Beloved tale bounds on stage

One of Australia’s best loved children’s books will make the leap from page to the stage when Josephine Wants to Dance makes its Empire Theatre debut

IN ITS world premiere season, Josephine Wants to Dance, by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley, has been adapted for the stage by Monkey Baa Theatre Company (Pete the Sheep, Diary of a Wombat), creating an Australian production with a hilarious musical score, a stunning set and costumes, talented cast and choreography.

Audiences aged four and over will meet Josephine, a kangaroo who loves to dance.

The story explores themes of courage and following your dreams, but also highlights the importance of hard work and the discipline and dedication that it takes to succeed.

When a ballet troupe comes to the sleepy town of Shaggy Gully, Josephine learns a whole other way to dance… ballet! She watches the dancers for hours and hours and practises their moves.

On the first day of the performance, the ballet troupe has a bit of trouble and needs an understudy to replace its Prima Ballerina. Who could possibly dance the lead role and who could possibly jump that high?

Josephine comes along to save the day, but can she do it, and more importantly, does it matter that she is a kangaroo?

Director Jonathan Biggins (Pete the Sheep, The Wharf Revue) and a team of revered creatives including composer Phil Scott (Pete the Sheep, The Wharf Revue), choreographer Tim Harbour of The Australian Ballet, set and costume Designer James Browne (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) and lighting designer Emma Lockhart-Wilson (Where the Streets Had a Name) all help bring Josephine and the town of Shaggy Gully to life.

“The stage production will bring to life the personalities of real Australian animals in the most imaginative way possible,” Mr Biggins said.

“Including Josephine who is actually based on a real Kangaroo named Fuschia, who lives in the bush near the home of writer Jackie French.”

Josephine Wants to Dance is part of the Shaggy Gully Trilogy of books which also includes Pete the Sheep and Diary of a Wombat, both of which have also appeared on the Empire Theatre stage in recent years.

Phone the Box Office on 1300 655 299 or visit empiretheatre.com.au. EMPIRE THEATRE AUGUST 27 & 28