In the Belly of the Whale

The Largest Celebration of Wooden Boats and Maritime Culture in the Southern Hemisphere.

Australian Wooden Boat Festival

Join us for the premiere of Mikelangelo's "In the Belly of the Whale"—a captivating solo show interweaving songs and stories from the deep.

The Peacock Theatre, Salamanca Arts Centre

2025 Australian Wooden Boat Festival

In 2025, set sail and dive into the rich depths of maritime culture with unique events brought to you by the largest celebration of maritime culture in the southern hemisphere. It's time to cast off the bowlines and discover something extraordinary!

Co-created by Tracy Bourne and Michael Simic, performed by Mikelangelo. Follow Mikelangelo, the Nightingale of the Adriatic, as he sails the wild seas with his trusty guitar, his booming baritone, and his sparkling accordion. On his adventures he encounters a beautiful mermaid in her underwater cave, a lonely ice queen in her frozen castle, and a huge Sperm whale from the darkest depths of the ocean. Mikelangelo weaves songs and storytelling into a magical, mysterious voyage into the unknown. Full of laughter, imagination and unexpected twists and turns, this new solo show will captivate and delight audiences young and old, and everyone in between. In the Belly of the Whale was created in collaboration with writer/director Tracy Bourne, who has worked on extensively in music theatre in Australia, including productions with Chamber Made Opera, Melbourne International Festival and the ABC. Mikelangelo is the alter-ego of songwriter and creative dynamo Michael Simic. For 25 years, he has travelled Australia and the globe, as a solo performer, and fronting his long term group Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen. He has packed venues and received critical accolades from the Sydney Opera House to London's West End, releasing 17 independent albums and building a worldwide following. In The Belly of the Whale has its' international premiere at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival. Following the success of the Mikelangelo and Van Diemen's Band performances of Songs of the Sea at AWBF in 2023, we recommend you book early, as these shows are likely to sell out. This event is brought to you as part of the 2025 Australian Wooden Boat Festival held 7-10 February, 2025.Doors: Doors open approximately 15 minutes before the show.Duration: Approximately 90 minutes.Interval: No interval.Latecomer Policy: This performance has a strict latecomers policy. To minimise disturbance to others, latecomers will be granted access to the venue approximately 15 minutes from the start of the performance only.Age recommendation: This performance is recommended for people aged 12 years and over.Accessibility: The primary access for guests is via the main entrance on Salamanca Place. The Front Doors to the theatre are located in the Peacock Theatre Foyer. NOTE: There are numerous stairs located in the Peacock Theatre Foyer and then also inside the PeacockTheatre itself. For Level Access, guests can be guided from the Peacock Theatre foyer, through to the Courtyard, and enter via the Stage Doors in the Courtyard.If you require level access for this performance please contact boxoffice@awbf.org.au or call the office on 03 6223 3375. Please note, we are a small team of staff and volunteers but we will endeavour to respond to any queries within 72 hours (excluding weekends and Public Holidays).Drinks and snacks: A concession stand will be open prior to the performance at the Peacock Theatre, serving beverages (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) and a limited range of snacks for sale to guests.Ticketing Terms &amp; Conditions: Tickets are non-refundable except in the case that the event has been cancelled by the Australian Wooden Boat Festival. By purchasing a ticket you agree to all ticketing terms and conditions found <a href="https://awbf2025.org.au/ticket-terms-conditions/" title="https://awbf2025.org.au/ticket-terms-conditions/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

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