Over 60 young cast members brought Matilda Jr to life on the Seymour stage. Photo: Billie-Joe photography.
It took “a village” to put on a high-energy show that wowed Seymour and broke records throughout May.
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Seymour Performers Workshop’s Matilda Jr, a musical adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic, was an overwhelming success for the local stage.
“The shows exceeded all expectations. Every performance had incredible energy from both the cast and the audience, and it was amazing to watch the confidence and growth in the young performers from opening night to the final curtain,” co-producer Sarah DOrria said.
“We were thrilled to present six sell-out performances to audiences of more than 1500 people – a record in the history of SPW."
Part of SPW’s Youth Theatre School, Matilda Jr comprised of over 60 cast members aged between eight and 18.
Youth productions such as this one enable young people to take the centre stage, working on their theatre skills under the guidance of Seymour’s most experienced performers.
“Junior productions provide young performers with an incredible opportunity to develop confidence, creativity and teamwork skills in a supportive environment,” Ms DOrria said.
“Theatre teaches so much more than singing, dancing and acting – it helps young people build resilience, communication skills, discipline and friendships that often last well beyond the show itself.
“Community youth theatre is also a wonderful way to bring young people together and give them a sense of belonging and achievement.
“Many children discover strengths and confidence they didn’t know they had.”
The friendships that formed on and off the stage were a highlight throughout the course of the production. Photo: Billie-Joe photography.
There were many highlights throughout the course of the production, which ran between May 9 and 17 at the Seymour College Arts Centre.
Ms DOrria said seeing the “revolting children’ come to life” on stage was a definite standout, as was “watching friendships form and seeing the cast support one another”.
“One of the most exciting parts of this production was welcoming many incredibly talented new performers and families from right across the region,” she said.
“It was wonderful to see so many young people come together, form friendships and create something really special, both on stage and off the stage.
“The cast were rewarded with a standing ovation following the final performance, and there truly wasn’t a dry eye in the theatre.”
Since this standing ovation, the feedback from the audience, cast members, and families has been “overwhelmingly positive”.
Ms DOrria reported that one parent said, “the confidence and friendships our child has made through the process has been so valued and appreciated”.
While it’s hard to pin down exactly who to thank for bringing the show to life, Ms DOrria said it was thanks to community support that Matilda Jr was such a success.
“Productions like this truly take a village. Of course, the cast are at the heart of the show and worked incredible hard over months of rehearsals, but there are also so many people behind-the-scenes who make it all possible,” she said.
“A huge thank-you goes to our production team, choreographers, vocal coaches, backstage crew, lighting and sound operators, set builders, costume and props teams, volunteers and parent helpers.
“The support from families was extraordinary, whether it was helping backstage, transporting sets and costumes, fundraising or simply encouraging the cast every step of the way.
“We are also incredibly grateful to our sponsors and the wider community for supporting youth theatre and helping provide these opportunities for young performers. Without that support, productions like Matilda Jr simply wouldn’t happen.”
SPW is now in preparation for its November production, The Wedding Singer, with auditions to soon open on June 13 and 14.
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