THE LATEST
THE SONG CATCHERS
Friday 23 & Saturday 24 OCTober
11Am & 6PM
ALBANY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
PRESENTED BY BREAKSEA & WEST AUSTRALIAN OPERA
The Song Catchers took a major step forward in July with the second research and development phase of the production. Across three days, our creative and technical teams came together with the principal cast to continue shaping this brand-new futuristic music-theatre adventure ahead of its world premiere in October.
Through workshops, rehearsals and creative exploration, we continued developing scenes, songs and the visual world, created by Sohan Ariel Hayes & Fiona Bruce, bringing the story of Tipu and Marri to life. It was an exciting milestone for the project and a valuable opportunity to refine storytelling and deepen collaboration across the creative team.
With original music by Jarred Wall, West Australian Music 2025 Vocalist of the Year, and featuring Gina Williams-Ghouse, Jarrad Inman and Rachelle Durkin, The Song Catchers blends music, live performance and animation into a powerful and uplifting theatrical experience. Conducted by Pia Harris and directed by Matt Reuben James Ward.
ALIWAH BARDINAR!
ON TOUR
Aliwah Bardinar! has officially hit the road!
In June, Breaksea and CircuitWest completed the first leg of the production's 2026 touring journey, travelling to the Indian Ocean Territories for performances and community workshops on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island.
Across the tour, we had the privilege of sharing stories, music and language with local communities, delivering workshops with students and connecting with audiences through performances of this joyful celebration of music and culture.
We extend our sincere thanks to Circuitwest and the communities who welcomed us so warmly. The generosity and enthusiasm of the communities we met made for an unforgettable experience.
Following a wonderful tour through the Indian Ocean Territories, Aliwah Bardinar! is preparing for the next stage of its journey. From July to September, the production will travel throughout regional Western Australia as part of CircuitWest's Shows On The Go initiative, bringing theatre to regional and remote communities across the state.
We are honoured to have the opportunity to share this joyous, important work with you!
BREAKSEA YOUTH ENSEMBLE
The Breaksea Youth Ensemble continues to thrive, with participants now working on material from The Song Catchers ahead of their involvement in the production later this year.
Across weekly sessions, ensemble members have been developing their singing, dance and performance skills while building confidence and connection through collaborative arts practice.
Excitement is also building for the Ensemble's upcoming music video project, which will take place in August. Participants will have the opportunity to work with Breaksea director Pia Harris, and feature in a music video for a brand new song by Flood the Moon.
SHOAL
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
We recently completed our SHOAL residency at Koondoola Primary School, finishing the project with a showcase featuring students sharing their creative projects and performing alongside emerging music theatre artist Cosimo Trichilo.
Throughout the program, students have been learning about creative writing, character development and visual art, creating original work that celebrates identity, culture and connection. As part of the project, we are creating a film featuring an Acknowledgement of Country spoken by students and staff in the many home languages represented within the school community.
The Shoal end-of-project showcase celebrated the creativity, voices and experiences of participating students through a range of presentations. Students shared self-portraits featuring a window containing what is held in their hearts and what is important to them, celebrating their unique identities. A slideshow presentation captured the journey of the project from its start in February through to its conclusion in July, highlighting the creative growth that took place along the way. The showcase was centred around themes of identity, belonging, home and connection, bringing together key ideas explored throughout the Shoal program.