Manjimup Repertory Theatre puts on family-friendly holiday production

The Manjimup Repertory Theatre will provide entertainment for all during the April school holidays with its production of Jack and the Baked Beanstalk.

Directors Maree Roonery and Andrea Miolin said the production would entertain all the family.

“It’s light entertainment along the lines of pantomime, with a little bit of audience interaction,” Ms Roonery said.

“I think it’s good fun with dad jokes and everything a panto has — a dame, slapstick jokes, bright costumes and a bright stage set.”

“It’s a family show with music and songs, and it’s a fairy tale with a twist,” Ms Miolin added.

“We were looking for a large cast when choosing this show.”

Both directors said the choice of show was based on the ensemble nature which allowed all of the cast to have a role.

“When we look at a production, we try to include the majority of people onstage as often as possible, so that the kids come and have a lot of stage presence, rather than one main character onstage the entire time,” Ms Roonery said.

Ms Roonery said rehearsals had been underway since the start of February and the show emphasises the young cast.

Ms Roonery said they loved to see the community support the kids and see what the youth can do.

Ms Miolin said of the cast of 19, 18 are children or teenagers.

“They are getting so much from this, including confidence and comradery,” Ms Miolin said.

“One thing they have here that they don’t have much at school is children and teenagers together, mixing with each other, rather than peers of their own age, which they are learning how to interact with people of all ages.”

A previous youth-based production was planned to debut in May 2020, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was going to be called Charlie Pilgrim, and we were a month out when COVID came and the lockdowns happened and we had to pull it,” Ms Miolin said.

Shows will be on from April 14-16 and 19-20, with the Sunday matinee show moved from 1.30pm to 4pm, due to a planned power outage.