RELATED STORIES
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Drama ready to develop: Ned was launched as part of a plan to professionally develop productions locally. For the full story click here.
Central Victorian performers audition for Ned: Talented hopefuls were able to showcase their skills with the chance to land a role in Ned. See the story and video here.
Nelson named as Ned: Former Bendigo talent Nelson Gardner will play the title role in Ned. Read about Nelson here.
Ensemble assembles for first rehearsal: After passing audition, 10 regional performers will play a role in the Ned ensemble. Click here for a gallery and story.
Marc's passion for sets, scripts and design: Meet Marc McIntyre who helped write Ned and also designed the sets for the show. Read the story here.
PRIDE and excitement is filling the backstage area at Ulumbarra as the cast and crew of Ned: A New Australian Musical prepare for opening night,
The Bendigo-produced musical was announced in November last year, while rehearsals began in March.
But Friday night is the culmination of the hard work of cast and crew as Ned: A New Australian Musical takes to the stage for the first time.
Bendigo performer Chris Emond is part of the ensemble and eager to show the musical off to audiences.
Emond was born and bred in Bendigo and has been performing for 25 years.
"It's one of the most amazing experiences I have had in theatre. I'm enormously proud to be a part of it," he said.
"We are enormously excited for people to come and see what the creative team have done."
The 10 Bendigo performers that help make up the cast began rehearsing in April. For many it is the biggest and most professional production they have been a part of.
"There is an amazing degree of knowledge in the room. The production team have so many years of experience between them," Emond said.
"We don't see it as a Bendigo cast and a Melbourne cast. We are very united as a group for the common goal of performing."
Cast "bumped in" for the show at Ulumbarra last week, which meant seeing the set completed for the first time.
"We had been working with taped outlines in rehearsal, so to come to the physical set was very exciting," Emond said.
"The set does thing we hadn't sen before so to bring that into rehearsal along with the lighting and other effects... The illusion is complete. It is is a living, breathing 1870s world."
Helping complete the illusion is Bendigo local Julie Sebire who volunteered to help maintain the costumes for the show.
"It's been quite fun. Everyone is so lovely and excited about it happening," she said.
"I'll be there fixing costumes as they break and making sure everything is where it should be.
Sebire said she has never been involved with theatre before.
"I'm quite interested in photography and sewing as hobbies. I have a banking background," she said.
"I wanted to do something that I would enjoy. This would be great to do as a job."
"They have prepared us so well and we have been helping the bushrangers with their armour."
The iconic Ned Kelly armour is something the audience will be excited to see.
Ensemble cast member Grace Phillips said it was intimidating to see the characters wear the armour for the first time.
"It definitely added to their persona. The clanging sound it makes adds to scenes," Phillips said.
"It's gorgeous. I don't know how pretty armour can be but it is a great costume and set piece. It's monumental."
Phillips herself has just two costume changes.
"I'm sort of a peasant in a certain sense. I play a woman with a baby and then a woman on the street going to the bank," she said.
"The costumes are really great and the quality is so good. And they don't smell bad which is a bonus."
At 16, Phillips is one of the youngest cast members and she has loved her taste of professional theatre.
"It's been an absolutely incredible experience," she said.
"It's nothing like school productions. The dedication, talent, time management involved is the complete package.
"There's so much commitment and courage in the whole process."
Phillips said working in the professional field was more comfortable.
"The cast have helped me learn how to control my voice and improve my acting skills," she said.
"The dedication they have, you can't help but think 'good on them'. It's a bit of a challenge sometimes, like when I am in a dance scene, but I would do it all again."
Ned: A New Australian Musical may only be on for six dates at Ulumbarra but there is a feeling in the team that the musical will head to bigger and better adventures.
"I think it has a long way to go yet. It's the beginning of something quite wonderful," Emond said.
"It's a wonderful piece of Aussie theatre and I sincerely hope it gets picked up for a much wider audience."
Ned: A New Australian Musical is on at Ulumbarra Theatre on May 22, 23, 29 and 30 from 8pm. Shows will be held at 2pm on May 24 and 31.
Visit www.nedmusical.com.au for more information or to book tickets.