Beauty and the Beast is the biggest production in the history of Richmond Players Inc

A blend of the original story and more recent productions (including a can can dance), the production required a larger space to cater for an orchestra, a junior and senior ensemble, and the various large costumes involved.

A plan was afoot to see if they could use Richmond High School’s Mac venue - which caters for 800-odd seats - when it became apparent that there were so many budding performers at the school that including them in the musical would benefit all involved.

“We realised we should include as many Richmond High students as possible and make the production a true collaboration, and take the students through learning - from the ground up - everything that goes into putting on a production like this,” said Josie Dwyer, producer and director of the show.

[Read about Year 9 student Erin Lackey’s experience.]

The result is a landmark execution. Not only is Beauty and the Beast set to be the biggest and most ambitious project in the history of the Players, but this year marks the theatre group’s 65th birthday and also the first time they have ever partnered with a school.

Ms Dwyer said in retrospect they couldn’t have done it without Richmond High. “They’re an integral part of the production,” she said.

“The students are so bright, open, and willing to learn. It’s been fabulous; they’ve been a real asset.

“This [collaboration] is really ensuring the theatre will continue to grow in the Hawkesbury area. With kids having this much fun, and learning these sorts of techniques from an early age, it can only be a bonus for the Hawkesbury area.”

Richmond Players productions usually involve a cast of 30 to 40 people, however Beauty and the Beast has a total of 72 cast members ranging in age from six years old through to 85.

Richmond High students have been cast as ensemble performers, and are also featured in the orchestra and the crew, being mentored by professionals in sound, lighting, set design, set construction, stage management, stage crewing, hair and makeup, and wardrobe.

“We really want to give the students the very best experience that we can, so we’re mentoring them and working with the students all the way through,” said Ms Dwyer.

“We’ve paired-up a professional with a student for each of the parts within the orchestra, and the crew is organised in groups so there’s two or three mentors per group of students.”

All up, there are over 100 people involved in the production. “It really is the biggest thing we’ve ever done. Being the 65th year, it was time to spread our wings and try to incorporate the community as much as we can,” Ms Dwyer said.

The show runs for approximately two-and-a-half hours, with an interval. There will be coffee, tea, nibblies and other refreshments available before the show and during the break, and these will be sold on a donation basis.

“We’re getting the students who are involved in hospitality at the school to make all the cookies and the cakes for the refreshments. The money they earn will cover costs and hopefully there will be enough to go into the next project they want to do,” said Ms Dwyer.

The score will include many of the old favourites including Be Our Guest, and Beauty and the Beast (sung by Mrs Potts).

The show will be a “full family affair”, according to Ms Dwyer, with something to delight toddlers right through to seniors.

“After each show, the performers will come out so the kids can meet them and have their photos taken with their favourite characters, which’ll be fun - so there’ll be Belle, The Beast, Gaston, Mrs Potts, and so on,” she said.

“We definitely hope to collaborate with Richmond High again in the future. Richmond Players has been blown away by the way the school has embraced this opportunity. We have ideas going forward for years about shows we’d like to put on.”

After Beauty and the Beast finishes, the next production for Richmond Players will be its annual ‘dinner theatre’ [theatre restaurant] at the Richmond School of Arts during the end of November and the first week of December.

This year, the troupe will be performing a melodrama. “So everybody gets to boo and hiss and cheer and get involved and have a lot of fun,” said Ms Dwyer.

Beauty and the Beast will be performed six times including two matinees.

Tickets are $35 adult, $29 conc., $29 in groups of 10 or more. Book at richmondplayers.com.au.