THE LATEST
THE SONG CATCHERS
Friday 23 & Saturday 24 OCTober
11Am & 6PM
ALBANY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
PRESENTED BY BREAKSEA & WEST AUSTRALIAN OPERA
An uplifting musical adventure of friendship and discovery, created for Albany 2026.
The Song Catchers took a major step forward in May with the first research and development phase of the production. Across three days, our creative and technical teams came together with the principal cast to begin shaping this brand-new dystopian music-theatre adventure ahead of its world premiere in October.
Through workshops, rehearsals and creative exploration, we began developing scenes, songs and the visual world of the production, bringing the story of Tipu and Marri to life for the first time. It was an exciting milestone for the project and a valuable opportunity to test ideas, refine storytelling and deepen collaboration across the creative team.
A second R&D phase is planned for July as we continue building momentum towards the premiere season at Albany Entertainment Centre.
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!
This month, 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 powerful celebration of Noongar culture.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who welcomed us so warmly and joined us throughout the tour. The generosity, enthusiasm and creativity 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.
BREAKSEA YOUTH ENSEMBLE
The Breaksea Youth Ensemble continues to thrive, with participants now beginning work 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, performance and creative 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 on a professional creative production filming a music video for a brand new song by Flood the Moon.
We look forward to sharing more as these projects continue to develop.
SHOAL
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
SHOAL at Koondoola Primary School is approaching an exciting milestone, with preparations underway for the program's final showcase.
Students have been learning about music, theatre and film, creating original work that celebrates identity, culture and connection. A key element of the project is the development of a collaborative film featuring an Acknowledgement of Country spoken in the many home languages represented within the school community.
The showcase will also feature performances created alongside emerging music theatre artist Cosimo Trichilo, providing students with the opportunity to work closely with a professional performer as they bring their stories to life.
We are excited to celebrate the creativity, courage and collaboration of the students and to share the outcomes of this inspiring project with the wider community.