Who Are We?

Back to front: Tim Ross, Margaret Paul and Stuart Bowden.

The Polar Bearings are a new independent comedy trio from Melbourne.  Stuart Bowden, Margaret Paul and Tim Ross have been working together as actors, writers and musicians since 2004.

In 2010, they aim to be the first musical comedy trio to sail around the world.  But playing the ukulele is hard in a life jacket.

This year, Margaret and Stuart worked as writer/performers in 'Hark!' as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. The Scotsman described it as "superb."

Stuart toured Australia in 2008 with Bell Shakespeare Company’s ‘Actors At Work’ program. He also performed in Hayloft Theatre’s ‘Yuri Wells,’ in the 2009 Melbourne Fringe Festival, which won the Adelaide Fringe Festival award.

Margaret is a regular contributor to The Age, and has written a thesis on the philosophy of comedy. She also co-wrote and performed in ‘Got Viking? A Musical Misadventure with Horns,’ which sold out in the 2005 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Tim performed stand-up around Adelaide for several years, before moving to Melbourne to study acting at the Victorian College of the Arts. Since graduating, Tim has performed for short film, theatre and television, including Channel 10’s Rush and Neighbours.

‘Songs in the Sea, Major?’ is the maiden voyage for the Polar Bearings. Stay tuned for dates for Adelaide Fringe Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival, 2010.

- The Polar Bearings

Contact: thepolarbearings@gmail.com

Buoy Meets Girl

John Birmingham has written this beautiful piece about why people care about Jessica Watson. 

"Many teenagers will die while Jessica Watson is at sea. Many of them, perhaps most of them, will die violently in car crashes.

Some will pour out what's left of their lives in a thin trickle of poisoned blood under a bridge, in a squat, or perhaps in some back street when they overdose on smack, or speed, or what ever household chemical their dealer used to cut that final shot. Some will be murdered by their partners. A few by strangers. Some  young girls will starve themselves to death. Some young men will die of the utterfoolishness that  characterises their gender at that age. And some, too many, will succumb to the creeping void and take their own lives.

The vast majority of teenagers, of course, will see out the next eight months as  they saw off the last eight – in a pointless round of sullen, hormone choked hissy fits, dark moods, vertiginous upswingsand long periods of eye glazing boredom. Perhaps they'll get in a little bit of binge  drinking at one of those booze fueled shag bracelet parties the tabloids are so worried about."

When I was 16, I had a drag of a friend's cigarette. Once. Ooh, the risk!

Jessica Watson is attempting to become the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world. As the 16 year-old makes her way towards New Zealand, she told her blog she's enjoying the freedom.

"No deadlines, nothing to rush off to, I can eat whatever I like whenever I like, no one to send me off to bed!"

Is this freedom? 

More here:

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/blogs/blunt-instrument/smells-like-teen-spirit/20091019-h520.html

http://www.youngestround.blogspot.com/

-The Polar Bearings

Cabin Fever

The Courier Mail has some great photos of inside Jessica's boat, Ella's Pink Lady. 

Graffiti includes: 

"thx 4 all the amazing memories!! We've had the best times!! Don't know what I would have done without you since pre-school!! You have always been the bestest friend!!" =) Pam"

"Go you Legend! You prove 'em who's the Boss! Rock on Deano"

More pictures here: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/gallery/0,23816,5060257-17382-4,00.html

"I wake up tomorrow and sail around the world"

After leaving Sydney the 16-year-old will head towards northern New Zealand, then to Fiji, Samoa, South America and South Africa, then sail the final leg of 4000 nautical miles back to Australia.

That's... the world. 

Wow.

Jessica Sets Sail

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has wished young sailor Jessica Watson all the best in her world record quest, and urged her to keep safe.

Ms Gillard said the 16-year-old Queensland teenager appeared determined to try to become the youngest person to sail single-handedly around the world.

"I suppose my words at this stage, Laurie, would be: Best of Luck," Ms Gillard said on the Nine Network.

"The seas are, obviously, a dangerous and lonely place, but I think we'd all be wishing Jessica well.

"And, if there's one message, I think it would be: keep safe, to do everything she needs to do to keep safe.

"And if that means that at some point she's got to abandon the journey, then the most important thing here is a young person's life."

Asked if she should be going, Ms Gillard said people made their own decisions.

"Ultimately, people have to make their own decisions.

"I think a lot of Australians are nervous for Jessica. I'm nervous for her."

Full story: 

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/gillard-wishes-teen-sailor-safe-trip-20091018-h2fb.html

Sea you later, Jessica!

On ABC Radio's AM program, Jessica Watson talks about her plans to sail the world alone. We wish her well. And yes, she has packed a Christmas cake.

TONY EASTLEY: Well, the boat is ready, her course is set, but questions remain about whether 16-year- old Jessica Watson is prepared enough mentally and physically for what she is about to attempt.

She's too young to compete in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, but the teenager wants to sail and wants to be the youngest person to sail solo around the world. And depending on the weather she'll probably embark on her journey in the next day or two.

Brendan Trembath reports.

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2009/s2715747.htm

The full story at Jessica' own website:

http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/

- The Polar Bearings

Maiden Voyage

The Polar Bearings present: 

Songs in the Sea, Major?

The Polar Bearings are not the youngest people to sail around the world. But did Jesse Martin do it with a piano and a ukulele? 

‘Songs in the Sea, Major?’ is the maiden voyage from Melbourne independent comedy trio, The Polar Bearings.

 

Featuring: Stuart Bowden, Margaret Paul and Tim Ross

Adelaide Fringe Festival 2010.