The Kelly Collection
(John C Munro)

Colcannon presents 'The Kelly Collection' telling the story of Australia's most famous bushranger through powerful songs linked with compelling narration and stunning visuals.
Villain or hero, Ned Kelly's name still resonates in Australian history and folklore
in a similar way to Jesse James or Robin Hood and the question is, of course, "why?"

It's undeniable that he killed three policemen at Stringybark Creek, robbed banks,
held hostages, and planned to derail a train carrying police to Glenrowan.
Equally certain is the fact that Ned was born into a family of Irish migrants which had fled religious persecution and which harboured rebel attitudes.
They were conspicuous in the community and attracted the notice of a police force,
which was, in the main, inept, corrupt and brutish.
The family and its friends were victimised and abused on a regular basis and so major friction between the clan and the authorities was inevitable.

Did he embody the anti establishment, working class hero qualities engendered at Eureka?
Was he the original Aussie battler, fighting against an unresponsive system to carve out a life in the bush?
Was he what we would all aspire to in fighting for his family against injustice?
Or did he simply cut a larger than life figure through his many flamboyant acts of generosity? It's hard to write him off simply as a ruffian, a thief and a murderer when his legend lives on so vigorously 120 years after his death.

Common criminal or folk hero?
You decide!

Written by John Munro and arranged by Colcannon 'The Kelly Collection' is a performance of Australian history not to be missed.