Cosi has made a name for itself on Australian stage and screens, and is coming to the Drum Theatre in Dandenong next week.

Director Denis Moore says the play is based on Nowra's experiences after leaving university.

"He had lived quite close to the Mont Park Asylum when he was younger, so it was part of his childhood.

"Then he took a job there after university, teaching drama classes to the inmates."

In the play, university student Lewis takes on a similar job.

"Because he is involved in politics, Lewis thought it would be a good idea to learn a play by German playwright Bertolt Brecht.

"But one of the inmates suddenly realises that he's keen on doing Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte. But it quickly becomes apparent that doing Cosi would be a

difficult thing because none of them can speak Italian and no one can sing."

The Vietnam War forms a sub-plot in the play, Moore says.

"There is a play-off between the chaos inside the asylum, but also the chaos outside on the streets, and I see that as being extremely important. It provides a snapshot of a fairly turbulent part of Australia's history.

"You can see Lewis growing up and beginning to understand more about the world, as he starts to get involved with the inmates he starts to appreciate them more as people.

"It's really a coming-of-age story for Lewis. He learns more from the inmates than they do from him."

Moore says audiences should come away from the play feeling inspired.

"It's about the audience being able to empathise with the characters and hopefully that experience will stay with them. That's what you aim for as a director.

"I believe people should go to the theatre to find out how other people lived, to live with the characters and experience these things with them."

Moore says one of the most difficult aspects of directing Cosi was dealing with the comic aspects.

"We didn't want to be scoring cheap points off people's disabilities, that's not appropriate. So we have to maintain the integrity of the characters."

Cosi is on at 8pm, March 18 at the Drum Theatre, Dandenong. Tickets: members - adults $32.50, concession $27.50; non-members - adults $42.50 and concession $37.50; under 25s - $25. Bookings: 97716666 or www.drumtheatre.com.au