voyage by helen begley
director|ruby rees
NOW PLAYING| vic theatre company
VOYAGE IS PART OF THE 2021 VCE DRAMA PLAYLIST. For school bookings click here
Until now, there’s been little crossover between contemporary theatre, Australian folk music and academia. These three worlds collide in the new work Voyage by Helen Begley with a story that emerged from the work of Australian historian, Dr Liz Rushen. In the midst of convict ships arriving each week from Britain, a different cargo leaves for Australia. On board are 287 immigrant women enticed by promises of a better life. What waits for them in Sydney will determine their success. Voyage features two actors, thirteen characters, seventeen songs, three onstage musicians and is directed by Ruby Rees.
★★★
“Indie musical theatre takes on the shipload of women sent to Sydney.” – cameron woodhead
★★★★
“Director Ruby Rees cannily recognizes (the dynamic text) as a strength, ensuring the theatrical action remains swift and focused, flowing without effort around the intrinsic vitality and drama of the music. The result is lively musical theatre, well-researched and imaginative, that gets under the skin of colonial history.”
Set and costume design | carly ellis