Josephine Wants to Dance
Based on the book by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley. Adapted by Eva Di Cesare, Sandie Eldridge and Tim McGarry.
Hop to it and join us at The Joan in 2025 for Josephine Wants to Dance – A hilarious musical about the importance of believing in yourself and realising your dreams and…a dancing kangaroo!
Josephine is a kangaroo who loves to dance. Despite the protests of her little brother Joey, Josephine ventures into town where the city ballet is performing Swan Lake and all her dancing dreams come true.
AUDIENCE INFORMATION
Suitable for: Ages 3+.
Duration: 50 minutes (No interval).
Please note: This production contains theatrical haze.
WORKSHOPS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS
A limited number of free in-school workshops are available by request prior to the performance season for Josephine Wants to Dance. For more information or to express your school’s interest please email peta.downes@penrith.city
ACCESSIBILITY
The show on Saturday 22 March at 10am will be presented as a relaxed performance. A visual story will be available to read to your child before seeing the show. Scroll down for more information about accessibility.
- Key Info:
- Dates & Times
- Tickets
- Accessibility
Show Dates and Times:
Thursday 20 March at 6pm
Friday 21 March at 6pm
Saturday 22 March at 10am*
*The performance on Saturday at 10am will be presented as a relaxed performance. A visual story will be available to download closer to the performance season.
Watch the Trailer
PlayAccessibility
The Joan is committed to providing inclusive, quality arts experiences for all audiences, including ensuring access. We prefer to engage directly with our patrons with disability to gain a full understanding of your needs and provide you with the best possible service.
Companion Cards
- The Joan accepts Companion Card bookings.
Wheelchairs and Level Access
- Our theatres are equipped with space for wheelchairs with strong sight lines and easy access.
- Both entranceways to The Joan have level access to the ground floor foyer, which includes Box Office, the lift and accessible toilets. Box Office is located halfway between the two entranceways on the ground floor foyer and is equipped with an accessible counter.
Box Office
- To provide excellent service, we prefer our patrons with a need of one of our wheelchair spaces to call our Box Office on (02) 4723 7600 to book tickets.
Parking
- Accessible parking is available within walking distance from The Joan at Penrith City Council’s Car Park and Westfield Penrith’s Car Park. Please note, parking times on the signage.
Facilities
Accessible toilets are located on:
- Ground Floor – Opposite the entrance to the lift; and
- Level Two – Opposite the studio rooms.
Relaxed Performances and Visual Stories
The show on Saturday 22 March at 10am will be presented as a relaxed performance. A visual story will be available to download from here closer to the performance season.
What is a relaxed performance?
Relaxed performances welcome audiences who would benefit from a more relaxed environment – this can include but is not limited to people with autism, sensory sensitivities, learning disabilities or dementia, as well as those living with anxiety or who have experienced trauma.
The atmosphere is non-judgmental, and we embrace noisy enthusiasm. Audience members can also bring their headphones to reduce noise if they wish.
Specifically for relaxed performances, we leave the house lights on (dimmed), the auditorium doors stay open, and some technical elements may be modified, for example, strong lighting or sound effects are moderated.
What is a visual story?
Using both words and pictures, a Visual Story (also known as a Social Story) introduces children to what they can expect during their visit to the theatre. They briefly tell the story of your journey from the start to the end of the event in a factual way, offering positive options to help with fears and triggers such as loud noises.
For more information or to discuss your specific needs, please visit or call Box Office on (02) 4723 7600.
Read the Reviews
Critics Reviews
★★★★ “A complete delight.”
– Jo Litson, Daily Telegraph
“If you have children to take, then, take them. If you don’t, still go. Don’t be shy. Just, go, go, go.”
– Kevin Jackson Theatre Diaries
“The show is sharp and funny and the songs suitably witty, appealing to all ages… I strongly advise that you take your children.”
– Bronwyn Fullerton, Arts Guide Sydney
“Wonderfully whimsical and utterly inspiring…a must see for anyone with a sense of wonder, whether 4 or 40 or even older. As with Monkey Baa’s other works, this production respects its audience’s intelligence and inquisitiveness, presenting the work with an honesty within the fantasy.A delightful message that anything is possible if you work hard and persist and a reminder to look after our environment and its flora and fauna, it holds many learning opportunities for young people whilst being an engaging and entertaining, high-quality production.”
– Jade Kops, Broadway World
“This delightful adaptation, by Monkey Baa’s Eva Di Cesare, Sandra Eldridge and Tim McGarry, entertains children and adults alike. It’s fun, lively and realises the deeper message to kids in Jackie French’s story … that if you really believe in yourself, your dreams can come true.”
– Carol Wimmer, Stage Whispers
“Josephine Wants to Dance brings the story of a stage-struck macropod to life with enormous charm and sly wit. Its appeal extends far beyond the target of four to 9-year-olds.”
– Audrey Journal
Audience Reviews
“The show was brilliant and I’m already telling other grandmothers like me! My 6 year old grandson loved every minute of ”Josephine” and it prompted him to read the book all by himself. He tells me and his parents about the scenes we laughed in. Thank you to all the clever people behind the scenes as well as the versatile actors.”
“My 5 yr old loved the experience. She was only disappointed that she wasn’t going to the next show at 12.30pm too!”
Meet the Cast and Creatives
Creative Team
Adaptors: Eva Di Cesare, Sandie Eldridge and Tim McGarry
Director: Jonathan Biggins
Composer and Lyricist: Phil Scott
Choreographer: Tim Harbour
Set and Costume Designer: James Browne
Lighting Designer: Emma Lockhart-Wilson
Sound Designer: David Bergman
Musical Director: Michael Tyack
Illustrations: Bruce Whatley
Cast
LILY BAULDERSTONE
Lily is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre. Prior to this, she completed a Certificate lV in Music Theatre at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). In her final year at VCA, Lily performed the title role of Flora Mezaros in Flora, The Red Menace and was Dance Captain/Lucy Schmeeler in On the Town.
Since graduating, Lily’s professional credits include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Crossroads Live/GFO) as Ensemble/U.S Veruca Salt, Into the Woods (Watch This) as Little Red Riding Hood, 9-5 the Musical (Crossroads Live/GFO) as Ensemble/U.S Doralee Rhodes & Roz Keith and most recently, Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical (David Venn Enterprises) as Ensemble/U.S Cecile Caldwell. Most recently Lily understudied the role of Sophie in the Australian return tour of Mamma Mia: The Musical.
Screen credits include the lead in a promotional video for Puma, launching the Queensland Maroons 2021 Jersey, Hopelessly Devoted To You (Fremantlemedia) and Behind The News (ABC).
NINA CARMEN
Nina played the role of Ali in the Australian tour of Mamma Mia! The Musical and performs as a triple threat again in Josephine Wants to Dance at both Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sydney Opera House.
They have also performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Serpentine Arts Theatre Company as Hermia, Alice in Wonderland with SK Entertainment as Tweedle Dum, and was a featured soloist at the 2021 Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Music Theatre Gala with Lorina Gore and Simon Gleeson.
Nina was also a part of the 2021 and 2022 School Touring performance team with Meerkat Productions, touring throughout QLD and NSW schools. They graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith in 2020. Throughout their studies, they performed in roles such as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone, Barbara Finn in Elegies: A Song Cycle and cast as Elphaba in Wicked (cancelled due to COVID-19).
HANNAH GWATKIN
Hannah is a vivacious cabaret performer, singer, actor, dancer, and saxophonist. She holds a Bachelor of Musical Theatre from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University and a Diploma of Music (Contemporary Performance). Credits include Eco-Worrier: A Climate Cabaret (Sydney Fringe), Not Today (Rogue Projects), Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines—Singer, A Chorus Line (Mad About Theatre), Big Blue Sky: A Peter Garrett Story (NIDA) and The Boy from Oz: The Arena Musical (Overtur). She currently also runs her own eco-friendly party entertainment business, Little Footprint Parties.
CALLUM SLATER
Callum is a versatile performer who has starred in several productions on stage and screen since graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University Bachelor of Musical Theatre Course in 2018. Most recently Callum’s screen credits have included From All Sides (Gemme De La Femme) as Thomas and It’s Our Time (Joyhouse Productions) as Sam.
On the theatrical side Callum toured extensively with theatre companies Brainstorm Productions from 2020-2021, Echelon Productions’ annual Book Week Shows in 2019, 2022 and 2024, and Gibber Theatre Company’s Smashed in 2023. Callum also starred in the original Australian production of Yank! A WWII Love Story (Woodward Productions) as Cohen/Speedy/Stu Understudy, was a member of La Boite Theatre Company’s inaugural Young Artist Collective in 2018 devising the play Define: Adult with David Burton and Claire Christian, and was a featured soloist in Broadway on Screen for Queensland Pops Orchestra, also in 2018.
About Monkey Baa Theatre Company
Monkey Baa creates great theatre for young people and for over 26 years we have presented award-winning theatrical experiences that inspire and empower audiences across Australia. We are one of Australia’s widest touring companies, with over 29 national tours to 135 regional and remote communities, 5 international tours and 4,000 performances reaching more than 1.5 million young people.
We empower young people to shape their lives through inspiring theatre and creative experiences. We create, present and tour performances powered by imagination, with eye-opening ideas and boundless fun.
Our vision is a world where all young people are emboldened by creativity and our mission is to empower young people to shape and navigate their lives through inspirational theatre and creative experiences.
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