Mallory - musical conversations with a brain tumour

How do we deal with a life-threatening diagnosis? And what do we do when the treatment is as life-threatening as the condition? Do we make a song and dance about it? Well, yes. Yes we do.

Mallory, the Musical is a cabaret tracing the roller-coaster journey of Logan-based performer and choir leader Cath Mundy when she was diagnosed with a pernicious brain tumour nicknamed Mallory (a name derived from the Old French word malheure, meaning "unhappy", “unlucky” or "unfortunate"). Packed with the drama of a double murder-mystery and an epic love-story, this autobiographical show is told through the genres of 1930’s German Cabaret, anthemic Romance (a la Outlander) and bluesy Folk and Roots music. Audiences are taken on the surgical adventure of how Cath and her lifelong partner, Jay, dealt with the shocking diagnosis and harrowing treatment, and how a community of choirs and swing dancers helped her sing and dance her way to a recovery and new normal.

Directed by Julie Robson from Ladyfinger, and devised with Catherine Mundy (OAM) and Jay Turner (OAM) of Mundy-Turner. The first Creative Development for this new work has been funded by the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), a partnership between the Queensland Government and Logan City Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland and also sponsored by Logan City Council’s “Forge Factory”. Creative Development is continuing through 2026 with the premiere scheduled for 2027.