The Fate of Franklin & his Gallant Crew

The great heroes, the women who wait, the public imagination and the last resort. Original libretto inspired by the eponymous folk song, Wilke Colins The Frozen Deep, and the extensive correspondences of Lady Jane Franklin and Charles Dickens. Staged in a multi-level carriage house in Northcote in March 2010. Presented with support from The City of Melbourne's Young Artist Grant

Green Room Award Winner for Best Performance (Justine Campbell), Best Music MatSweeney), and Best Design (Sebastian Peters-Lazaro & Ellen Strasser)

Scored for vibraphone, pitched wine glasses, double bass, autoharp, harp, bells, piano, strings, trumpet, and chorus.


Direction & Concept Mat Sweeney, Jesse Rasmussen & Sebastian Peters-Lazaro
Text & Dramaturgy Marcel Dorney
Choreography Sebastian Peters-Lazaro
Music Mat Sweeney
Lyrics Jesse Rasmussen

Orchestra Genevieve Fry, Gregory Craske, Kristian Rasmussen, Esala Liyanage, Sebastian Peters-Lazaro, Jesse Rasmussen, & Mat Sweeney

Ensemble Justine Campbell, Reuben Liversidge, Paul Goddard, Caitlin Valentine, Max Baumgarten, Hugo Farrant, Marcel Dorney, Zak Ateka, Fingal Capaldi, Ivan Smith, Bonnie Taylor & Susannah Freedman

Design Sebastian Peters-Lazaro & Ellen Strasser (set and properties), Chloe Greaves (costumes),Geordie Barker (lighting), Mallory Gross (hair and make-up)