The Transports tells the incredible tale of a family destroyed by poverty and crime, but resurrected by exile to Australia in the 1780s. With fresh script and musical arrangement, these famous songs by Peter Bellamy re-emerge within a modern context of mass migration. The stellar line-up of musicians includes The Young'uns, Faustus, Nancy Kerr, Rachael McShane and Greg Russell.
Storyteller Matthew Crampton presents fresh narration for the show, amplifying its central tale into a broader exploration of exile and migration. New musical arrangements have come from Paul Sartin of Bellowhead and Faustus.
The Parallel Lives project links The Transports with stories of migration past and present – charting town by town across Britain the way people have left, and people have arrived, in search of better lives.
Mass migration is a defining dilemma of today. There’s seldom been a more vital moment to bring back The Transports – not just a great music experience, but a sharp reminder of folk music’s power in portraying the way the world actually works.
