GOLDEN Rivers Theatre Group invites you to visit the fictional beachside town of Kackawackadoo Bay.
Kackawackadoo Bay opens on Friday, August 18, with the play running until August 27 on Friday and Saturday nights, plus Sunday matinee shows.
Sandy Faulkner Pavilion in Barham will host the play, its first performance outside of primary school productions.
The play’s creator, Elaine Keely, said the theatre group wanted to put on a show that appealed to all ages.
“It’s a light-hearted, comical play with fun for the whole family,” she said.
“We really wanted a play that we thought would get the local young ones involved, and that is what happened.
“The play is set in the fictional beachside town of Kackawackadoo Bay, a wonderful place where everyone loves to live.
“Then we meet Miss Harriet Magnate, the play’s villain, a property developer who wants to come into the town and swoop up the best part of land, along the towns beachfront.
“But she gets her comeuppance when one of the town’s young people discovers they’ve got the perfect sand for sand sculptures.
“The young kids are the ones who actually save the town.”
Much like in Kackawackadoo Bay, Ms Keely said the younger people in the cast made a big impact on the performance.
“Our cast includes about 17 young kids, ranging in ages from eight to 16 and then for the rest of the cast, the age just goes up,” she said.
“Some of the cast are probably in their 70s, so we’ve got a really wide range of ages which is wonderful.
“For many of them this will be their first time on stage, and all of these kids just shine on stage.
“I don’t even think about it being my play, I just see these kids and adults up on stage and that’s what gives me a buzz.
“It’s really exciting, this is my first-time directing community theatre like this, and everyone has been so supportive of me and the theatre group.”
Ms Keely wrote Kackawackadoo Bay in 2008, and she said that seeing her play on stage was a rewarding experience.
“I’m so proud of everyone involved, and I can’t wait to see everyone shine on stage,” she said.
“I don’t see myself as a playwright, and it’s still funny to me when people tell me that I am.
“All of the work that has gone on behind the scenes, from the prop makers to the sound and light team have all gone absolutely above and beyond.
“I’m really humbled, this is just my little play, and everyone involved has really taken it to new heights.”
Ms Keely urged audience members to bring along coins to enter the raffle she holds at each of her shows.
“It’s a bit of a tradition when I hold a show to also hold a raffle,” she said.
“When we were doing this show with a school, we would donate the money to the Fire Station or the Lions Club.
“But the last few we had been donating the proceeds to the Royal Children Hospital’s Music Therapy Program.
“All of the cast and crew will be donating bits and pieces to make a nice big raffle prize.
“It’s just my way of giving back a bit through being lucky enough to do these things.”
Kackawackadoo Bay opens at 7pm August 18. Tickets can be purchased at trybooking or The Little Blue Book Shop in Kerang.
