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School Holidays

The Puppets of Penzance: A Cat's Tale

Monday to Friday from 3 to 20 January 2012

Performances held at 11.30am and 2pm

Everyone saw what the deckhand saw. Everyone knows what the ship's cook knows. Everyone heard what the Captain had to say. But what of the ship's cat? What did he see? And what might he have to say about it? And what about all the other animals that lived on board, or dropped in to visit? What did they see? And what did they know?

In an enthralling series of adventures, find out what really happened on board the early sailing ships by the folk who really knew... Norman the stowaway rat... Brian, the Australian seagull, and Trim, the Captain's cat. Featuring puppets, singing, dancing, and storytelling, "The Puppets of Penzance: A cat's tale", is an all new show, written especially for the South Australian Maritime Museum's interactive exhibition, "Sea-chest Secrets".

Through Norman the stowaway rat, we discover what the food and conditions were like on board, as well as learning about his dreams of finding a new land. Brian the seagull shares stories about a life, constantly at sea, as well as wondering who these strange creatures, the cat and rat could be. And, of course, Trim the Captain's cat has much to say about everything, especially the running of the ship. 

Written and directed by Michael Mills of Heaps Good Productions, "The Puppets of Penzance: A Cat's Tale" is fun for all the family, and an ideal compliment to the interactive exhibitions of the South Australian Maritime Museum. Featuring Michael Mills as the storyteller, with Mark Stefanoff as Trim the Cat, and Benji Riggs as Norman the Rat, and Brian the Seagull, "The Puppets of Penzance: A Cat's Tale" is sure to be one of the most popular performances in the January school holidays with lots of singing, dancing and participation.

The perfomances tie in with the temporary exhibition Sea Chest Secrets.

Sea Chest Secrets

On now until 30 January 2012

An exciting, highly interactive maritime mystery exhibition. Use your hands and minds in a voyage of discovery to uncover facts about the writer of an intruiging diary found washed ashore in a sea chest. Learn about environmental science and marine biology, maritime history and archaeology, art, navigation, botany and life at sea. Find out how flags were used to communicate with other ships, discover how a sextant works and see what rats ate on board ships.

For further information telephone: 8207 6255
Museum admission: Adult $10, concession $8, child $5, family $25 (2 adults & up to 5 children).

Other Exhibitions

Bound for South Australia

See what on-board life was like for the first official settlers who sailed to South Australia in 1836.

Dolphins! The Port River Pod 

Action Stations: The Navy and South Australia

This exhibition uses the Museum’s stunning naval collection to explore the fascinating history of the navy and South Australia from colonial days through to the 21^st century.

Life's a Beach

Sun, sea, surf, sand and the close relationship Australia's have with the beach is explored in this colourful and fun exhibition that all family members will enjoy. Family snaps, historic film, oral histories from South Australians form part of the displays; bathing costumes, surfboards, a surf-life saving boat as well as a selection of those useless souvenirs we buy to capture the seaside experience are also on exhibit.