Also joining Gardner will be Bendigo performers Andrew McKinnon, Dan Sexton, Georgina Manning, Evangeline Victoria, Grace Phillips, Chris Emond, Abe Watson, Jamie Bray and April Garressa. 

Gardner will play the title role while the other 10 performers will be part of the ensemble as well as taking on some minor roles in the production.

“I started (in theatre) when I was about 15 at Bendigo Theatre Company in a show called Return to the Forbidden Planet,” Gardner said.

Gardner has been involved with Ned from the start, having helped workshop and develop the musical with composer Adam Lyon, and writers Marc McIntyre and Anna Lyon.

“When I heard about Ned I just wanted to be in it,” he said.

“I liked the material and loved workshopping it.”

But despite helping to grow the production, Gardner still went through the audition process with everyone else.

“I defeinitely wanted to be involved, I didn’t care to what degree it was,” he said. “I have been to plenty of auditions but have never auditioned for people who were friends before.

“There was a chance I wasn’t going to get it and I know Gary was looking at a few other people.

“It was an advantage (to have been involved in the workshop) as I was familiar with the material but I still hard to work very hard for it.”

Gardner studied at the Victorian College of the Arts and has appeared in productions of Chess, The Producers and with the Australian Shakespeare Company.

He also filled in for Rob Mills in Beauty and the Beast.

Director Gary Young and composer Adam Lyon were hoping to get 10 impressive performers from the Bendigo auditions.

Their wish was granted with more than 40 people stepping in front of the audition panel in Bendigo.

“We found 10 people for the ensemble and some boys to play young Ned,” Young said.

“We were very happy with everyone we saw. They are quite a diverse group of people. A very good company.

“I hope we have a good time but there will be challenges to be had for all of us.”

Ned composer Adam Lyon was always confident they audition panel would find 10 Bendigo-based performers for the show.

“It was exactly what we were hoping for. We were very happy,” he said.

“I was very pleased but not at all surprised. I’ve always known there are talented people around the Bendigo traps. That’s why I urged them to audition.

“It was genuinely inspiring to see (so much talent). We saw some wonderful performers.”

Young said there were 150 people from the three audtion dates vying for 26 cast positions.

“When you’re looking for a specific thing, you know exactly how you want to put it together,” he said.

“Often terrific people come in but they are the wrong age or height. It’s not always about talent.

“It’s about how everyone fits into the framework of the whole piece.

“Some people are terrificly talented people who you just can’t find a spot for, so you have to be a bit ruthless.”

Lyon and Young were both impressed with Gardner when he auditioned in Melbourne.

“He went fantastically well and was up against some genuine competition,” Lyon said.

Young said Gardner was an obvious choice for him.

“He is a very talented young actor,” he said. “He will be terrific in the role and was an obvious choice. He looks right, sounds right and is a beautiful actor.” 

In Ned, Gardner will go down in history as the first person to take on this role of Ned Kelly.

“I’m defenitely looking forward to being the inaugral Ned,” he said.

“I defenitely want to leave my stamp on the character and would love to carry on doing it. I’m sure (the musical) will be a success.”

Sixteen-year-old Grace Phillips is looking forward to the challenge of working on a professional production.

“Our first rehearsal was very intense but I loved it. I’m looking forward to the whole thing as I’m sure everyone else is,” she said.

“You can immediately see the difference from the school and amatuer productions I have done.

Phillips is a classically-trained singer who turn her attention to musical theatre in year 7. She has also worked with the Melbourne Theatre Company and the Young Australian Broadway Chorus.

She was recommended for Ned by her piano accompaniest Cheryl Long.

“It was supposed to be for ages 18 and up but a few younger (performers) were recommended,” Phillips said.

“I thought I would give it a go and just have fun and perform for the love of it. I never thought I would get in against all these Melbourne-trained performers.

“It was pure shock (to be cast) and I was proud of myself. I was always happy with what i was doing but it was the first time I was really proud of myself.”

Auditions for Ned were held in Bendigo in March with about 40 regional performers putting themselves in front of the audition panel.

“I had auditioned for school productions and schollarships before. FOr this audition I was nervous but not as much as I thought I would be,” Phillips said.

“I didn’t realise how big the names I was auditioning for were until I finished. But they were all nice and friendly.

“They were very supportive but also very straight-forward, which I appreciated.”

Phillips has been in Bendigo her whole life and is eager to see Ulumbarra Theatre up close. 

She is the captain of the Girton Singers and will sing with them at Ulumbarra’s opening on April 18.

“Ulumbarra is going ot be a great new thing for Bendigo,” Phillips said.

“I haven’t seen it yet but I’m really keen to see what it’s like.”

Musical theatre and singing has always been a passion Phillips has followed. 

Ned will give her a chance to follow her dream a little further.

“I’m still on the fence but getting in Ned is the thing that makes me think about if I really want to (follow music as a career path),” Phillips said.

“I want to do business and marketing as well but this is the dream and I’m so thankful for it.

“I didn’t expect it to happen in Bendigo and it’s a great opportunity but afterwards I have to think about what might be a safe (career path) or if I really want to follow the dream.”

Ned: An New Australian Musical premieres at Ulumbarra on May 22. For more visit www.nedthemusical.com.au