conviction, passion and power. The night was
particularly special because my cousin was the
musical director. I enjoyed it so much, I returned
three times to watch the show again and again. I
was addicted. I had the bug. So I kept returning to
the theatre. Like a moth to the light. Each summer I
rocked up to experience production after
production; Godspell, Blondel, Oklahoma, Calamity
Jane, The Boyfriend, Sweeney Todd, Kismet. Each
time I was transported and transfixed. I couldn’t
believe these ‘shows’ kept appearing, as if from a
magical vault. What would they come up with next?
Soon after, a trip to Melbourne to see the
professional production of Cats cemented my
obsession. The Siamese cat prowled past me in the
aisle and the show blew my mind. These people are
getting PAID to do this mum?? It was heaven.
I couldn’t wait to get involved. To be ON the
stage, rather than in front of it. Following my
thirteenth birthday, I auditioned successfully, along
with my six girlfriends, to be in the chorus of On
the Twentieth Century with our local acting
company Holidays Actors. Shocking musical (not
one of my faves) but a fabulous experience.
Teenage girls playing ‘real’ dress ups on stage with
make-up, costumes, characters, singing, dancing
and an audience to validate it all? What a dream
come true. For the next six years my friends and I
spent our summer holidays living and breathing
musical theatre. Each production more exciting and
challenging than the first (How to Succeed in
Business Without Really Trying being a highlight!).
What a glorious way to spend our summers in a
coastal town. Productive, engaging, creative,
imaginative. Hardly a misspent youth.
I feel happy when I reflect on this time in my
life. I’m so lucky to have had a mother who valued
and respected this wonderful world of music and
theatre. I’ll be forever grateful to mum for
investing the time (and money) on my spirit. It has
given me so much happiness, joy and direction,
along with success.
My girlfriends and I often talk about the values
and lessons we gained from our time in amateur
theatre, and there are many; working as a team,
stage etiquette, discipline, rehearsing and working
hard to produce a production, deadlines, respecting
the crew, lighting, sound and costume departments,
respecting our voices and bodies, early meditation
practices (yes way back in the late 80s!) and most of
all, having fun and following our dreams. It gave us
confidence. It gave us a wonderful sense of self. It
gave us courage.
When I successfully auditioned for the Ben
Elton/Queen We Will Rock You musical for the
original Melbourne cast, I felt like my life had come
‘full circle’. I was once again that 13 year-old
schoolgirl skipping along the footpath floating with
happiness and nervousness. Now I was getting
PAID to live my dream. And what a dream it was. I
adored every single minute. Working with Ben
Elton, Roger Taylor and THE Brian May was an
incredibly rewarding professional experience, and
definitely a career highlight. I’ll never forget the
anticipation of opening night, the electric buzz in
our dressing rooms, new friendships and tears of