Pobasso and the Cucumbers
Pobasso and the Cucumbers - Historical Musical for Schools
Download the script, soundtrack and production Karaoke tracks for this musical
It's Australia....but not as you know it.
Based in the Top End of Australia about 250 years ago.
Follow the adventures of Pobasso, with the Makassan Fisherman on his first voyage to Australia.
He discovers the first Nation people and learns about their culture, language, music, about the rainforest, about the reef.
He also learns to fish for Sea Cucumbers, and process them ready for export to China, which is the reason for the Makassan's voyage.
Pobasso and his friends returned to these shore many times. On his final visit to Australia he met and assisted Matthew Flinders with his circumnavigation of Australia, teaching him about the rich culture, traditions and international trading of the First Nations People of Australia.
The history
The school musical, set 300 years ago, focusing on the cultural and relationship between the Aboriginal people and the Macassan Fishermen.
It is part of Australia's history that is little known. The Aboriginal People of Northern Territory and Northern Queensland developed strong relationships with Seafaring people from other countries for many centuries before European settlement. Many people were drawn to Australia due to the abundance of Sea Cucumbers. These were collected and processed on the Australian Mainland for centuries. They were part of a vibrant and extensive trading system, one that brought them into annual contact with seagoing merchants from Indonesia, and linked them to civilisations as far away as China and Japan.
While this story is fictional, and I will take a creative licence in filling in the gaps, one of the key characters, Pobasso. Pobasso is a historical character who, in his later life he met with Matthew Flinders, while he was mapping the Australian Coastline in 1803. He even had his portrait drawn.
This musical is great fun. It is not overtly politically, however, through the narrative it will address misconceptions of Terra-Nullius and some of the more skewed accounts of history that can still be found in school libraries.
Production kit includes script and music
- Script - PDF format. Can be shared or copied as many times as required for the cast and crew
- MP 3 Album of completed and professionally recorded songs as a guide.
- MP 3 Album of the songs in Karaoke form to be used as a backing track.
11 scenes
Duration - approximately 80 minutes
Would suit small or large - Primary or Secondary schools
Minimum Cast: 20 male, 20 female, + chorus line & extras
Would suit 8 - 18 year olds & community theatre
Does not include rights for public performance which can be purchased from this site.
No School Credit Card? Schools can provide a purchase order number, and I will supply the materials and invoice.
