Sean Murphy and Sophie Unsen Bring GHOST JAM! to Sydney Fringe

After taking the Melbourne Comedy Festival by storm, Ghost Jam! is hitting the Giant Dwarf stage for 6 very special performances during the Sydney Fringe Festival in September. Ghost Jam! is a hilarious take on classic Japanese ghost stories, offering 60 minutes of interactive, unpredictable fun for kids and adults alike. Ghost Jam! will tingle spines and tickle funny-bones with games, giggles and ghoulish good times!

Acclaimed kids' comedian Sean Murphy has joined forces with musical sensation Sophie Unsen, for their latest show based on the real-life 19th-Century storyteller, Lafcadio Hearn, and his iconic anthology of traditional Japanese folk tales, Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things. The duo's comedic homage to Hearn and his tales, Ghost Jam! invites young audiences to join the bumbling, crotchety Lafcadio (Murphy) and the mischievous, musicAl Fox, Kitsune (Unsen), in an adventurous romp through some of the most beloved stories from Japan's rich history - from ghosts seeking revenge after a tsunami, to a ghoulish urban legend that serves as a side-splitting reminder why you should always replace the toilet paper! These stories are masterfully brought to life by Murphy and Unsen through a magical blend of language, sounds, music, costumes and barrels of laughter.

Ghost Jam! Co-creator and performer, Sean Murphy, himself a former Tokyo resident, says of the inspiration and spirit of Ghost Jam!:

"[In Japan] Ghost stories for kids are a huge tradition. In fact, it was once considered a kind of air-conditioning; on hot summer nights, parents would send chills down their kids' spines by telling grisly tales!"

Ghost Jam! perfectly melds Murphy's outstanding comedic wit and charm with Unsen's impeccable musical skills to create a truly inspired and out-of-the-box experience for kids that seeks to educate and inform through play and imagination. Specially designed for children aged 5 - 12 years, Ghost Jam! is a joyful ride that offers kids opportunities for their own expression as well as frequent interaction with the performers. Ghost Jam!'s fun and interactive approach to story-driven comedy makes the show unpredictable in the best possible way - with kids (and their parents!) happily oscillating between excited gasps and happy guffaws.

Sean Murphy has truly carved out his place as one of the very best and most innovative children's performers in Australia. Murphy's connection to the minds and imaginations of his young audiences is smart, witty, educational and utterly engaging. Having performed all over the world from Singapore to Europe, New Zealand and even Sydney's very own Opera House, Murphy has proven his uncanny ability to speak to the younger generations in the most positive way.

Sophie Unsen is a member of the world-renowned Taikoz ensemble and specialises in traditional Japanese instruments including the taiko (drums) and shinobue (bamboo flute). A Sydney Conservatorium of Music graduate, who has performed and studied extensively around the globe, Unsen brings her unique musicality to Ghost Jam! and makes it a very special experience the likes of which is rarely seen in live, children's entertainment. Throughout Ghost Jam!, Unsen's music will delightfully colour the mysterious world of Murphy's stories via an orchestra of rarely seen and heard instruments, including the eerily beautiful Waterphone.

Ghost Jam! is a show made for kids - all kids, and as such, Murphy and his team are very proud to offer a Relaxed Performance on Wednesday 27 September that welcomes children and families with disabilities, and sensory and learning challenges to join in the Ghost Jam! fun. This performance will embrace a non-judgemental atmosphere where the kids can feel free to make noise, move around and otherwise express themselves as they need to. The house-lights will remain on, though dimmed, and the doors will be kept open for any kids who need to take a breather and come and go from the show as they like.

Ghost Jam! is a ground-breaking work that respects and challenges young audiences in a brilliantly funny and witty way, and will enthral all those who see it regardless of age. Ghost Jam! is the perfect outing for these September school holidays!