Told with great verve and colour, this is the remarkable life story of an extraordinary Australian.
As a boy, Ronald Faulkner was a troubled and rebellious surfer and tearaway, giving his mother a rough time after his father died when he was just seven years old. Although he dreamed of a career in the Royal Australian Navy, fate had other ideas and, through a series of chance encounters, he found himself embarking on a career in the theatre — not unlike his father, the silent film actor John Faulkner, and his mother, Sheila Whytock, a ballerina who danced with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and the great Anna Pavlova.
Under the guidance of his friend and mentor Peter Finch, the young Faulkner — who by this time had garnered the nickname 'Trader' — set sail for England, arriving in spring 1950. His career in the theatre soon took off, bringing him into contact with some of the finest actors, directors, and playwrights of his time. He also discovered flamenco, a dance he was to master, earning the friendship and respect of Antonio Gades and Antonio 'El Bailarín' along the way.
This is Trader Faulkner's story — a fascinating tale of comedy, elation, sadness, and tremendous challenge. It is also an inspiring documentary tribute to an age that is fast slipping away.
