This is Mathew’s second appearance as Peter Allen, his first was in 1998, aged 8, when he played Young Peter Allen alongside Todd McKenney in the world premier production of ‘The Boy From Oz’. Most recently Mathew appeared in the Spielberg/Hanks HBO production ‘The Pacific’ and prior to that Mathew has had starring roles in Cameron Mackintosh’s’  ‘Oliver! The Musical’ where he played The Artful Dodger to critical acclaim and was nominated for Ýoung Entertainer of The Year. Some of his other credits include ‘Darwin’s Brave New World’, a TV documentary drama for The History Channel, Spike in the award winning ‘SNOBS’, ‘Escape Of The Artful Dodger’,  ‘Peter Pan the Movie’, ‘Men’s Group’ , Young Patrick Dennis in ‘Mame’ directed by David Atkins for the Production Company numerous TV commercials and Bronson in two series of the Logie winning‘Round The Twist’, a role for which he still gets affectionately known and widely recognised for today. Mathew has also been a guest presenter on children’s TV Channel 5 in the UK and also a special guest on the hit German TV show ‘Tigerenenten Club’.  Mathew’s proudest moment to date was probably guiding the Queen around the set of ‘Round The Twist’ when he was just  11 years old. Mat (as he likes to be called) is thrilled to be appearing in this BCCT production of ‘The Boy From Oz’ and dedicates this performance to his mum Kim Waters. For more info or to leave a message for Mat visit www.mathewwaters.com

Grace has been treading the boards in and around Sydney for longer than she wishes to admit.  She has spread herself as far as Blue Mountains, to Castle Hill and even in England playing numerous roles such as Poopsie in Pajama Game, Lily St Regis in Annie, Grandmother in Into the Woods, Graziella in West Side Story, Mavis in the play Stepping Out and Smitty in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying just to name a few.  She has been an ensemble member in many shows such as Les Miserables, Guys and Dolls, Pippin, Anything Goes, Joseph, Beauty and the Beast, Aida and most recently Jesus Christ Superstar.  Just last month she had lots of fun representing Italy and Hungary in Eurobeat – Almost Eurovision with Canterbury Theatre Guild.  Grace is ecstatic to play one of her dream roles in this production and to finally be able to show that she is a triple threat (fingers crossed).

The Boy From Oz marks John's 4th production with BCCT and his 18th musical to date, having started performing at the age of 11.  His performance highlights include Benny in RENT (2009) with BCCT plus Conrad Birdie in Bye Bye Birdie (2004), Feuilly in Les Miserables  (2001 & 2002) and Samuel in Pirates Of Penzance (1999) with Strathfield Musical Society.  John has also performed in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1998) with Hills Centre as principal dancer/singer.   For Holroyd MDS he appeared in West Side Story (1998) as principal dancer and played Prince Ferdinand in Sleeping Beauty (1998).  Throughout high school John had the privilege of receiving vocal coaching from Jeff Loch and Christa Leahmann of Opera Australia.  John has extended his repertoire this season by also taking on the role of Set Designer and Co-Producer for The Boy from Oz.

Katie comes to the company of The Boy From Oz fresh after graduating with a Bachelor of Performing Arts from the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music.    Whilst there she had the pleasure of working with industry mentors such as Dale Pengelly, Wayne Scott Kermond, Katie Kermond, Dr Emma Killion and Ruth Lane on a series of productions including A Chorus Line, Sweet Charity, Bumpy Angels, Snapshots from Home and her beloved role of Matron Mama Morton in Chicago.  Prior to this Katie also studied with TAFE Entertainment, completing a Certificate III in Theatre and Screen Performance and Certificate IV in Music Theatre, playing Horton the Elephant in Seussical.   Katie also has experience in technical production, having worked for a number of years with Balooga Productions where she assisted in sourcing and building sets and props for children’s television productions of Hi-5 and The Wiggles, as well as several P&O Cruise ships.   Katie's love of performing is a tribute to everyone who encouraged her talent, and in turn helped her to be the best performer she can be.

This is Eva’s first project with BCCT.   With singing as her 1st passion, being in the trio has allowed her to advance her skill in harmonising and ensemble work.   After leaving school Eva studied at the Western Sydney Institute of TAFE – Nirimba where she completed a Diploma of Technical Production, a Certificate 3 in Theatre and Screen and Certificate 4 in Musical Theatre.   In 2009 Eva played in her 1st professional production Blind As You See It and in her 1st short film The Big Reveal – A Ninja’s Mission, which she also co-wrote.  She has been in numerous shows - her favourite being Singin’ in the Rain.  As well as performing onstage Eva enjoys working behind the scenes and has worked as Stage Manager, Assistant Director and Assistant Musical Director for Nirimba.   She looks forward to being involved in anything concerning the performing arts, as long as it’s fun and she gets to meet all kinds of people and form new, long-lasting friendships.

This is Jenna’s second production with BCCT, after performing as an ensemble member in 2009’s RENT.   She is extremely excited to be performing her first principal role as part of the trio.   Jenna is a ballroom dancer of 7 years and has been trained in voice for 6 years.   Her love of performing has led her to participate in various music recitals and productions for her school, including minor roles in The Crucible (2006) and Grease (2008).   She played the lead role of Hermia in her school’s 2009 presentation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.   Jenna would like to thank BCCT’s cast and crew for their hard work and for making us all look good (especially the ‘drop dead gorgeous’ trio).   Enjoy the show!

This is John’s third show with BCCT.   John has performed major and minor lead roles in 38 musicals in the past 36 years with 18 amateur groups around Sydney, Townsville and Brisbane.   He has also acted in or directed 10 plays.   Lately, his focus has been on directing and he has directed 3 musicals and a play.   He recently completed a Directing for Theatre and Film course at the National Institute for Dramatic Art (NIDA). At NIDA he performed the role of Capulet for a short film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.   Early this year he played the lead role of Barry in a play at NIDA as part of the Short and Sweet Festival.   As John was raised in Seven Hills he is very happy to return to BCCT.

Renee's first performance was in front of a camera when she was three-years-old in a Buddy L commercial.   She started her formal training with the Sydney Talent Company in 1996, and then continued with ATYP, NIDA, and Screenwise, where she was coached by Lewis Fitzgerald, and Sam Atwell.   Renee joined BCCT in 2001 where she played ‘Dream Laurie’ in Oklahoma!   She then danced, flipped, and acted her way through a number of musicals and plays, including portraying Peter Pan in the Peter Pan Pantomime held at Blacktown RSL in 2002.   When Renee finished school in 2003, she was cast in a few short films before landing a lead role in a feature film Charlotte.   In 2006, she had a break from the Australian scene when she was asked to portray a face character at Hong Kong Disneyland, where she then lived for a year.
Since returning to Sydney in 2007, Renee has got back into her training, with a 2 day intensive with Anthony Wong.   She has come away with a new enthusiasm for the Chubbuck Technique and also rediscovered her love for theatre.
"To connect with a large audience, to teach them, entertain them, motivate them, make them laugh, or cry ... affect them in a significant way, is so powerful and gratifying for me. That's why I do what I do."

2010 marks Craig’s 25th year in the dance industry and during this time he has become a well-respected performer, choreographer and producer. Under the watchful eyes of David Atkins and Dein Perry at Dynamite Dance Studios, Craig learnt from the best and still today carries the same amount of professionalism and enthusiasm taught by the leading industry professionals who trained him.

Craig’s performance history includes performing alongside international recording artists Ricki Lee, Human Nature, Paulini, Tina Arena, Christine Anu and more recently Vanessa Amorossi.   He was the lead dancer at the World Motor Show in Shanghai, was part of the Rock Eisteddfod European Tour and enjoyed a 12-week run with Bell Shakespeare Company.   Craig has also appeared in Carols in the Domain, the Sydney Christmas Parade, Australia’s Funniest Home Videos, Mornings with Kerri-Ann and he performed for the late Princess Diana on her last Australian Tour.

Sue started with BCCT in their second production, Oklahoma.   Her favourite musicals include Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and BCCT’s 2003 production of Return to the Forbidden Planet. She has studied tap dancing with Peter Rogers for many years and worked as an extra on film and television in Home and Away and All Saints.

. Shaun made his debut in BCCT’s RENT in 2009 playing the role of the Squeegee Man which earned him the nickname ‘Squeegee’. Having discovered a taste for musical theatre he jumped at the chance to be a part of The Boy From Oz. He is also rediscovering his love of vintage fashion with this show covering so many decades of fashion as well as the many styles of dance.

Nicole has been involved with BCCT since 2003 having been bitten by the bug onstage at 6 as Chicken Little.   She joined the Leila Hayes School of Dramatic Art and soon after discovered community theatre where she played a feminine Benvolio in Romeo & Juliet.   She has since performed in dozens of productions all over Sydney as well as World Youth Day and Mardis Gras.  She also enjoys performing with ‘The Songbirds’ and has been involved in short films and the telemovie Scorched.   Her favourite roles include Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible and Cherry in Cosi, both with BCCT.   A keen writer, she has seen 8 of her plays produced.   She has also directed 5 plays and, being a self-confessed control freak, has produced 4 shows.    She has enjoyed working with both a fantastic cast and production/creative team as well as with totally new concepts and directions for this show.

The Boy From Oz is Mark’s eighth show with BCCT.   Over the years he has played roles as varied as Archie Bunker, a urine drinking robot, a psychotic Christmas Elf, a time travelling scientist, and most recently a shotgun wielding flatmate who has just found out that his girlfriend is pregnant.   Mark is glad that he is tall because he is a bit uncoordinated and can hide up the back in the dance numbers

Sue is living proof you can teach an old dog new tricks.   Singin’, dancin, smilin’, and movin’ hands in time to the music is another of this woman’s multi-tasking skills!   Sue first appeared with BCCT in The No Frills review in 2008.   She usually works Front of House however occasionally she can be lured into the spotlight.  As evidence of this, Sue appeared in BCCT’s 4 Short Plays season in 2008 as a Fortune Teller in a murder mystery and in 2009 as a singing nurse in a sperm bank!

Bec has had a flair for the dramatic arts since a young age.   She studied acting all through her schooling career where she played the role of ‘Rosalind’ in As You Like It.   She then went on to study acting, dancing and singing at the Australian College of Entertainment.   Since discovering community theatre, Bec has been in Wyrd Sisters, Lords & Ladies & most recently Back To The 80’s with Holroyd Musical & Dramatic Society.   In April, Bec was seen in the 4 Short Plays series with Blacktown City Community Theatre.   She is on the committee of Liverpool Performing Arts Ensemble and enjoys all aspects of bringing a show to life.

Cierwen has spent most of her life on a pair of ice skates having competed for 16 years.   However, she has now traded them in for the stage and screen.   Having completed a Bachelor of Theatremaking at UWS and Bachelor of Film Production at SAE she has often been found behind the scenes as the BCCT resident Technical Manager or as a director.   Cierwen has also completed writing and directing 2 short films, which were adapted to plays and produced by BCCT, and a television pilot.   She is currently working on a film noir 3D short film and a feature length film, set in WW3.   

The Boy From Oz will be Jason's onstage debut.   However, he is no stranger to BCCT, having been involved Front Of House for the last three productions. Jason is very excited to be taking the leap into the spotlight and is looking forward to participating in future productions.

Karyn has been with BCCT’s musical theatre department since the production of Oliver! in 2004, where she had a featured solo as a ‘Strawberry Seller’.   This was her first performance since High School.    Since then she has performed in various pantomimes, including Cinderella and Peter Pan and her latest appearance was in the rock opera RENT in 2009, as ‘Roger’s Mum’.   Karyn has also studied jazz & tap dancing for most of her 44 years, most recently with Impact Dance and formerly C & R Lee, at Minchinbury

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