Josephine the kangaroo dances off the page and onto the stage when a classic Aussie children’s tale comes to Geelong next Saturday.
Sydney’s Monkey Baa Theatre Company brings Jackie French’s award-winning book, Josephine Wants to Dance, to life for two shows at Geelong Performing Arts Centre (GPAC).
Josephine loves to dance but her little brother Joey tells her, ‘kangaroos don’t dance, they hop’.
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 prepares to perform, Josephine sneaks into town and watches the troupe rehearse for hours through a window.
Then she goes home and practices alone all night until she knows the dance by heart.
She desperately wants to dance like the ballerinas in pink tutus and silk ballet shoes.
On the day of the first performance the ballet company is in trouble: the prima ballerina has twisted her ankle and the understudy has a splinter in her toe!
Can Josephine save the day?
French’s 2006 book is a delightfully funny tale about self belief and chasing dreams.
Promoters described this onstage adaption as perfect for children aged 4 to 9 and their families.
Josephine Wants to Dance plays at GPAC’s Drama Theatre at 12 and 2.30pm on 16 June, with free craft activities in the foyer after each show.
