Waratah is a musical comedy set in 1965 Sandy Point.

It’s summer and love is in the air.

With an entertaining original script crammed with iconic 1960s rock music plus lots of laughs, the story featured vibrant characters from two families  holidaying together on Waratah Bay over the summer break.

The action is played out over one summer which will alter several lives forever.

FAMDA staged Waratah as part of the 2015 Prom Coast Seachange Festival over three weekends between 17 April and 2 May at the Foster Arts Centre.

It delivered a fun-filled production suited to the whole family – mums, dads, kids – and the grandparents too. Baby-boomers had their toes tapping and their eyes watering with nostalgia.

CAST
The Fisher Family
Nick Fisher – Terry Lay
Ava Fisher – Nicole Cooper
Tyler (Fly) Fisher – Mungo Trumble

The Player Family
Les Player – Bruce Grainger
Lucy Player – Joanne Street
Gerry Player – Connor Epifano
Tim Player – Leuca Maclean
Barney Player – Taj Cooper

The Whetstone cousins of the Fishers
Phyllis Whetstone – Sarah Maclean
Alex Whetstone – Noel Stringer
Susan Whetstone – Taliya Barker

The Vile Family
Ken Vile – Sean Webb
Audrey Vile – Sarah Maclean
Phoebe (Poison) Vile – Harley McDonald-Eckersall

The New Girl
Caralyn – Evy Nye

ENSEMBLE
Siobhan Cooper, Ben Fletcher, Emma Fletcher, Bon Maclean, Cas Maclean, Amy Tudor, Brielle Tudor, Daniel Watson, Hannah Watson

BAND
Keyboards and Vocals – Chris Gale
Drums – Chris Dunn
Bass – Ricky Hurst
Lead Guitar – Pete Barker
Rhythm Guitar and Vocals – Andy Mitchell
Backing Singer – Peter Epifano
Backing Singer – Naomi Cantwell

PRODUCTION TEAM
Director – Chris Dickins
Musical Director – Chris Gale
Choreography – Megan Williams, Nicole Cooper
Set Design – Chris Dickins
Lighting Design – Andrew Oldroyd
Sound Design – Brett Van Hoorn
Costume Co-ordination – Judy Barnard
Props Design – Kim McDonald
Stage Manager – Annette Walker
Production Manager – Sarah Maclean
Assistant Director – Harley McDonald Eckersall
Publicity, Marketing and Programme – Jennifer Paragreen
Video Editor – Peter Clyne
Hair and Make-Up Design – Tania Pell
Set Construction Manager – Ben Cooper
Set Construction & Painting – Peter Barker, Taliya Barker, Peter Clyne, Chris Dickins, Eliza-Jane Johnson, Peter Maclean, Sarah Maclean, Kim McDonald, Harley McDonald-Eckersall, Mike Street, Mungo Trumble, Annette Walker
Props Construction and Painting – Kim McDonald
Video Footage – Chris Dickins, Peter Clyne
Audio-Visual Communication – Robert Paragreen
Backstage Assistants – Peter Clyne, Ray Dower
Lighting Operators – Andrew Oldroyd, Josh Vitols
Sound Operator – Brett Van Hoorn
Make-Up – Tania Pell
Dressers – Judy Barnard, Liz Fletcher, Kim Nye
Front of House Manager – Tim Fletcher
Ticket Sales – Deborah Harris, Main Street Revelations
Venue Box Office – Joanne Stringer
Programme and Foyer Photography – Robert Paragreen
Production Photography – Yianni Banikos

AWARDS
Gippsland Associated Theatre Awards – Winners
Most Outstanding:
Youth Performance Male Over 13 and Under 18 – Leuca Maclean
Youth Performance Under 13 – Taj Cooper

Gippsland Associated Theatre Judges’ Awards
Sophie Cuttriss – Chris Gale and his Band
Jill McCubbin – Peter Epifano and Naomi Campbell as backing singers

Gippsland Associated Theatre Awards – Nominations
Most Outstanding:
Director of a Musical – Chris Dickins
Lead Female in a Musical – Nicole Cooper
Youth Performance Male Over 13 and Under 18 – Connor Epifano
Youth Performance Female Over 13 and Under 18 – Harley McDonald-Eckersall