An eclectic night of stories and songs inspired by the independent spirit of Port communities.

Director: Catherine Fitzgerald

Producer: Emma Webb

Concept: Emma Webb

Designer: Kathryn Sproul

Lighting Designer: Sue Grey Gardner

Cast: Eileen Darley, Heather Frahn, Rosalind Aylmore, Jenna Bonavita, Peter Douglas, Stuart Day, Emma Luker, Stephen Sheehan, Michael Morley, the poetry of Geoff Goodfellow, Port Adelaide's community choir, Born on Monday

Rockin’ the Boat is an eclectic night of stories and songs – from Brecht to Guys and Dolls, Nick Cave to Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell to John Lennon – in a celebration and protest inspired by the independent spirit of Port communities. Rockin’ the Boat evokes the culture and folklore common to many port cities - internationalism, peace, rebellion, love lost and found, storytelling, rat-baggery, drama and a steadfast self-determination.

Rockin’ the Boat is partly a response to the multi-million dollar Port Waterfront Redevelopment which will significantly change the built, natural and cultural landscape of the Port over the next fifteen years. In the face of many examples of more appropriate development models of ports around Australia and the world, the New Port Quays development, managed by the government’s Land Management Corporation, has seen things such as: the destruction of 150+year old working boat sheds; closure of access to much of the inner harbor of the Port River; handing over of heritage listed iconic buildings such as Harts Mill to developers for private use within the waterfront redevelopment; and contaminated dust piles left to waft across the local primary school from the one of the development sites.

The high-calibre artistic team includes such local favourites as Eileen Darley, Heather Frahn and Stephen Sheehan, with a host of Adelaide’s best instrumentalists including guest pianist Michael Morley who combine with the 35 voices of Port Adelaide’s choir, Born on Monday.

Presented by the Rockin' The Boat Collective, Born on Monday and Vitalstatistix.