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This show belongs to the Adelaide Fringe 2026 season. This season is now over.

An image of palaeontology pioneer Mary Anning standing on rocks holding her geology hammer above her head. Across the rocks an d in the sky are various prehistoric creatures, such as plesiosaurs and pterosaurs. Also includes a Megalosaurus!
Mary Anning, sitting on a rock by thew sea, hugging her best friend, her dog Tray.
Mary Anning walks along the beach looking for fossils with her black and white dog, Tray. They are walking away from the camera.
Adelaide Fringe 2026

A Curious Thing- The Story of Mary Anning

Come on a musical journey to a world of remarkable creatures and the extraordinary woman who discovered them: who transformed our understanding of the world forever! Join us in the place where the science of palaeontology began in the early 1800s, and discoveries were made whose memories echo across forever. 

Following a SOLD OUT, critically acclaimed season at the 2023 Adelaide Fringe, this season sees a fully re-written version of the show, with new songs, a larger cast, and an authenticity born of having been re-written in Mary Anning's home town of Lyme Regis.

★★★★★  "...the kind of joyful and instructive entertainment that can make a difference" Canberra Critics Circle

★★★★★ "...an important piece of work, challenging families with the struggles of women in STEM " Stage Whispers

Presented by: Heaps Good Productions

Bringing the story of Mary Anning to Adelaide and beyond is the life long passion of award-winning writer/director Michael Mills. To create this fully rewritten version of the sold-out show from 2023, Michael travelled to the home town of Mary Anning in the UK, walking the streets where she walked, and digging for fossils where she made some of her most famous discoveries. Michael has written dozens of shows exploring historical and scientific narratives, and with Gemma Dandie, released an album about Mary Anning in 2023 that helped raise funds to build a statue in her honour. The show features Mary across 3 ages, with accomplished Adelaide triple threats Michele Kelsey as Mary, the older, Mia Ferraretto as Mary in her early 20s and Adele Binns as 11 year old Mary.
Theatre and Physical Theatre • Musical Theatre
South Australia • World Premiere
 
Fringe Fund Recipient
Reviews
  •   9
  •   4
  •   1
  •          

    ...a unique Fringe offering and is both enjoyable theatre and an important story to tell. - Jude Hines, Stage Whispers

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Suitability & warnings

Content rating: G
Family friendly: Yes
Target audience: Primary (8-11) | Middle School (12-14) | High School (15-17)

Accessibility

 
High audio content
 
Audience members interact from the seated or standing area

Presenter

Presented by: Heaps Good Productions

Bringing the story of Mary Anning to Adelaide and beyond is the life long passion of award-winning writer/director Michael Mills. To create this fully rewritten version of the sold-out show from 2023, Michael travelled to the home town of Mary Anning in the UK, walking the streets where she walked, and digging for fossils where she made some of her most famous discoveries. Michael has written dozens of shows exploring historical and scientific narratives, and with Gemma Dandie, released an album about Mary Anning in 2023 that helped raise funds to build a statue in her honour. The show features Mary across 3 ages, with accomplished Adelaide triple threats Michele Kelsey as Mary, the older, Mia Ferraretto as Mary in her early 20s and Adele Binns as 11 year old Mary.