Director Bridget Boyle
Writer and Librettist Kathryn Marquet
Composer Lisa Cheney
Musical Director Luke Volker
Creative Producer Alicia Cush
Designer and Producer Penny Challen
Lighting Designer Geoff Squires
Dramaturg Jane Bodie
Photos Nick Morrissey and Ryan Cheney
CAST
Owl Natasha Veselinovic
Pussycat Carly Bettinson
Moon/Piggywig/Sir Kitty/Turkey/Sea Bear Jackson McGovern
Musical Puffin Mark Connors
Adventure calls and love conquers all in this nostalgic musical journey.
In a pea green boat, an owl and a pussycat sail across the sea for a year and a day to fair Bong-tree Bay. Adventure calls, new encounters await and love conquers all in a nostalgic musical journey and irresistible blend of romance and nonsense.
The Owl and the Pussycat is an enchanting and intimate theatrical experience for families, based on Edward Lear’s beloved childhood poem. Created by a national team of award-winning artists for children 4-10 years, be swept away in this all-new opera, featuring stunning vocals, interactive theatre, puppetry and a one-man-Puffin-band.
This interactive journey inspires, educates and enthralls by inviting children, alongside their families, carers and teachers, to participate in musical and multi-sensory ways to help our lovable couple reach their destination. Aboard a giant magical pea green boat, meet our pair’s colourful and eccentric new friends, as they are brought to life on deck.
Ahoy! Come set sail with this charming show and landmark music work for children that explores the universal themes of love, adventure, harmony and acceptance. You might even meet a honey-hooked Sea Bear, an itty bitty Kitty and a punky Piggy Wig.
Touring
2022/2023
Artform
Families; Music; Theatre; Opera
Audience
General, Families
Suitable for ages 0-8
Created for ages 4-8
Duration
50 minutes
No interval
Venue Format
Theatre, Civic/Cultural Centre, Halls, Black Box, Outdoor Theatre
Technical & Touring Details
Please contact us
Previous Seasons
Brisbane Festival 2018 – QPAC
Gladstone Children’s Festival 2018
Festival 2018 Surfers Paradise (Commonwealth Games)
Festival 2018 Brisbane (Commonwealth Games)
Queanbeyan 2021
2022 Performance Dates
12 – 13 July
Art House Studio Wyong
15 – 16 July
Riverside Theatres Parramatta
What people are saying
“…humour and quirkiness to perfection.” Cut Common
“…a creative gem of homegrown talent” Stage Whispers
“The children were enraptured…” Weekend Notes Brisbane
“…fun and seriously entertaining.” Absolute Theatre
Awards
Winner: 2018 Matilda Awards – Jackson McGovern for Best Supporting Actor; Penny Challen for Best Costume Design
Nominated: 2018 Matilda Awards – Lisa Cheney for Best Composition; Sarah Murr for Best Lead Actor
Discover More
Owl & the Pussycat Album
Music Videos
Owl & Pussycat TV
The first episode contains the poem.
As the show travels around the country, the team will be adding more episodes from your hometown!
Engagement
Little Match provides a range of engagement options that can be tailored to your community. Please contact us directly if you have something specific in mind. Community engagement opportunities associated with this touring work involve varied areas and activities, and the work aligns with libraries and museums beautifully. Suggested Activities:
Pre-Show Activation Workshop
Make your very own origami pea green boat and create two animal sailors to go on board.
Post-Show Performer Q&A
30 minute sessions designed to help young people to engage in the creation of the work and to understand the process of performance.
Look out for our merchandise stand when you come to your venue!
Download the full Engagement ToolkitDownload the Education Kit
About Little Match Productions
Based in Brisbane, Little Match Productions is driven to explore our collective humanity via its most primal and intrinsically expressive media, the voice. We are insatiably curious to share and hear others’ voices, both literally and figuratively, by creating and producing high quality new Australian musical performance.
We are passionate about the core principle behind all our works for children: tuning in little ears to quality music. In rigorous collaboration with diverse artists, we have established a reputation for our unique ability to present classical repertoire and techniques in contemporary contexts.
The foundation for each new work is ethical story-telling with integrity and contemporary relevance, high quality new music, ability to tour regionally and engagement of female creatives.