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The new Australian musical 鈥楥aptain Moonlite,鈥� explores the real-life story of the queer Australian bushranger through his unsent letters about his actions leading up to his death and relationship with a fellow outlaw.

The musical is set in a death cell in Sydney鈥檚 Darlinghurst Gaol on the eve of Andrew 鈥楪eorge鈥� Scott鈥檚 execution. His letters come to life and tell the story of the alleged bank robbery and shoot out near Gundagai, which lead to the death of his male lover and companion, James Nesbitt.听

Star Observer spoke with creator and composer Jye Bryant, following the 鈥渓ong-awaited鈥� Sydney premiere, new developments for the production and his journey in exploring the bushranger鈥檚 story.

Discovering Captain Moonlite

Discovering the story of Captain Moonlite from a book by Jane Smith, Bryant was captivated by the story and led to further discoveries of the bushranger鈥檚 letters about the tragedy of his life and lover.

鈥淚’ve always thought that the idea of a bushranger being gay seemed to challenge the whole stereotype of a bushranger being this sort of very masculine type figure,鈥� said Bryant.

This juxtaposition of stereotype and Scott鈥檚 character was the foundation that brought this musical to life, with Bryant hoping 鈥渋t gives Andrew George Scott’s letters an audience.鈥�

Bryant explained his personal research and pilgrimage to Gundagai as well as the bushranger’s grave. George鈥檚 anti-hero status provides 鈥渟omething that you can just really have a think about.鈥�

鈥淚 don’t know whether they [audiences] will side with him necessarily, but I think they might get that it’s a little bit more complicated than him just being a bushranger鈥� There were some other things, social things,鈥� he explained.

Music Takes Inspiration For Iris Folk Music

Taking inspiration from George鈥檚 Irish roots, Bryant鈥檚 original music for the production takes inspiration from Irish folk music. Listening to a lot of Irish music, Bryant said he utilised violins and flutes throughout the production.

鈥淚t’s very sort of Irish Celtic and it’s accompanied by a folk band, so it’s very Irishy,鈥� said Bryant. 鈥淭he good thing about Irish music is it can sound fairly sad when it’s slow violins and things like that, I think it’s pretty easy to sound intense and sad.鈥�

Discovering the emotional capacity of the folk sound, Bryant provided a new layer to the performance鈥檚 emotional storytelling.

Bryant aims to honour the history of this complex figure, with new choreography and enhanced script to help 鈥渇lesh out鈥� characters and provide audiences with a new piece of queer history.

Along with Bryant鈥檚 extensive background in musical writing and composition, the show is directed by Johnathon Brown, Musical direction by Susan Brown and Choreography by Anthony Ashdown rounds out the amazing production team.

The cast starring Peter David Allison as George, Michael Clewes as James, and many more amazing talents, are ready to entertain audiences about the infamous bushranger鈥檚 adventurous and tragic life.听

鈥楥aptain Moonlite鈥� – A New Australian Musical, comes to the Richmond School of Arts this August.听

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