This show belongs to the Adelaide Fringe 2023 season. This season is now over.

Mary Anning standing with her fossil digging hammer ready to crack rocks, and smash glass ceilings! Features several prehistoric creatures.
Mary Anning walking along the beach with her best friend, her dog Tray
Mary Anning sitting on rocks by the seashore, looking into the distance.

A Curious Thing: The Story of Mary Anning

Theatre and Physical Theatre • Musical theatre
South Australia • World Premiere

Come on a journey to discover a world of remarkable, prehistoric creatures, and of the extraordinary woman who discovered them. Based on a true story, this delightful musical adventure for the whole family explores the world of Mary Anning, and how she made some of the most important fossil discoveries of all time. 

 

Starring Michelle Nightingale as Mary Anning.
Written and directed by Michael Mills.

Presented by: Heaps Good Productions

Heaps Good Productions is a creative outlet for a range of projects for Michael Mills, with a focus on science communication, the stories within cultural institutions, and living histories. Across more than 21 years, Michael has written and produced over 60 different shows across Australia, MC-d multiple events, and, provided training programmes for multiple corporate and public enterprises. Michael has engaged hundreds of thousands of people in the stories of us, and who we are in this time.

Clients for the many interactive site-specific, interactive performance experiences have included Carrick Hill, the SA Museum, the SA Maritime Museum, the Australian Museum, Melbourne Zoo, QVMAG-Launceston, along with Naracoorte Caves, and other regions with a unique cultural heritage.

Reviews & Fringefeed Reacts

  • The production skillfully weaves together sadness, humour, and pathos to present a somewhat sad, but ultimately hopeful picture of Mary Anni - Jan Kershaw, Glam Adelaide

  • It’s an important piece of work, challenging families with the struggles of women in STEM from so long ago... - Mark Wickett, Stage Whispers

  • It achieves the impressive feat of not only making a musical of a scientific subject, but also making it fun & enjoyable for all the family - David Cronin, The Clothesline

  • Mills has created a delightful, enchanting and informative musical account of this perfect, passionate palaeontologist. - Peter Wilkins, Canberra Critics Circle