by Shannon Jensen
WATERSONG
by Shannon Jensen
A dry creek bed lies still, slowly dying, mirroring the fractured relationship of the Joinbee Family who grew up along its banks. Three generations, separated by secrets and shame, return home one last time. And the Women are waiting.ir shoulders.
“Little Girl keeps coming. Reminding me that times almost up.”
TheatreiNQ acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun, Bindal, Gugu Badhun and Nywaigi as the Traditional Owners of this land. We pay our respects to their cultures, their ancestors and their Elders, past and present - and all future generations.
This production is made possible by the Queensland State Government through Arts Queensland’s Arts Showcase Program and the Townsville City Council via the Regional Arts Development Fund.
SHANNON JENSEN
Lynette/Writer/Co-Director
Shannon is a proud descendant of the Gunggandji people of Yarrabah.
ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2020
THEATREiNQ: The Blood of Kings, The White Rose and the Red
OTHER THEATRE: Tropic Sun Theatre: Sunrise by Louis Nowra, Orestes directed by Jean-Pierre Voos
OTHER: Moogahlin Performing Arts Yellamundie Festival, TheatreiNQ’s PlayGround Festival, JUTE Theatre Write Sparks, PlayLab Sparks, JUTE Theatre: Enter Stage Write Programme
TRAINING: JCU Bachelor of Theatre (2003)
DARYLLE SAM
Joanie
Darylle is a descendant of the Bwgcolman people with Ancestral ties to the Kuku Yalanj traditional owner groups
THEATREiNQ: This is Darylle’s first production with TheatreiNQ
OTHER: Darylle is 16 years old and a student at St Margaret Marys College
MARGUERITE WESSELINOFF
Tottie
Marguerite is a direct descendant of the Pita Pita tribe in North-West Queensland.
THEATREiNQ: PlayGround Writers Festival (2023 & 2024)
OTHER THEATRE: Full Throttle Theatre Company; Townsville Little Theatre; PlayLab Theatre’s Sparks; Street Arts Theatre; Queensland Arts Council; Queensland Theatre; SBS Television TRAINING: QUT Bachelor of Arts (Drama)
PENNEY KAY
Deb
Penney is a proud descendant of the Bundjalung people.
THEATREiNQ: PlayGround Writers Festival (2023 & 2024)
OTHER THEATRE: PlayLab Theatre Sparks Programme; Full Throttle Theatre Company: 3 Courses in Comedy; Townsville Little Theatre: Trust Me, I’m an Actor; Townsville Choral Society: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; North Queensland Opera and Music Theatre: School of Rock, Chess
TRAINING: Vocal Training - Sarah Lane and The House of Voice
HARRIE DEAN
Young Girl
Harrie is a descendant of the Gunggandji people of Yarrabah.
THEATREiNQ: This is Harrie’s first production with TheatreiNQ
OTHER THEATRE: Kirwan State School Musicals - Beauty and the Best, Madagascar TRAINING: The Dance Collective
ALEX DEAN
Young Girl
Alex is a descendant of the Gunggandji people of Yarrabah.
THEATREiNQ: This is Alex’s first production with TheatreiNQ
OTHER THEATRE: Kirwan State School
Musical - Beauty and the Beast
TRAINING: The Dance Collective
TERRI BRABON
Co-Director/Dramaturg
FOUNDING ENSEMBLE MEMBER
THEATREiNQ: Terri is the co-founder and Artistic Director of THEATREiNQ.
PLAYWRIGHT/ADAPTATIONS: The Government Inspector, Bloody Mary, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, The Wars of the Roses Trilogy: The Blood of Kings/The White Rose and the Red/ Blood will have Blood, Alice Through the Looking Glass, First Born, Alice in Wonderland, Frankenstein
OTHER: Founder & Mentor TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project; The Culture Club; MULKADEE Drama Coach (2012-14/2018)
AWARDS: Order of Australia Medal (2024);
TCC Jean-Pierre Voos Theatre Award (2012)
TRAINING: Bachelor of Theatre
CHARLOTTE DAVIES
Sound Operator
ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2021
THE BRIDGE PROJECT TECHNICAL
THEATREiNQ: Technical Team: As You LIke It
Actor: Measure for Measure, Puffs, Bloody Mary, The Tempest, Blood Will Have Blood, The White Rose and the Red, Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Merry Wives of Windsor; OTHER THEATRE: Full Throttle Theatre Company; Props Youth Theatre Company:
TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project
FIONN BAKER GOODSON Stage Manager
ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2022
THE BRIDGE PROJECT TECHNICAL
THEATREiNQ: Sound Design/Operator: Punk Rock, Puffs; Sound/AV Operator: Measure for Measure, The Tempest, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui; Stage Manager: As You Like It; The Government Inspector, Bloody Mary, Xmas Krackers Crew: Orphans
OTHER THEATRE: Props Youth Theatre
OTHER: Woodenbong Fire Tribe; Aberdeen International Youth Arts Festival
TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project (Technical); Cajam Circus
BRENDAN O’CONNOR
Set Design/Construction
FOUNDING ENSEMBLE MEMBER
THEATREiNQ: Brendan is the co-founder and leading actor of TheatreiNQ, featuring in over 40 roles. Behind the scenes, the multi-talented actor is also the Company Production Manager, Set Designer and Builder
OTHER THEATRE: 18 years as leading actor with the Australian Shakespeare Company; founding Member of Tropic Line Theatre Company
AWARDS: Townsville City Council Services to the Arts Award (2019), Townsville City Council Performance of the Year (2015), Townsville City Council Jean-Pierre Voos Theatre Award (2012), Jean-Pierre Award (2011)
OTHER: Mentor TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project (Actor & Technical Strand); MULKADEE Drama Coach (2012-14/2018)
TRAINING : Associate Diploma of Acting
DANIEL LOBLEY
Lighting
Design/Operator
ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2021
THEATREiNQ: Lighting Design: As You Like It, Punk Rock, The Government Inspector, Chewing Gum Dreams, Puffs, Bloody Mary, Xmas Krackers, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, The Performance Project 2022
Technical Team: Measure for Measure, The Tempest, Orphans, Blood Will Have Blood, The White Rose and the Red, Alice Through The Looking Glass
OTHER THEATRE: Townsville Choral Society: Stage Manager: Singin’ in the Rain; Dancenorth: Technical Operator: Deeper Than Dancing
OTHER: Technician: Dancenorth; Technician
Assistant: Townsville Civic Theatre
TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project (Technical)
AWARDS: Martin Gibson Medal (2022)
SASHA LEA-ROWELL
Production Assistant/Crew
THE BRIDGE PROJECT TECHNICAL
THEATREiNQ: Technical Team: As You Like It, Punk Rock, The Government Inspector
OTHER THEATRE: Props: NQOMT-The Addams Family (2024), Props, Set & Crew: Townsville Grammar School - Little Shop of Horrors (2023); Crew: Libretto Studios - Frozen Junior (2023); Acting: Townsville Grammar School - West Side Story (2021)
OTHER: Dancer: Pace Live Entertainment
Sydney: MICHAEL the Show (2019)
TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project (Technical)
SURVEY
Thank you for attending our production of WATERSONG by Shannon Jensen. Please complete our 2 minute online survey. Your positive feedback helps us receive funding and sponsorship which means that we can continue to deliver quality theatre to Townsville and North Queensland.
A Note from the Writer
Creating Watersong was one of the most natural and fulfilling experiences I’ve had as a writer. I remember sitting by the creek in Giya country (Proserpine), thinking about the deep connection the First Peoples have with the water. It wasn’t until later that I discovered my Gran, Tottie, grew up in Kennedy, and her mob had a strong bond with the waterways there. That’s when I realized my ancestors were guiding me to tell this story. When Terri asked me to co-direct, I had mixed feelings. Directing had never crossed my mind, and during the process there were moments when I felt like the task was way too big for me, but after one rehearsal, Terri opened up about her first experience co-directing with Jean-Pierre. Like me, she wanted everything to move faster, and he reassured her that directing is all about layering. That advice stuck with me—it helped me realize that bringing a play to life is a process, and sometimes you just have to let go (just a little) and trust that the characters and the story will develop on their own.
Being on stage with my daughters, and with such a passionate group of women who are just as committed to bringing our culture to life, has been an emotional rollercoaster in the best way. It’s sparked a fire in me and made me more determined than ever to see First Nations stories thrive on the Townsville stage.
I’ve learned so much from this experience and being part of this incredible team will stay with me long after the play is over.
Shannon Jensen WRITER/CO-DIRECTOR
Thank You
Nita Vasilescu / John & Beth Honeycombe / Phillip Lambert / The Speckled Hen / JRNQ Production
Aunty Fay Gee-hoy / Aunty Lily Shearer / Nicholas Rose / Lara Hodgson / Kiahna Culleton
Wulgurukaba Walkabouts
