The Ballad of
Mary Ann Brownlow
A RETURN SEASON
Of a play based on a true story and part of Goulburn’s own history

Written by John Spicer and David Cole

 

Directed by Chrisjohn Hancock

Musical Direction by Peter McLaren

 

Inside

Goulburn’s Historic Court House

 18 & 19 June 2005

  

Funding has been received for this project from Goulburn District Tourism, through

GOULBURN MULWAREE COUNCIL

 

Director’s notes

It is with great pleasure we are able to offer a return visit to this wonderful locally written play. The Ballad of Mary Ann Brownlow was the smash hit of the Lieder’s program last year and drew crowds from across the state. For a work that had been an idea for so long and which had received intense and detailed attention by David Cole and John Spicer it is indeed rewarding to be able to present it to you again so soon but this time in a totally new environment.

 

It has only been through the generous support of the staff at Goulburn Court House that the Lieder is able to perform in the haunting historical atmosphere of one of Goulburn’s most significant landmarks. But this is not where the real trial of Mary Ann took place. Mary Ann Brownlow was tried and hanged in 1855. The present Court House was opened in 1887. The actual court room still exists. It is in the Sloane Street Court House next to the old Police Station behind where we are performing today.

 

I would like to thank the cast and crew for working on and reworking the show for this new venue. I especially acknowledge the support from Goulburn Tourism for their financial assistance and the continued sponsorship of Hypercet Printing whose generosity allows such high quality publications for our productions.

 

And I would like to thank you for supporting the Lieder’s work and hope that you enjoy these performances as much as we do in revising them for you.

Chrisjohn Hancock

Director

Cast

Robert Fawcett		Des Storrier
Mary Ann Brownlow		Erin Williams
Mrs Elliot		Pauline J Mullen
Sheriff		Craig Edwards
Justice Alfred Stephens		Brian Richardson
Leonard Purefoy		Chrisjohn Hancock
Constable James Nugent		Martin Saunders
Dr Andrew Morton		Richard Shoppee
Eliza Niblet		Bethany James
Edward Hines		Dale Chalker
Rev William Sowerby		David Rayner
Kitty O’Rourke		Jennifer Nell
Elizabeth Lintott		Heather Edwards
Sir Henry Parkes		Bill Dorman
Mrs Howell		Lyn Lace
Jury Foreman		David Cole
Jury		Ken Wheeldon, Bruce McGuirk, Jai Joyce, Andrew Mullen
Crowd/townspeople		Doreen Mullen, Colleen McMahon, Ceilidh Newbury, Lillian & Jasper Dorman
Policemen		Joshua Phillips, Oliver Doebler
Singer		Rebecca McLaren
Voices		Shared by the Cast

The Ballad of Mary Ann Brownlow
Scenes

 

Goulburn 1855

In Goulburn Jail – July 1855

Goulburn Court House – Sloane Street, 11^th September 1855

Goulburn Hotel – 10^th October 1855

Goulburn Jail – 11^th October 1855

Reportings on the event since

 

Live music before the performance is provided by the

Argyle County Ceilidh Band

 

The music for this production was recorded by Peter McLaren at Si~Fonic Studios,
Goulburn in June 2004.

 

Daphne Gooley            Hammer duccimer

Peter McLaren             English concertina, pennywhistle,

mandolin & guitar

 

 

The Lieder would like to thank all those who loaned properties for and assisted on this production.

 

The Ballad of Mary Ann Brownlow was first performed by the Lieder Theatre Company on Friday 18^th June 2004 in the Lieder Theatre goldsmith Street, Goulburn

 

The present Goulburn Court House was designed by one of the most respected architects of the day, colonial architect James Barnett, who also designed the General Post Office in Sydney. One interesting and significant law passed in the Goulburn Court House for all of Australia made it illegal to harbour bushrangers.