Hunter Drama Takes Centre Stage in 2025!
Hunter Drama is excited to launch Season 2025 with four productions, two of which have never been seen before in Newcastle and, for the first time, is launching a subscription season, providing discounts and subscriber benefits to loyal patrons who purchase multiple shows in advance.
Widely recognised as the region's premier youth drama education and theatre company, Hunter Drama was established locally in 2007 by actor, director, producer, teacher, and writer Daniel Stoddart. It has since expanded to offer workshops in drama, musical theatre, screen acting, and more across six locations, from Newcastle to Lake Macquarie and well into the Hunter, for students aged 5 to 18+. Rapidly gaining a reputation for staging student theatre shows with extremely high production values and professional creative teams, 2024 raised the bar with sold-out shows across the season.
In 2024 Hunter Drama presented The Jungle Book, Love & Information, School of Rock: The Musical and Carrie: The Musical. The Jungle Book was staged during the April school holidays and completely sold out. Popular with families, it was based on the Rudyard Kipling novel, not the Disney version and featured some of the youngest performers in Hunter Drama. Love & Information was a play by Caryl Churchill that allowed more senior students to work with rich text and influence the action on stage. It was a large ensemble piece that proved popular with audiences and delved into contemporary themes of knowledge, technology, communication, and our capacity for love.
The biggest production of the year was School of Rock: The Musical, which was staged at the Civic Theatre and featured a combination of professional performers and creatives working with Hunter Drama students. This combination provides students with a deep understanding of what it is like to perform professionally. Newcastle fell in love with the production, which had rave revies from enthusiastic audience members, strong media coverage, and a boost in enrolment queries for Hunter Drama workshops. The year's final production was a surprise sell-out hit, Carrie: The Musical, featuring senior students in the musical stage adaptation of Stephen King’s supernatural classic. Delving into dark themes of bullying, power and the consequences of isolation, the production showcased musical and acting talent.
“We were all extremely proud of our 2024 season,” said Hunter Drama Artistic Director James Chapman.
“We set ourselves some pretty lofty goals in terms of creativity and ticket sales, but for the most part, I think we came out on top. We had around 130 performers on stage throughout the four main shows in the season, not to mention the hundreds of Hunter Drama students who performed in The Passport Play and Game Night - our original plays written by our tutors. I think some of the best moments in Hunter Drama history happened in our 2024 season.
“Our goal for the 2025 season is to take everything we did well in 2025 and dial it up to 11. We’re staging three big musicals next year: Dot & The Kangaroo JR, Frozen JR and The Lightning Thief - all of which promise to push our performers to their full potential. Our senior drama students will tackle one of the most challenging and important plays of all time: The Crucible. And all of our students at Hunter Drama will perform in two original plays written and directed by Hunter Drama staff: The Butterfly Effect - all about how a single moment can change the course of everything and Museum Heist, a hilarious and high-stakes caper about a foiled museum robbery.”
Dot & The Kangaroo JR
17 to 26 April 2025
In 2025, the Season will commence with a production of Dot & The Kangaroo Jr - a musical based on the 1899 story by Ethel C. Pedley and beloved by generations of Australians. The musical was written by the Founder of Hunter Drama, Daniel Stoddart. The story follows a young, rambunctious Dot who longs for an adventure. When she finds herself lost and
afraid in the darkening Australian bush, she befriends a wise mother Kangaroo, who enlists the help of Australia’s favourite bush creatures to help Dot find her way back home. Ideal for all the family and a perfect school holiday treat, it
seems only fitting that Hunter Drama is the first to stage the musical in Newcastle.
"I had always loved the book as a kid," said Daniel Stoddart.
"In 2020, I started working on a stage adaptation of the book. I couldn't believe that no one had done it before.
“I knew a wonderful composer, Daniel Mertzlufft and his writing partner, lyricist Kate Leonard from my time at the Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, and they fell in love with the animal characters and bush setting. Music Theatre International has licensedthe production, so it's now open for theatre companies worldwide to put Dot and the Kangaroo on the stage. I'm pleased that Hunter Drama has chosen to stage it in 2025, but I'll be keeping my distance. I don't want to influence the process.”
“It's a privilege and an honour to be the Vocal Director for Dot & the Kangaroo JR,” says Brooke Lidbury, Hunter Drama tutor.
"I’m grateful to be working on Daniel Stoddart's first junior musical. He has placed his trust in me, and I hope to make him proud. The music in this show is wonderful, so that makes it a bonus.”
Frozen JR
17 July to 2 August 2025
A Disney favourite, Frozen JR is based on the 2018 Broadway musical and features all the memorable songs from the animated film plus five new songs. On stage at the Civic Playhouse in the second week of the July school holidays
for an extended number of performances, it is sure to be a family favourite.
A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen JR. expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood.
“We’ve had students clamouring for us to do Frozen JR for years,” said James Chapman.
“It’s become a modern classic. Kids are passionate about it, and it’s loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humour. Our production of Frozen JR. will thaw even the coldest heart!”
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
7 to 16 August 2025
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is relatively new. This version opened in the US in 2017 and in the UK in 2022. There has never been a professional production staged in Australia.
Based on the popular series of books by Rick Riordan, which have also been adapted for screen by Disney, it follows the story of Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old boy with ADHD and dyslexia, who discovers that he is a demigod and goes on a quest to find Zeus' missing lightning bolt. The Hunter Drama production will be directed by Lauren Harvey, who also directed School of Rock: The Musical this year.
“The show has never been done in NSW at all and seems to have only had one high school performance down in Victoria,” said Lauren Harvey.
“This excites me. We can go for a unique take on the show and let our Newcastle audiences experience the magic. I’m really looking forward to the special effects and magic nature of the show, mixed with some greatly timed sarcasm and cynicism.
“To be honest, I’m not familiar with the books, and I like to think this is letting me come to this show with fresh eyes and a fresh mind. I’ve got some great ideas for the show, but I’m not sharing them yet!”
The Crucible
9 to 12 October 2025
In October, James Chapman will co-direct Arthur Miller’s classic play, The Crucible, with Siddha Crossley, who was the Assistant Director on Carrie: The Musical this year. The Crucible is on the English curriculum for HSC texts and remains highly relevant to contemporary times despite its historical setting. Set during the Salem Witch Trials of 17th century America, it explores the effects of hysteria and fear that can create critical societal issues.
“I think that The Crucible's exploration of fear and paranoia and their role in creating mass hysteria within society is more prevalent than ever,” said Siddha Crossley.
“Fear mongers, conspiracy theorists and extremists now have access to social media and the internet, where they can reach audiences all over the world with the intent to invoke fear. The Crucible rejects ideas of conformity and instead encourages individual thought in the face of societal conflict.
“I think the challenge in this show will be in making the dialogue feel authentic and contemporary, but the best thing about working with Hunter Drama students is their unwavering passion and commitment, so I’m not worried!”
Season 2025 Tickets
Hunter Drama has developed a subscription season for those who wish to purchase tickets to two or more productions in advance and take advantage of subscriber benefits such as the first choice of seats, discounted ticket prices, a free program and 25% discounts at The Dockyard and Hideout at the Harbour. Season tickets are on sale now, whilst single tickets will go on sale at the end of January 2025.
“For the first time ever, we are offering our audience a season ticket with awesome benefits,” said James.
“Booking a season ticket is also a great way to support Hunter Drama because we can navigate our year more comfortably knowing that our amazing Hunter Drama families have bought their tickets upfront at the beginning of the year.”
All Hunter Drama students have the opportunity to audition for the productions. In addition, two productions will be staged specifically to enable every single student to perform. In 2025 these productions will be The Butterfly Effect and Museum Heist. Season ticket holders can add these to their package and receive a 10% discount.
“One of the biggest changes we made in the past two years was ditching our mid- and end of-year Wowfest, which we ran for ten years, and replacing them with our Hunter Drama Originals,” said James.
“These are plays we write in-house and workshop together to cater specifically to our cohort of students.”
There are two other productions that season ticket holders can add to their package and receive their 10% discount
on. The annual Performance Troupe and Actors Company shows in 2025 will be Shakespeare’s The Tempest, directed by Hunter Drama tutor Dan Stranger and DNA by Dennis Kelly and directed by James Chapman.
“The Tempest captures the feeling of magic and wonder that speaks to the hearts and minds of every child,” said Dan.
“Through the story, we are carried through a supernatural concoction, a revenge plot, a slapstick farce, and a love story all in one. A storm is coming in 2025. Get ready to be washed ashore!”
“DNA is a twenty-first-century play developed by the National Theatre in the UK for young people aged 14 to 18. It deals with contemporary issues such as bullying, peer pressure, and the destabilising effects of groupthink,” said James.
Of course, all these incredible productions would not be possible without the workshops featuring a world-class syllabus and a mission to train future leaders of the entertainment industry through drama, musical theatre and screen acting education.
“The study of drama can be transformative, teaching skills that improve confidence, self-esteem, social connection, empathy, creativity, and communication skills,” said James.
“Drama studies can change lives; we see it every day. We want to extend these benefits to those who might not be able to afford them, so we’re currently seeking sponsors for scholarships and a free Drama In Schools program.”
Enrollments open in early December, but until then, potential students can join the priority waitlist so that they will be the first to be offered a place. Saturday workshops will be offered for the first time in 2025 at the Islington studios, and the popular January holiday workshops, Musical in a Day and Play in a Day, run from 13 January.
For more information on enrollment, holiday workshops, and season tickets, head to the website at www.hunterdrama.com.au
