Composer Kevin Purcell is just as excited by the prospects of the 2-year journey ahead as he is for the potential of an opening night performance of a new musical based on the acclaimed novel The Mapmaker's Opera.

Dr Purcell has managed to gain the rights for a musical version of the novel, despite interest from film companies in buying up blanket options for popular books.

Béa Gonzalez

And he intends to spread his good fortune amongst his staff and student colleagues at Central Queensland University, where he is Professor and Director of Music and Performing Arts.

The Mapmaker's Opera, in Kevin's eyes, is not only a wonderful story which will create a magical musical experience. It is also a major research project offering hands-on experiences for staff and students across performing arts, creative writing and multimedia courses.

Dr Purcell, an internationally recognised expert in design interaction for musical theatre, intends using the latest theatre techniques and multi-media options for the musical.

The Mapmaker's Opera was written by Spanish-born Canadian Béa Gonzalez and is billed as a mesmerizing tale of star-crossed passions, a pair of mysterious birds and a young man's quest to honour both his mentor and his father. It features lyrical and magical storytelling.

Dr Purcell's aim is to premiere the new musical in Mackay - home of CQU's Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music - in 2010 in the presence of the author.

Kevin Purcell met Béa Gonzalez recently in Canada to discuss the project

"It's a great collaborative research project which has potential for grant support as it dovetails with the Rudd Government's 'Fresh Ideas for the Arts' program - due to inject $17 million into a Creative Industries Innovation Centre over 4 years - and also resonates with the Bligh Government's arts policy directions.

The CQU academic praised the foresight of his Faculty colleague Professor Richard Smith who predicted the arc of innovation and development required to match the vision of government planners.