About the Show
There were once six Scottish lads who stowed away on a ship, chasing dreams of adventure…
It’s 1868, in the middle of the ocean, and Captain Watt has just discovered six young stowaways on board his ship. Inspired by grand sailors’ tales, they seek buried treasure, mermaids, sword fights… and an elusive cuttlefish. It’s too late to send them back and so, with a command from the Captain, their thrilling seafaring adventure begins. The winter seas are dangerous, food is scarce, and the sailors are unfriendly. When the ship becomes stuck in ice fields, the stowaways will have to grapple with an impossible choice: remain aboard where they are not welcome or set out into uncharted frozen territory.
New from playwright Rachel Pengilly, with original music by Shannon Parnell, Legacies brings together powerful storytelling and physical theatre. Based on the true story of the Arran Stowaways, Legacies probes the depths of resilience and friendship… and how the choices you make shape the legacy you leave.
Creatives
Writer & Director
Rachel Pengilly
Composer & Sound Designer
Shannon Parnell
Set Design & Construction
Mel Davies
Lachlan Davies
Costume Designer
Helen Wojtas
Lighting Designer
Jacob Aquilina
Movement Director & Stage Manager
Hannah Pengilly
Fight Director
Jim Punnett
Assistant Stage Manager
Dania Anderson
Deck Managers
Amelia Chittick
Sophie Hope-White
Production Manager
Shannon Parnell
Dramaturg
Jordan Best
Marketing Manager
Joel Horwood
Production Electrician & QLab Programmer
Zac Harvey
AUSLAN Interpreter
Brett Olzen
Accent & Dialect Consultants
Christopher Carroll
Morag Connelly
Rachel Robertson
Business Coach
Cat Dibley, Creative Business Plus
Production & Promotional Videography
Capturvate Media
Production Photography
Ben Appleton, Photox
Promotional Photography
Jenny Wu
Cast
Reviews
“A spectacular-looking production on Mel and Lachlan Davies’ stunningly beautiful set, lit to perfection by Jacob Aquillina, with careful but powerful sound design from Shannon Parnell. As a mainstage directoral debut, Pengilly has shown herself a powerfully skilled creator of stage pictures, finding a strong personal narrative and delivering it well. A powerful, personal tale, told well.”
Simon Tolhurst, That Guy Who Watches Canberra Theatre. Read the full review
“Rachel Pengilly has made a very impressive debut as a mainstage director and playwright of Legacies. Her play resonates with authenticity, and the cast under Pengilly’s direction imbue their performances with total conviction. With Legacies [The Q] has unveiled a highly promising playwright and director in Rachel Pengilly as well as providing the opportunity for her company and its artists to shine. Legacies is a highly commendable debut that offers great promise of things to come.”
Peter Willkins, Canberra Critics Circle Read the full review
“A very impressive debut. Pengilly and her creatives have much to be proud of with this production. It is laden with excellent staging ideas… Pengilly has drawn some fine performances from her actors. Jack Morton is outstanding in the central role of David Brand, particularly in the second act, where his bare-footed walking on ice was painful to watch.”
Bill Stephens, Canberra Critics Circle Read the full review
“This is a mind-blowing story, recommended for anyone who enjoys sublime storytelling.”
Cathy Bannister, Stage Whispers Read the full review
“Pengilly and her formidable collaborators weave movement, music, stunning design, and a well-honed text together to bring this true story from the 1860s to life. The cast of 11, mainly young actors are a seamless ensemble, enacting mythic tales of sea monsters and pirates on the high seas. This is a captivating and high-quality production that is a testament to a new generation of talent in the capital region.”
Simone Penkethman, Canberra Critics Circle Read the full review
“An enduring and brilliant play.
The direction of the show, with all its mesmerising physical elements, thanks to Hannah Pengilly the movement director, brought Legacies to life. Those sequences were well-oiled machines of storytelling. Helen Wojtas brought the Scottish 1860s character with her wonderful costume design. And the music! That recurring theme song for Legacies, composed by Shannon Parnell, was solemn, suspenseful and hit all the right beats.”
Hannah Cornelia, Canberra Youth Theatre Young Critics Read the full review
“The cast delivers strong and consistently good performances, with an impressive rendition of Scottish accents. An energetic and committed physical performance.” Samara Purnell, CityNews Read the full review
When?
2 – 5 August 2023
Wednesday – Saturday: 7.30pm
Saturday Matinee: 2pm
Duration: 120 minutes with a 20 minute interval
Where?
The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Additional Info
Contains mild language and some scenes that may distress young children. This is a true story that some audience members may find troubling. Recommended for ages 12+.
A huge focus of ours is making the arts as accessible as possible. For our production of Legacies, we are achieving this in multiple different ways.
Our Saturday matinee performance will be an Accessible Show, with sensory adaptations to the lighting and sound, and an AUSLAN interpreter.
All performances are wheelchair accessible: please call the Q Box Office to arrange this if required.
We are in the process of creating a Production Picture-book for this show. Production Picture-books contain images of the theatre space, parking, key members of the staff that you may interact with, photos of the cast alongside their character names, and a brief overview of the plot. Production Picture-books may be useful for those with dementia, autism, and anxiety.
At Ribix, we are committed to ensuring that every production is a safe and inclusive space. If you have an idea for how we can continue to achieve this, please contact our team via email at info@ribixproductions.com.au.
At Ribix Productions, we are committed to creating safe, inclusive and diverse theatre practices… both for people and the planet. With this in mind, Legacies is our first ‘ecotheatre’ show, where sustainability sits at the heart of production. We’re minimising our carbon footprint by re-using and recycling design elements, like set and costume; specifically using non-toxic and ocean-safe materials; and considering the ecological impact of every artistic decision.
Did you know that we have a series of education programs as part of this production?
Click here to discover more information here on The Stowaway Program.
Special Thanks
The Team at the Q, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, Amy Gasnia, the Pengilly Family, Capital Special Effects, Barton Estate Winery, Simply Homeschool, Pip Miller, Pamela Ranyard, Queanbeyan Players, Echo Theatre
Legacies could not have been written and created without the immense support of descendants of the Arran Stowaways from around the world. Many thanks to David and Josie Brand, Morag Connelly, Libby Williams, Karen Willson, Fiona Morphett, David Brand, Marion Sylvia, Faye Fryer, Ria Paul, John Brand.
This production is part of the Q’s 2023 Q the Locals mainstage season. The Q’s commitment to empowering local performers and creators, giving them a space for their stories to be shared, is instrumental in growing the Performing Arts industry in the Canberra and Queanbeyan region. We thank them and their team for their extensive support.
Legacies' Journey
Legacies is the result of five years of writing, workshops and developments. There have been a host of people who have contributed greatly to the project as it stands today.