Australia in Photographs and Songs
Australia in Photographs and Songs is a gentle nostalgic look at Australia through photographs, accompanied by original songs. It has just finished the first of three FringeWorld “seasons” with later performances at Rockingham and Victoria Park. It builds on previous seasons presented at FringeWorld in 2024 and 2025, and there was clearly a good number of returning audience members.
Performed by Bethany O’Brien and Gudgeon Pinn, the performers take centre stage, with large screens either side of the performance space. They accompany their original songs on guitar.
The set list includes ‘Quandong Gin’ (with photos of the Flinders Ranges from the first photographs ‘til present day), ‘Songs of the Butcherbirds’ (celebrating Australian Birds), and ‘The Queen of the Murchison’ (about the town of Cue and gold mining in WA).
‘Mary of York’ is particularly special, as it is about Bethany’s great, great, great grandmother’s emigration to WA from Ireland, and includes photos of the lady herself, while ‘Moondyne Joe’ (about the famous 19th century WA bush ranger and escape artist) was especially poignant, given that Moondyne Joe was tried in Fremantle Court a number of times, if not in the room where we were gathered, certainly in the Police Court next door, where we waited before the show. Five other songs follow, including the very moving ‘Mistake Creek’ (about the historic massacres of indigenous Australians) which contrasts a sad song with beautiful images of indigenous art.
Each song is unique, well chosen for differences in style and pace, while the photographs are beautifully curated, mostly from State Libraries and Museums, and were interesting and poignant.
A great choice for the history buffs out there, as well as anyone keen on new songwriting. A heartfelt and touching show.
Kimberley Shaw
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