By Alesha Capone
Teenagers Elijah Beckitt and Shevaun Pope are the very model of modern musical performers.
The young actors, who are both 19, will play the roles of Frederic and Mabel in the upcoming production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance at the Wyndham Culture Centre.
Werribee-based Dynamic Performers Australia, a family-owned performing arts school, will stage the show on October 20-21.
The cast has been hard at work rehearsing since July.
Pope said she had enjoyed challenging herself in preparing for The Pirates of Penzance, her first classical role.
“I’m so excited to perform in front of an audience and hear them laugh,” she said.
Beckitt said he had been hoping to work backstage, but his mother Cassandra Beckitt– the production’s vocal coach and co-costumier – asked him to audition for Frederic.
The show is something of a family affair for Beckitt, whose eldest brother Alex is playing a pirate, while their father Joseph Beckitt is the musical director.
Beckitt said he wanted to thank the show’s production team, including choreographer Carolyn Hasenkam and director and set-maker Michael Blazley.
The show will be on 7.30pm Saturday and 2pm Sunday at the Wyndham Culture Centre. Tickets: $20.
Details: www.dynamicperformers.com.au
