In a pea green boat, an owl and a pussycat sail across the sea for a year and a day to where the Bong-tree grows. Adventure calls, new encounters await and love conquers all in a nostalgic journey and irresistible blend of romance and nonsense. 

Little Match Productions' The Owl and the Pussycat  is an enchanting and intimate opera for children, based on Edward Lear’s beloved poem. This charming children’s work melds live performance, operatic vocals, chamber music and experiential theatre inside a giant green boat. Created specifically for children 4-10 years, this interactive journey inspires, educates and enthrals by inviting children, alongside their families, carers and teachers, to help our loveable couple reach their destination. 

This national collaboration of female artists and arts professionals, including Penny Challen (Opera Q Project Puccini), Alicia Cush (Opera Q, Circa), Kathryn Marquet (La Boite, QTC, Pale Blue Dot), Bridget Boyle (debase productions) and Lisa Cheney (Making Waves, MSO, TSO), has created a landmark musical work for children that encourages imaginative thought, uses tactile learning, and explores the universal themes of love, harmony and acceptance.

The Owl & The Pussycat premiered on Surfers Paradise beach as part of Festival 2018. 

Nominated for 4 Matilda Awards including Best Composition and Best Actress   
WINNER  - Best Supporting Actor  - Jackson McGovern   
WINNER - Best Costume Design - Penny Challen

CREDITS 

Concept by Alicia Cush and Penny Challen

Composer   Lisa Cheney 
Writer/Librettist  Kathryn Marquet 
Director   Bridget Boyle 
Designer   Penny Challen 
Creative Producer   Alicia Cush 
Lighting Designer  Geoff Squires 
Musical Director  Luke Volker 

Sound Design Lisa Cheney 
Dramaturg   Jane Bodie 
Design Assistant   Caitlin Armstrong 
Head of Costume   Gayle MacGregor 
Production Manager   Kylie Mitchell 
Production Assistants   Meg Hamilton & Freya Hillier 

CAST    
Pussycat  Laura Coutts  (previously Irena Lysiuk)   
Owl  Natasha Veselinovic (previously Sarah Murr, Pia Frangiosa, Meg Hamilton) 
Moon/Sir Kitty/Sea Bear/Piggy-wig/Turkey Jackson MacGovern   
Puffins  Daniel Byrne, Ely Streatfeild & Cameron Kennedy (Rebecca Lloyd-Jones, Kathryn McKee, Jarrad Linke, Andrew Chamberlain, David Freisberg & Danielle Bentley) 

The development of  The Owl and the Pussycat is supported by  Creative Sparks; Creative Partnerships Australia through MATCH Lab;  APRA Art Music Fund; Works In Progress at the  Arts Centre Gold Coast and Queensland Theatre through the Independent Artists @ Queensland Theatre initiative 2017.  Creative Sparks is a joint initiative of Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. 

PURCHASE & STREAM THE ALBUM

THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT ALBUM

Launching 2 Oct 2020, relive the magic of The Owl and The Pussycat with the album from our show, recorded in the exquisite acoustics of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music Theatre. 

Composer/Co-Musical Director  Lisa Cheney                                     Book and Lyrics  Kathryn Marquet 
Owl (Mezzo Soprano)  Pia Frangiosa                                                      Clarinets: Daniel Byrne
Pussycat (Soprano)  Irena Lysiuk                                                             Cello  Danielle Bentley
Moon & other characters (Baritone) Jackson McGovern              Percussion  Cameron Kennedy
Co-Musical Director  Luke Volker                                                              Musical Consultant  Michael Keen
Audio Engineer:  David Spearritt                                                              Executive Producers  Little Match Productions and Lisa Cheney
Cover Art  Penny Challen                                                                             Original production directed by  Bridget Boyle

Recorded in the Conservatorium Theatre, Queensland Conservatorium of Music on 18-19 November 2019 

The recording of The Owl and the Pussycat Album was generously supported by Creative Partnerships Australia through MATCH Lab; The Queensland Conservatorium of Music Griffith University; and The Pea Green Boatwrights Club, led by their fearless Captain Judith Cush:
Freya Hillier, Danna Yun, Steve Cheney, Charlie Cush, Tanya Malouf, Cameron Lam, Ally Bennett, Beck Grace, Bernie Thorpe, David Taplin, Gayle MacGregor, Marcie McMeniman, Steven Dunn, Dianne Baker, Alison Peaker, Mark Wolf, Jacqui Murr, Kate Raymond, Erica Davis, Suzie & Kieren Rowe, Connor D'Netto, Stefanie Lorimer, Samuel Boyd, Benjamin Knapton, Anisha de Aneida, Mark Challen, Chris Byrne, Annie Larsen, Emma Nightingale, Trevor Jones, Samantha Moller, Rebecca Lockyer, Anna Cawse, Catriona James-McGovern, Andrew Chamberlain, Kate Cordukes, Martine Wengrow, Elton Cane, Rachel Bruerville, James Maskey, Danielle Collier, Jo Willans, Susan Marquet, Denis Cush, Mark Challen, Sandra Pillai, Amber Pennell, Matan Franco, Meg Hamilton, Aleisha Godfrey, Zinia Chan, Katie Stenzel, Patricia Lee & Daryl Waters