Cirrus@Austlit

'Josephine is a kangaroo – who loves to dance. Her little brother, Joey, tells her that kangaroos don’t dance, they hop – but Josephine continues to point her toes and leap through the air.

'When a ballet troupe comes to the sleepy town of Shaggy Gully Josephine learns that there is another way to dance – ballet. As the Ballet company prepared to perform, Josephine snuck into town and peered through the window as the dancers rehearsed. She watched the dancers for hours and hours, then she went home and practiced at night… all alone. She spun, she swirled and pirouetted dreams… and at the end she always curtsied. She desperately wanted to dance like the ballerinas in pink tutus and silk ballet shoes.

'On the day of the first performance the Ballet Company was in trouble. The prima ballerina twisted her ankle. The understudy had a splinter in her toe.

'Who could dance the lead role? Who else could leap that high?

'Josephine’s talents are called upon to help save the day. Can she do it, and more importantly, does it matter that she’s a kangaroo?'

Source: Monkey Baa.

'Monkey Baa Theatre Company brings the children’s version of Li Cunxin’s iconic autobiography, Mao’s Last Dancer to the stage in this extraordinary production.

'Li, a 10-year old peasant boy is plucked from his village in rural China and sent to a ballet academy in the big city. He leaves everything and everyone he loves, including his family. Over years of gruelling training, this boy transforms from an impoverished peasant to a giant of the international dance scene. Li’s courage, resilience and unwavering hope for a better life makes The Peasant Prince a story to ignite our own aspirations to be the best person we can be. Audiences will be captivated by this very personal story, truly a 20th century fairy tale.' (Production summary)

'Pete the Sheep is a brand-new 50-minute musical, based on Jackie French and Bruce Whatley’s quirky and quintessentially Australian picture book.

'Shaun is the new sheep shearer in Shaggy Gully. Since shearing is such hard work, all the other shearers have sheep dogs to help them, but not Shaun. His partner is Pete, a sheep-sheep! The other shearers in the shed are not happy with Shaun and his sheep-sheep.

'Following rejection by the shearers and their dogs, Shaun and Pete set up their own Shearing Salon in town where they are inundated with woolly clients, who delight in Shaun’s styling prowess.

'This hilarious musical comedy, imaginatively told by four performers playing shearers, dogs and sheep, explores the challenges and rewards of being an individual, and will be a lasting tribute to honouring your own spirit and strength, whilst working with the flock!' (Source: http://monkeybaa.com.au/show/pete-the-sheep-world-premiere/ )