New theatre company to put more locals on the stage

Maddie Epthorp and Lynsey Mackay.

Kaleidoscope Productions is the latest addition to the Penrith arts scene, offering young theatre kids a chance to explore the stage.

Vocal Director Lynsey Mackay and Director Maddie Epthorp are the drivers behind the new licensed junior musical company in our city.

“We had a variety show, which then turned into a children’s show, which we then had running in Sydney Fringe Festival,” Mackay said while explaining the pair’s backstory.

“From there, we started weekly theatre classes, and we noticed some of the students had to travel quite far for opportunities and parents were driving all over Sydney to take them to rehearsals.

“We thought it would be a great opportunity for local students to have something in the heart of Penrith.”

The home of Kaleidoscope Productions is Harold Corr Hall in Werrington.

“It’s got an in-built stage with lighting and proper curtains, air conditioning, an outside space, a kitchen – it’s got everything that we need,” Mackay stated.

The company’s first production in Penrith will be ‘Finding Nemo Kids The Musical’ on October 10.

It welcomes school-aged children between six and 18-years-old for the 30-minute musical adaptation of the Pixar film.

“We know a lot of other local companies do rehearsals over a period of a few months, but we’re doing a theatre intensive during the school holidays,” Epthorp explained.

“We’re rehearsing from Monday October 6 to Friday October 10, and we’ll have our performances on the afternoon and evening of the 10th.

“It’s ambitious but it’s exciting and we know these kids can do it.”

For those with budding thespians in the family, you can register your child for Finding Nemo Kids at https://form.jotform.com/251421955219053.

You can also read the audition and rehearsal information at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S6D4FD4GZzummJGFmfWTALvZ5kLgb4Ob/view?usp=drivesdk.

Ally Hall

Ally Hall joined the Weekender in 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She's a graduate of the University of South Australia and has previously worked as a Video Journalist with Southern Cross Austereo and as a News Reader with Australian Radio Network.

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