Possum Magic
World Premiere 2023 / Playhouse
Arts Centre Melbourne
Commissioned by The Australian Ballet School
Choreographer Loughlan Prior
Composer Claire Cowan
Costume and Set Design Emma Kingsbury
Lighting Design Jon Buswell
Animation/visuals Glynn Urquhart
Photography: Sergey Konstantinov
Program Notes:
Mem Fox and Julie Vivas have created a true Australian classic with such synergy between story, characters and rich visual language. From the beautiful intergenerational relationship shared between Hush and Grandma Poss, the amazing fizzy bush magic, delicious Aussie foods and the epic road trip around Australia, it’s no surprise the book still continues to inspire young people today, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Choreographically the language we have used comes from the foundations of classical technique and narrative dance, with the DNA of each different Australian animal thrown into the mix. Kookaburra wings, dingo ears, kangaroo tails, round wombat bellies and dexterous snake scales have all inspired the unique and quirky movement qualities in Possum Magic.
Adapting the story from page to stage, and the conceptual building process, has just been really good fun. Developing the ballet with composer Claire Cowan and designer Emma Kingsbury, two incredibly creative kindred spirits, has meant an explosion of visual ideas and interconnected musical themes. We have worked hard to imagine a ‘possum sized’ world that our audience are invited into, filled with wonder, magic and humour.
This is certainly a feel-good piece for young dancers and young audiences, and the mature viewers on this night seemed very taken with its charm, too. It is really a genius move to leverage the appeal and Aussie flavour of such a well-loved story and at the same time hand the young dancers some wonderful opportunities to interpret these favourite characters. - Susan Bendall, Dance Australia
Possum Magic. The Ballet showed Loughlan Prior at his theatrical best. His insertion of film was exceptional as was his varied choreography. The ballet is a delight to watch and encapsulates beautifully the Mem Fox book on which it is based. It deserves further showings. - Michelle Potter
Both the book and this ballet performance are a celebratory depiction of Australian culture in the trifecta of food, fauna and geography. Magical indeed. Possum Magic deserves a national tour, across all the cities visited by Hush and Grandma Poss.
- Thuy On, Arts Hub
The dance throughout is lively, with folk-inflected rhythms and rapid steps, as well as much playfulness and comic business, such as the encounter with a rambunctious troupe of lifesavers in their famous red-and-yellow swimmers. A dozen dancers in pavlova tutus enchant the audience with their delicious turns and sugary graces.
- Andrew Fuhrmann, The Age