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Take a peek behind the curtain
The bond our cast and crew have formed is extraordinary under unprecedented circumstances and that bond and combined devotion individually and collectively is incredibly special. Their goodwill, dedication and commitment is a testament to the character of everyone involved and we are rejoicing at the splendour that we shared staging our glorious production of the Australian Premiere of Anne & Gilbert.
The Australian premiere of Anne & Gilbert - the Musical will run from May 21st - June 5th at Beaumaris Theatre. Book your tickets at http://bit.ly/AnneAndGilbertMusical
Shelley Dunlop - Anne Shirley
Shelley has studied voice at the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Polytechnic as well as acting as part of NIDA's Actors Studio 2019. Her recent credits include Irene in Anna Bella Eema (Melbourne Fringe); Olivia in Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat (NIDA); Deb in Ordinary Days (Life Story Theatre); Sarah in Decoration Day (T2 Productions) and The Witch in Into The Woods (Aspect). She also recently musically directed two original Australian shows: Post (Something Blue Productions) and The Girl Green As Elderflower (La Mama). Her voice also can be heard in several ads and indie animations.
Ollie Culshaw - Gilbert Blythe
Ollie has been involved with Beaumaris Theatre since the age of 8, taking up classes with D.K Productions. Ollie developed a passion for the stage since then and has been involved in many productions with local production companies such as MLOC, PLOS, Aspect, and Beaumaris Theatre.
He has had a variety of roles with these theatre groups, ranging from lead roles to ensemble, and can sometimes be found helping backstage or at the front of house. Ollie is currently studying a Bachelor of Criminology at Monash University.
Wendy McRea - Marilla Cuthbert
Wendy is delighted to be here on stage amongst a vibrant, youthful and committed cast and crew! Wendy's previous theatrical experience includes Blood Brothers, Stepping Out, Nobody’s Perfect, Same Time Next Year, Dixie Swim Club, Odd Couple, Calendar Girls, Flea in her Ear, Losing Louis, for which she received a Victorian Drama League Award for Best Actress.
Lynette Williams - Mrs Rachel Lynde
Lynette has more than 20-years of experience as an actress on the amateur stage and was last seen at Beaumaris Theatre in Smiley the musical as his mother and as Gloria in Return to the Forbidden Planet. Other favourite roles include playing Bloody Mary in South Pacific, Mrs Fraser in Stepping Out and Lady Catherine de Burgh in Pride and Prejudice.
She has also done some extras work for television and appeared in a minor role for the comedy festival.
Aimee John - Josie Pye
Aimee is a performer with 16 years of experience in dancing, and more recently, has been expanding her passion and developing her skills in acting and singing too. Her theatre credits include Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods (ASPECT) and Clara Makin in The Hatpin (Waterdale), as well as an ensemble member of The Witches of Eastwick (Fab Nobs) and Joseph (ASPECT).
Aimee has also worked on the production team of Fab Nobs’ Heathers as Assistant Director/Assistant Choreographer, and High School Musical as Assistant Choreographer.
Sarah Green - Philippa Gordon
Anne & Gilbert - The Musical marks Sarah's sixth show with Beaumaris Theatre. She was also involved in our productions of 13 a new musical (2014), A Little Mermaid Jr (2015), A Chorus Line (2017), Cinderella- The Pantomime (2017), Chicago (2018). Sarah has also been involved in a number of other amateur and school productions including Into the Woods (2018), Les Misérables (2017) and Bye Bye Birdie (2016).
In 2020 Sarah studied full-time Music Theatre under the guidance of Scott Johnson and Matthew Frank at Showfit.
Lucas Petropoulos - Moody Spurgeon MacPherson
Lucas performed in various musicals at school, including in Pippin and Seussical, Doody in Grease, General Khashoggi in We Will Rock You, and George in The Wedding Singer, Dopey in The Queen, and Peter Pan called Flight Risk.
Lucas is also a skilled musician, which helped him land the role of Avonlea’s local fiddle player, learning to play the violin for this production.
He performed in Beaumaris Theatre’s production of Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story as Joe B. Mauldin, Buddy Holly’s bass player, where he also had never played the Double Bass prior to receiving the role.
Fraser Mitchell - Roy Gardner
Fraser has been involved in seven Beaumaris Theatre productions since his debut in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 2012. Fraser was assistant director for Beaumaris Theatre’s Flowers for Algernon in 2017 and again for MLOC’s Footloose.
Over the years Fraser has performed in many shows at St Leonard’s College and companies such as MLOC, Hart Theatre Company, PLOS, MAPA, MUST and Aspect. In 2017 he also co-wrote/directed the 2017 MUST O-Show.
Fraser completed his Bachelor of Performing Arts at Monash University as well as a Masters of Writing for Performance at the Victorian College of the Arts. Fraser is currently working as a writer, performer and director.
Bronte Regos Thiele - Diana Barry
Bronte’s most recent show was Cactus Musicals’ inaugural production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee of which she was director and choreographer. She is also on the Cactus Musicals Inc Committee. Her other theatre works include performing her self-devised cabaret D’Evil: An exploration of villainy at The Butterfly Club (2018), playing the part of the D.A in Beyond Cinema’s immersive experience of The Shawshank Redemption (2018), and Deborah Sue in Bye Bye Birdie (MLOC, 2019).
This is Bronte’s first show with Beaumaris Theatre, and she can’t wait to share it with everyone.
Ky Rowse as Paul Irving
Ky is making his theatrical debut in Anne & Gilbert - The Musical. Ky has been taking drama classes with DK Productions and can be found on the soccer pitch or playing his saxophone when not reciting his lines or practising his steps.
Sam Johnson - Anthony Pye
Anne and Gilbert marks Sam’s 3rd role at Beaumaris Theatre, and 6th role in a musical theatre production. In 2019, he was on the crew for two shows, The Buddy Holly Story and Pillow Talk, operating the lighting and sound, respectively. Prior to this, Sam played the role of Emmett in his school’s performance of Legally Blonde in 2018, and was part of the Ensemble cast of The Wiz in 2016, and Cinderella in 2015. Also in 2015, Sam played the part of Flotsam for Beaumaris Theatre’s The Little Mermaid Jr., and in 2014, the role of Eddie in 13 – A New Musical. Earlier in 2014 was Sam’s acting debut as Pugsley for his school’s production of The Addams Family.
Tim Semmens - Fred Wright and Alonzo
Tim Semmens is making his debut at Beaumaris Theatre in Anne & Gilbert. Tim is the President and a founding member of Cactus Musicals Inc. and performed as Chip Tolentino in their inaugural production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Clayton Community Centre Theatrette in February 2020. He has also held several supporting roles, including Mr Sowerberry in Oliver! (ASPECT) and Monsieur D’Arque in Beauty and the Beast (ASPECT). Tim is an accomplished singer and pianist, with a passion for all things choral.
David Efron - Mr. Sloane /Minister/ Professor/ Head Waiter
David began theatre quite late in life back and immediately fell in love with the thespian way.
His first role was in the ensemble for Witches of Eastwick (MLOC). Larger roles followed in Hairspray; West Side Story; Bloody Murder; 12 Angry Men; King Claudius in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead; Spring Awakening; Honeymoon Hotel (Saltpillar); Max in Sitting Pretty (Williamstown Little Theatre); Greg in Face to Face (Brighton Theatre); Hugh Bedales in The Weekend (Encore) and Lieutenant Drake’s Last Case (Brighton Theatre).
Karen Shnider - Mrs Pye
Karen has been involved in theatre for many years and has enjoyed all aspects both on and off the stage. Karen realized her love for music and theatre at a very early age and became involved as soon as she was of an age to do so. Historically, Karen has also been involved with choirs, and singing groups and is currently a member of the ‘Cantate Singers’.
Karen has been involved with various companies around the Melbourne community theatre scene, most recently as Norah They Came from Mars and Landed Outside the Farndale Avenue Church Hall at Beaumaris Theatre in 2020.
Ellie Martin - Avonlea and Redmond College student
Ellie started her performing life as a dancer, studying tap, jazz and ballet from the age of 3. Kicking off her dancing as a ‘Banana’ in her pyjamas, she discovered her love for performing.
Some of her highlights are Baby June in Gypsy, little Cosette in Les Miserables and Connie in A Chorus Line (Beaumaris Theatre). Ellie’s last theatre adventure was Buddy- The Buddy Holly Story (Beaumaris Theatre). Since then Ellie graduated from a 2-year full time acting course at Acting Performance Studios. Apart from performing, Ellie enjoys cooking (and eating)- and can make a mean spaghetti bolognaise.
Emilia Brown - Avonlea and Redmond College student
This is Emilia’s Beaumaris Theatre debut and she is so thrilled to be a part of the incredible cast of Anne & Gilbert. Emilia had been on the stage since the age of three and has not left since. She has been training in musical theatre since the age of 11, having attended performing art schools, singing lessons and dance classes and hopes to pursue a career in musical theatre. Her previous roles include Alice in Alice in Wonderland Jr, The White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, Jasmine in Aladdin and Jane Banks in Mary Poppins.
Heidi Stevenson - Avonlea and Redmond College student
Heidi is a passionate actress, seeking to pursue a career in the acting industry. She has performed in school musical productions of Beauty and the Beast playing Belle and Annie as Miss Hannigan.
Anne & Gilbert is Heidi’s first musical outside of school, she is keen to learn and experience new opportunities, to further her skills. It was such a blessing to be a part of Anne & Gilbert with such a wonderful cast and crew.
Elsie Steele - Avonlea and Redmond College student
Elsie has been attending singing and drama classes in the UK and Australia for about 5 years, including classes with D.K Productions at Beaumaris Theatre. However, Anne & Gilbert is her first out-of-school performance that hasn’t involved performing with a similar-aged acting class. She is thrilled to be taking part and getting to act, sing and dance.
Elsie performed in Utopia and Lazy Ace with the Pauline Quirke Academy and took on the character of a creepy circus performer in her school production Carnival March.
Amelia Murray - Avonlea and Redmond College student
Amelia attended classes with D.K Productions at Beaumaris Theatre which she loved. Soon after she performed in her school production, Matilda the Musical, later that year she danced in her school’s showcase themed ‘at the movies’. From 2014 to 2016 she was part of a choir who performed at nursing homes.
The Australian premiere of Anne & Gilbert - the Musical will run from May 21st - June 5th at Beaumaris Theatre.
There were melting drifts of snow lying in the gutters and on the footpaths in the towns, the sun shone most days, a beautiful blue sky, with thick white clouds, clear sparkling seawater, red earthy dirt in outlying areas and lots of delicious oysters to eat, wherever you visited. There was a chill in the air, and the average temperature was around 8 degrees. All around were the sounds of Canadian voices peppered with the Celtic overtones of the PEI accent. The books rang true!
The winds of change can easily blow you off course without the discipline to keep your eye on the prize. In these difficult times, we need to both flexible and resolute as we march into 2021. We need to seek ways to drive our culture of delivering outstanding theatre productions but in a COVID-19 safe environment. Will theatre change in the future? Undoubtedly. But we need to remain on course and deliver 'Theatre for All'.
