7 Little Australians
MUSIC – DAVID REEVES
BOOK – DAVID REEVES, JOHN PALMER, PETER YELDHAM
LYRICS - JOHN PALMER/DAVID REEVES
MUSIC – DAVID REEVES
BOOK – DAVID REEVES, JOHN PALMER, PETER YELDHAM
LYRICS - JOHN PALMER/DAVID REEVES
PREMIERED COMEDY THEATRE – MELBOURNE - 1988
SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS
The story is an Australian classic written some one hundred and fifteen years ago by Ethel Turner. It’s never been out of publication and in developing the musical production the creator worked closely with Ethel Turner’s successors so as to preserve integrity and keep the musical traditional relevant and entertaining for a contemporary market.
The original album released by EMI in 1988 has sold in excess of 11,000 albums during our original tour.
That original 1988-89 production is confirmed by musical theatre historian Peter Wylie-Johnson as being the first home grown Australian musical to be commercially successful turning a genuine profit.
The original tour opened and played 4 months at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre in 1988 achieving 76% occupancy, followed by seasons in the capital cities including Tasmania where it played both Princess and Royal Theatres achieving 95% occupancy, and finished in 1990 with an extended season at Suncorp Theatre in Brisbane achieving 90% occupancy.
One of the key qualities in this unique Australian story and that has now well and truly revealed itself to be a major benefit for young people results from the various productions of the show (both professional and amateur) and that is the opportunity to create professional performances for young people through the many children’s casts possible in each tour.
David Reeves, creator of the work said, “When we first auditioned for young people to join the adults (the stars at that time were Alyce Platt from Sale of the Century, and the veteran musical performer John O’May) in the Australian premiere in Melbourne in 1988 we were overwhelmed by the response from the parents on behalf of their children and that was from a very small promotion.
Reeves added that, “The work was completely revised in 2009 and the new production is now available. We really want to open up new opportunities for young people through performances of “Seven Little Australians” and to create openings for as many talented young people that we can.” This work is unique in being able to provide such experience through its potential for multiple children’s casts.
The show of course has always featured its seven children. Some of those youngsters who performed in the children’s casts of 1988-99 and also in 1990. Amongst many who have been given their first theatre opportunities through Seven Little Australians are Caroline Craig (Underbelly), Michelle Pettigrove (Brides of Christ etc), Tamsin West (Wizard of Oz Vic Opera etc), Beven Addinsall (Johnny Young’s Young Talent Team), Trent Bowater, Ben Unwin, Lauren Hewett and many more as well as a number of ‘not so young’ Australians.
The story is an Australian classic written some one hundred and fifteen years ago by Ethel Turner. It’s never been out of publication and in developing the musical production the creator worked closely with Ethel Turner’s successors so as to preserve integrity and keep the musical traditional relevant and entertaining for a contemporary market.
The original album released by EMI in 1988 has sold in excess of 11,000 albums during our original tour.
That original 1988-89 production is confirmed by musical theatre historian Peter Wylie-Johnson as being the first home grown Australian musical to be commercially successful turning a genuine profit.
The original tour opened and played 4 months at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre in 1988 achieving 76% occupancy, followed by seasons in the capital cities including Tasmania where it played both Princess and Royal Theatres achieving 95% occupancy, and finished in 1990 with an extended season at Suncorp Theatre in Brisbane achieving 90% occupancy.
One of the key qualities in this unique Australian story and that has now well and truly revealed itself to be a major benefit for young people results from the various productions of the show (both professional and amateur) and that is the opportunity to create professional performances for young people through the many children’s casts possible in each tour.
David Reeves, creator of the work said, “When we first auditioned for young people to join the adults (the stars at that time were Alyce Platt from Sale of the Century, and the veteran musical performer John O’May) in the Australian premiere in Melbourne in 1988 we were overwhelmed by the response from the parents on behalf of their children and that was from a very small promotion.
Reeves added that, “The work was completely revised in 2009 and the new production is now available. We really want to open up new opportunities for young people through performances of “Seven Little Australians” and to create openings for as many talented young people that we can.” This work is unique in being able to provide such experience through its potential for multiple children’s casts.
The show of course has always featured its seven children. Some of those youngsters who performed in the children’s casts of 1988-99 and also in 1990. Amongst many who have been given their first theatre opportunities through Seven Little Australians are Caroline Craig (Underbelly), Michelle Pettigrove (Brides of Christ etc), Tamsin West (Wizard of Oz Vic Opera etc), Beven Addinsall (Johnny Young’s Young Talent Team), Trent Bowater, Ben Unwin, Lauren Hewett and many more as well as a number of ‘not so young’ Australians.