Barbara and the Camp Dogs explained

Barbara and the Camp Dogs is a rock musical by Ursula Yovich and Alana Valentine with songs by Valentine, Yovich, and Adm Ventoura.

Premise

The work concerns Barbara, an Aboriginal pub singer trying to make it in Sydney, and her cousin and foster sister René. When the health of Barbara's mother deteriorates, they embark on a pilgrimage back home to country in the Northern Territory.

Productions

The musical's libretto was written by Ursula Yovich and Alana Valentine, with songs by Valentine, Yovich, and Adm Ventoura.^{[1] [2]}

Barbara and the Camp Dogs premiered at the Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney in December 2017, featuring Yovich (Barbara) and Elaine Crombie (René). The production was directed by Leticia Cáceres and produced by Belvoir in association with Vicki Gordon Music Productions.^{[3] [4]}

It returned for an encore run at the Belvoir in April 2019 before touring the country that year,^{[5] [6]} including Brisbane,^[7] Melbourne,^[8] Wollongong,^[9] and Canberra.^[10]

Awards

Wins

• 2019: Winner, four 2019 Helpmann Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score^[11]

Nominations

• 2018: Nomination, AWGIE Award for Music Theatre
• 2019: Shortlisted, New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards' Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting^[12]
• 2019: Shortliste, Victorian Premier's Literary Awards' Prize for Drama^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Review: Barbara and the Camp Dogs (Belvoir). Limelight. en-AU. 2019-07-15.
2. News: Barbara and the Camp Dogs: how one woman's anger became a rock show. Tongue. Cassie. 2017-12-18. The Guardian. 2019-07-15. en-GB. 0261-3077.
3. Web site: Litson . Jo . Review: Barbara and the Camp Dogs (Belvoir) . . 20 February 2019 . 6 September 2024.
4. Web site: Tongue . Cassie . Barbara and the Camp Dogs: how one woman's anger became a rock show . The Guardian . 18 December 2017 . 6 September 2024.
5. Web site: Barbara & The Camp Dogs . Belvoir St Theatre . 23 November 2021 . 6 September 2024.
6. Web site: Barbara and the Camp Dogs . Stage Whispers . 6 September 2024.
7. Web site: Review: Barbara and the Camp Dogs (Queensland Theatre with Belvoir & Vicki Gordon Music Productions) . Backstreet Brisbane . 6 May 2019 . 6 September 2024.
8. Web site: Barbara and the Camp Dogs . Stories of M . 7 February 2019 . 6 September 2024.
9. Web site: Merrigong Theatre Company is thrilled to bring Belvoir’s smash-hit Barbara and the Camp Dogs to Wollongong for a limited season 5 – 8 June. . GongScene . 28 May 2019 . 6 September 2024.
10. Web site: Barbara and the Camp Dogs: Program. . 6 September 2024.
11. Web site: 2019 Nominees and Winners . Helpmann Awards . 2022-11-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240314233041/http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/2019/nominees-and-winners/industry/. 14 Mar 2024.
12. Web site: 2020-02-24 . Barbara and the Camp Dogs . 2022-11-12 . State Library of NSW.
13. Web site: Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2019 . 2022-11-12 . The Wheeler Centre . en-US.