WOMBAT STEW - SYNOPSIS

Wombat Stew was nominated for a Helpmann Award in 2011 - Best Presentation for Children.

The concept for the children's musical Wombat Stewis the play within the play, a story within a story.

A troupe of Australian Bushland players are travelling the countryside, The Clap Like Thunder Players. The show that they decide to perform is "Wombat Stew". In order to do so they have to decide on the theatrical elements required to perform the show eg: who is to play which role, learning words, creating a setting for the story and inventing costumes to suit the characters of the story.

They consult the storybook and in A SHOW FOR YOU TODAY, roles are allotted as the elements of each character are discussed and decisions made as to which actor is best suited to which role.

Costumes have to be found and in DRESSING UP the look for each character is created.

A problem arises… the Dingo doesn't appear to have a tale. The actors enlist the assistance of the children to decide just what might make the right tail for the Dingo. HE HAS TO HAVE A TAIL. The problem is solved and the show begins.

The Dingo has caught the Wombat. He decides to make WOMBAT STEW.

A Platypus arrives and the Dingo tells him that he is about to make a yummy stew out of the wombat. The Platypus convinces the Dingo that what he needs, to make his stew delicious is MUD!. Mud goes into the stew.

An Emu enters and on finding out the plan for the Wombat stew, she suggests that the stew needs to be a little more chewy and what it needs to improve the taste are feathers. She sings YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A FEATHER OR TWO, during which she plucks some of her own feathers and pops them into the stew.

The Dingo is delighted and dances around the bubbling billy.

A Blue Tongue Lizard slides in and suggests that what the stew really needs is flies. During THE AUSSIE SALUTE he teaches everyone to catch flies. They are added to the stew. The Dingo is excited and dances around the billycan.

Up pops an Echidna who convinces the Dingo that what a good stew really needs is 'slugs and bugs and creepy crawlies'. In THE BUG CONGA the Echidna digs up all sorts of creepy crawlies and drops them into the stew.

The happy Dingo stirs the pot and sings. They all join him in THE BUSHLAND BOOGIE.

A Koala tells the Dingo that 'you can't make a spicy stew without gumnuts' and he shakes the gumnuts down for the stew. The Dingo announces that there is only one thing missing from the stew and that is the fat wombat. The others convince him that he must taste the stew first. The Dingo tastes the stew and believes that he has been poisoned and that they have all tricked him. He runs away.

The bushland animals have rescued their friend the Wombat, WHEN FRIENDS ARE THERE.

WOMBAT STEW is an Australian musical that incorporates song and dance, audience participation with action songs and sing-a-longs and is full of fun.

It takes us through the Bushland Players presentation of the show. We see the fun of putting on a show and the necessity to work together as a team to achieve a goal.

The story then takes us into the book and we follow the journey of friends taking care of each other as they all devise ways to delay the Dingo in his plan to cook the wombat. They triumph and their friend is rescued.Through the story, we are aware that the actors are playing roles and that we are in a musical and entertaining world … The world of "WOMBAT STEW".

Creative Team

Director – Gary Young
Musical Director – Paul Keelan
Choreographer – Andrew Hallsworth

Cast includes:-

Elenor Adams – Emu
Alister Smith – Lizard
Luke Tonkin – Echidna
James Stafford – Dingo
Jacqueline Hoy – Koala
Tim Paige - Echidna

Wombat Stew Gallery

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Wombat Stew Media

Wombat Stew Show History

Wombat Stew is based on the book written by Marcia K. Vaughan and illustrated by Pamela Lofts. It has been adapted for the stage with original lyrics by Gary Young. Paul Keelan wrote the original score and arrangements for the production.

Produced by Garry Ginivan Attractions, Wombat Stew toured throughout Australia in 2010. Garry is Australia's leading producer of musical theatre for children and his production of "Wombat Stew" played in over fifty theatres to capacity audiences.