapped around actual events in history, you could call it a vaudeville show in print!
I chose to listen to the audiobook, which was exquisitely narrated by John Derham and the author. I think this just enhanced my experience of the story.
I'm planning to catch up on her novels this year and I'll be surprised if I don't enjoy them all.

[Desney King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deeply disappointed by Showtime, as I've found most of Judy Nunn's novels absorbing and beautifully written.
Sadly, I couldn't keep slogging through this one. DNF.
I found it tedious, more like a pedestrian history book than a novel.
Characters are caricatures and the plot thumps along from one performance to the next, with occasional mergers and personality clashes thrown in.

Looking forward to Judy's next novel, which I hope will restore my faith in her wonderful storytelling and character development skills.

[Robyn Coyle · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was not the Kindle Edition - it was the paperback!!!!

I just couldn't get into this book - took me ages to read and I found it rather boring - maybe just not my type of book. I usually finish a book I start, but I found this so hard to read that I actually skipped pages. This is the first book of Judy Nunn's that I haven't loved. I have read all of her books and thoroughly enjoyed them all, except this one!!!!!

[Jennifer Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical novel details the theatrical life of eastern Australia through a pair of fictional British immigrant families, the Worthings and the Carlovskys. The families are fictional but reflect the development of actual entertainment from the late 1800s to post World War 1, with realistic descriptions of the types of entertainment, from burlesque to Shakespearean productions, and details about costumes and set that would interest a theatre goer. The events of Federation of the states into the country we know as Australia and the political changes at the time play out as background to the main focus, the productions themselves.
Judy Nunn loves the theatre; the production, the skills involved and the personalities of the actors she portrays and she weaves a fine plot with the interrelationships of the principals of each family.
Showtime does not surprise the reader as it is a historical record of a time and place but it is entertaining and as a picture of the time and place it does a fine job.

[Susan C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the Judy Nunn books I have read have been what I term "Big Sky Books", tales set outside the big cities - often with a multi-generational focus. This one was different.

From the UK cotton mills, to largely being focused on Melbourne and Sydney. In it I learned more about vaudeville, particularly pertaining to Australian theatre and changes over a generation. So I suppose it fits the multigenerational aspect. The love that the author has for this artform certainly came through.

The feud between the two major theatre families seemed a little overdone but did set up for the Shakespearean finale. Fortunately no "star crossed lovers took their own lives", although "from ancient grudge break to new mutiny" does heavily feature in the second half of the book.

I will say that the narrative has the appearance of authencity. It was a light weight enjoyable read.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurb on the back of the book is misleading. While of of its true it's a dulled down version of events.
The book follows the two families that spans over two generations, hence the lengthyness of the book, which also left room for brief descriptions of events that had no real depth. Judy Nunn did however create characters that felt real and had character development. Like other reviews, the last quarter of the book made up for the slog through that was felt in the beginning. Judy depicted a couple of scenes set in the war honourably. The romance that wound the book up was done very well.

[Annette Swinnerton Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must the show always go on?

Judy Nunn manages to write an enthralling story of intergenerational and interfamily Performers, set (primarily) in Victoria Australia.
I learnt a great deal about Entertainers during this period from the Author and I thank her for her own extensive research into the subject.
The book was very large at 500 pages plus, but an easy read.
If you're putting it down and picking it up, it may pay to keep a running note of who's who, to help you as the Characters list is impressive.

Read as the August 2025 book with the Eastern Shore book club, and I supplemented the book with the Audiobook via Libby.

A slightly generous 4/5 stars for Showtime!

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would really give this four and a half stars if there was an option.
I loved the history in this book and have to applaud Nunn on her research. Her books are always steeped in the history of Australia and you can tell she has done her research meticulously. As someone who didn’t study history at school, I love a novel that delves into the history that I never knew, especially if it is Australian based.
I only wish the story hadn’t ended so abruptly, as I was heavily invested in the new generation healing the rift of the previous.

[Jac · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ☆
I admit... I struggled in the beginning. It took me a long, long time to progress often reading a dozen pages with a whole other book in-between. However partly due to my OCD with a need to complete things and partly because Judy Nunn is a legend I persevered.

I'm so glad I did. What an incredibly journey with so much learning. Please please please stick with this book. Once you meet Carlo and Rube you won't be able to put it down!

Thanks Judy for another amazing story. My 6th read of yours and I look forward to the others.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took me to a subject I knew little about, being theatre in Australia in the 1800's and into the 1900's. Like many others, I found the first parts a bit slow, but could appreciate where it was going. I enjoyed the historical background and the politics of the times. Having so many main characters did take away some of the involvement in the story, at times, it was more like reading a history book , however, it did serve the purposes of the bigger story.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as her other books unfortunately. I was trying to put my finger on why, because her style of writing hasn’t changed, it’s still as engaging as ever. I think the problem lay with wayyyyyy too many characters being introduced so it was a bit hard to latch on to any one in particular. It was also far too long, didn’t need all the stuff about the war at the end, that could have all been it’s own book.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this book at the beginning. I thought it was a little slow moving. It did improved towards the
2nd half of the book. I loved the Australian history included in the book which was well research and written. The conflict between the 2 families was played out well but did end very abruptly.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book as read by Judy Nunn and John Derum. It was absolutely delicious 'reading' the book in this way.
I really enjoyed the plot and all of the characters even the star crossed lovers who I was very happy to see didn't end the same way as Romeo and JUliet.
I really delightful read or listen in my case.
Thank you Judy for such a captivating book.

[Mary Roland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this story very interesting historically. It was good to read about Sydney and Melbourne over the period of late 1800s to early 20th century. Reading about the management of The Black Plague in Sydney was fascinating after just having come through COVID 19 pandemic. The actual plot however was drawn out and at times I disengaged in the story.

[Stef O'connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a very slow start I ended up enjoying this book. I really want to give it 3.5 stars because I felt the beginning was a 2 star but the story picked up pace especially with the war years. I wasn’t a big fan of the ending/last chapter though!!

[Kathryn Entwistle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Long and slow, peppered with a few notable events. The narrative is somewhat dated; notwithstanding this is an historical novel. It’s actually the writing style that is reminiscent of the 80s or 90s. Research into military tactics of the First World War definitely biased and rather shallow.

[Ali Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more I read, the better the story was. At first I was a little confused The families grew on me I was fascinated with how the theatre worked in the past
A very enjoyable read about families,theatre and war

[Pam Tickner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was 18 long hours of audio. There was so much background into every character that had some passing interaction with the main characters that it detracted from the actual story. Well researched but very repetitive. Less would have more in this book.