On The Docks - a new musical.

Friday 4th December

Ian Hanger Hall

Queensland Conservatorium

Notes from the programme.

"On the Docks is the debut musical theatre work of Alexander Bayliss and Rex J Ablett. It tells the tale of a young girl, Rachel, who wants more than anything to travel to the UK but feels trapped due to the pressures from her family and her community. This is further exacerbated by the backdrop of an industrial dispute between her father, his union and Shipping company that he works for. Furthermore, an old flame and a new young stranger compete for Rachel's affections making her situation even more complicated.

The December season of On the Docks is the production's first public performance. However, there have been a number of workshops along the way to help refine the show. Thanks in a huge part to Griffith University's Queensland Conservatorium of Music the creative team now feel ready to show the musical to the world in a concert format."

 Something special happened in Brisbane last night. The birth of a new musical 'ON THE DOCKS' composed by Rex J Ablett with lyrics by Alex Bayliss. It is sensational. Rex is another brilliant graduate from the Queensland Conservatorium - Musical Theatre and was accepted to do his Masters of Music Studies where he has been able to compose his first major musical. Alex has a bachelor and masters in Creative Writing and together they have created an outstanding work for musical theatre on a topic of high emotional and political impact from 1998 Australia.

There are so many great songs and some I can see as becoming concert favourites by various artists, Stirring ensemble/ chorus work, lyrics that are poignant, emotional, fun, witty and smart. This is a all encompassing great work already. With a touch of crowd funding it only took a couple of thousand dollars to put it on and hopefully the performers get a few bucks out of it. We must start paying our artists in Australia properly. I was pleased to see so many facebook friends in the large cast. Olly Oliver Samson once again allowed us to share in that smooth and beautiful voice as it flowed all over us. Luke Wallace gave us one of the big numbers as the union boss/dad and Josh R H Daveta revealed yet another side of his multi talented soul, cabaret artist, singer, comedian, dramatic actor and the list goes on for this acutely smart and charismatic performer. In the ensemble with various solo moments were the outstanding Matthew Semple, Michael Mandalios, Hayden Rodgers, Isaac Saunders, Simon Mason and Hayley Maybury. There was a some choreography but I can see flags and placards waving, big choreographed opportunities when it gets backing. The music is so varied and exceptional. I was constantly surprised by the inventiveness, the just wonderful music and this had a lot to do with the outstanding Musical Director Luke Volker on fearless piano. His lavish playing created a huge backdrop to the singers and he has been the soul of many a production I have seen this year. He is a star in his field. I have not mentioned the rest of the fairly large cast as I do not know them, but there were some outstanding talents that I had come across for the first time.

I do hope that The Queensland Theatre Company, Harvest Rain Theatre Company, and others start vying for this work to bring a fully staged and fully funded big production to the stage. It already is a major work and hit waiting exposure.

A year or two ago Wesley Enoch suggested Brisbane become a centre for the creation of new Musicals and in an email this week the new Artistic Director of QTC Sam Strong wrote -

'Ladies in Black embodies two things we will be doing a lot more at QTC in the future. Firstly, it’s a production that combines the best Queensland talent with the best talent from all over Australia. Secondly, it creates a world class, world first theatrical experience right here in Queensland. ' Well here is your perfect chance Sam. Local story, composer, writer and we have the directors, actors and singers to make it happen.

I was thrilled to be in at the birth of a hit musical and particularly chufed when the composer came over to say hello to me and thank me for my support just prior to the opening. It cost a mere $15 which might pay each performer less than a dollar. It is heroically good as attested to by the full house last night who cheered, applauded, laughed and even cried.

The Cast.

I do hope that The Queensland Theatre Company, Harvest Rain Theatre Company, and others start vying for this work to bring a fully staged and fully funded big production to the stage. It already is a major work and hit waiting exposure.

A year or two ago Wesley Enoch suggested Brisbane become a centre for the creation of new Musicals and in an email this week the new Artistic Director of QTC Sam Strong wrote -

'Ladies in Black embodies two things we will be doing a lot more at QTC in the future. Firstly, it’s a production that combines the best Queensland talent with the best talent from all over Australia. Secondly, it creates a world class, world first theatrical experience right here in Queensland. ' Well here is your perfect chance Sam. Local story, composer, writer and we have the directors, actors and singers to make it happen.

You really must go and be in at the birth of a hit musical. It will cost you a mere $15 which might pay each performer less than a dollar and it is on tonight and tomorrow afternoon. Just turn up to the Ian Hanger Hall at the Con. It is good as attested to by the full house last night who cheered and applauded, laughed and even cried.

Some words about this famous industrial action from Wikipedia.

"The Australian waterfront dispute of 1998 was a watershed event in Australian industrial relations history, in which the Patrick Corporation undertook an illegal restructuring of their operations for the purpose of increasing the productivity of their workforce. This dispute involved Patrick Corporation locking out their workers after the restructuring had taken place, with many of these workers members of the dominant Maritime Union of Australia. The resulting dismissal and locking out of their unionised workforce was supported and backed by the then Australian Liberal/National Coalition Government.

Major events in the dispute occurred in four major ports, where the Patrick Corporation had significant operations, Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle and Sydney. It revolved around attempts by Patrick Corporation and the federal government to improve efficiency on Australia's wharves; primarily by reducing staffing numbers and the power of the Maritime Union of Australia."