How did you and the creative team bring the coast of the Southern Ocean to life on stage? We experience an ancient art form of storytelling, and an almost Dreamtime story approach woven richly through the conceptualization of this piece. An unexpected education of belonging, connection to the natural land, loss and of letting go. Storm Boy goes beyond the poignancy of the friendship between a boy and a pelican in that there is also a wonderful bond forged between Storm Boy and the Indigenous Fingerbone Bill. What is your personal take on the beloved story, and how did that form your vision for the production? The conversation then went to Andrew and Cate and the team at the STC, a partnership was forged and in 2013 Storm Boy had it’s world premiere at The Wharf, a very fitting place for a Pelican’s stage debut! When I became the Artistic Director of Baring Gecko Theatre Company, Storm Boy was the first on my list to bring to the stage. The journey of Storm Boy and his beloved Mr Percival is one that has stayed with me my whole life. Storm Boy was my favorite book as a kid as that sense of isolation and growing up on a wild coastline resonated with me. I grew up on the costal town of Torquay, Victoria, so the beach was my backyard really. The AU spoke with John about the latest production, discussing his own take on the beloved story and the struggles of creating pooping pelican puppets!Ĭould you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you came into directing Storm Boy? The theatrical production of Storm Boy premiered at the Sydney Theatre Company in 2013, and this year sees the productions triumphant return to Wharf 1 under the careful guidance of Director John Sheedy. The tale follows Hideaway Tom and his son “Storm Boy”, and the friendships they form with a local indigenous man called Fingerbone Bill and three orphaned pelicans. Set on the coast of Coorong in South Australia, the classic novel Storm Boy has long been a childhood favourite. ![]() The interview was originally posted on Arts on the AU. The pelican puppets in this production were so cool- so of course I had to ask about them!
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