Paul Kelly is synonymous with the Australian music industry. His lyrics capture the vastness of the culture and landscape of Australia by chronicling life about him over a career that’s spanned over forty years. Johnny Porta – a self-confessed fan of Paul Kelly – has dealt with people from all walks of life whilst finding a career as a labourer, a teacher, a historian and a lawyer, but always a musician Johnny relates to Paul Kelly’s lyrical content which he writes with precision and clarity. It’s no surprise that portraying Paul Kelly live on stage became a calling card for Johnny Porta. “I have always connected with his songs and the stories in the songs,” says Johnny. “They say that the most sincere form of flattery is imitation. I take care not to imitate Paul Kelly, but to present his music respectfully and tell the stories in and behind the songs”. Audiences are treated to hearing all the hits and recreating all the characters and the places which Paul Kelly’s audiences and fans have come to know and love.

Venue Format
Theatre, Hall, Outdoor
Technical Rating
The production can be modified to suit most venues
Touring Party
5 persons or 2 persons (depending on style of show selected)

Backed by a full six-piece band made up of highly seasoned musicians, this show distils the huge volume of Kelly’s work down to the most essential and powerful essence of his appeal. It has been designed as a high energy performance relying on interaction with audiences and presents the best of Paul Kelly’s catalogue in two seventy-five sets including the hits “To Her Door”, “Before Too Long”, “From Little Things Big Things Grow”, “Dumb Things” and some surprises like “Beggar on the Street of Love” (written for Jenny Morris) and an Australian anthem in “Treaty” (written with Yothu Yindi).

Company Website
musicofpaulkelly.com.au

Unique Selling Point

The show uniquely presents the work of Paul Kelly, one of Australia's greatest songsmiths. Flexibility of presentation means that the show takes the form of either:

  1. a full production show with a 5 piece band in concert form (A Celebration-the Songs & Stories of Paul Kelly) ($1500.00); or
  2. stripped back version with 2 performers in a workshop form (The Poetry of Paul Kelly-Australian Places & Australian Faces) ($600.00).

Marketing Materials

Teacher's notes, lyric sheets and workshop plans for schools

Community Engagement

The community will either:

  1. be entertained by a theatre style concert presenting the essential Australian songs and stories of Paul Kelly; or
  2. be entertained and educated in a smaller workshop environment focusing on 2 major themes, being Australian Places and Australian Faces.