Sydney The Folk Musical

Sydney the Folk Musical tells the story of Keira and Billy, polar opposites who travel through this much maligned metropolis, starting at the end of the last ice age, to the present day.

This extravaganza, spanning 10,000 years and 658 suburbs, featuring a live folk band and a Greek Chorus, is performed by a cast full of Morris dancers (from Sydney of course) and filled with songs penned by Clark Gormley.

The show features twelve original songs, which range in style from popular to sea shanty, traditional folk, rap and beyond. Additionally Gormley has adapted several Shape Note hymn tunes from the Sacred Harp tradition, which are sung a cappella by the Greek Chorus.

This musical has been performed to delirious audiences at the Sydney, the National, and St Albans Folk Festivals.

Reviews:

Clark Gormley, poet, comedian, musician and writer has to be commended for his very witty, very funny production, Sydney the Folk Musical. With young performers and a suspiciously familiar angel / convict chorus, Clark combines history, current scandals, very Aussie times, rhymes, schemes and themes. Nothing more comforting than tunes sung in a good old Aussie twang, churning out familiar turns of phrase, a tribute to Aussie postcodes and coast roads. Sing on, sweet kookaburra, your audience loves you at the Sydney Folk Festival 2022. Finishing with the romance blockbuster, “You are St Ives, I am St Mary’s, but I think we can make this thing work”. 🤣 - Amalina Anna, Sydney artist

Clark has surpassed his previous work. Already known as poet, singer-songwriter & award winning fringe performer, 'Sydney the Folk Musical' brings all these elements together with history, humour & harmonious song, telling the story of this spectacular city. - Naomi Downie, Sydney artist

Promotional posters

Photos

Photos from our second ever performance at the Petersham Bowlo, Friday 17th of June 2022:

Cast:

Sophie Moore - Keira

Ciaran O'Riordan - Billy

Band:

Russell Neal - guitar and drums

Clark Gormley - bass and harmonica

Caitlin McHugh - fiddle

Greek Chorus:

Ruby Foster

Thomas MacDonald

Caitlin McHugh

Clark Gormley

Thanks to Anthony Woolcott for directorial advice.

Video

Here’s a video of the entire show, at the Trocadero, National Folk Festival, Monday the 10th of April 2023. Shot and edited by Wayne Richmond. Thanks Wayne.

Below is a collage of video from our performance at the Trocadero, National Folk Festival, Friday the 7th of April 2023 (thanks David Franklin for the video):

Clips from our performance at Petersham Bowlo 17th of June 2022 (thanks Ray Gurney for the video):

Clips from our very first performance at the Newcastle Fringe Festival 2022 (thanks Dean Winter at the Royal Exchange, Newcastle):