This year’s annual performing arts production is Clue on stage, which is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery, on 20-23 July in the Valda Ward Auditorium.

Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget. When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. It is the classic Who did it, WHERE, and with WHAT!

Tickets are available at: https://www.trybooking.com/BZHFR

And now, we wish to introduce the main antagonist of the show…Wadsworth, played by Year 8 student Dana Reynolds. Damascus is excited to announce that this is the first time a Year 8 student has been cast in a lead role, well done Dana!

“I got involved in Damascus’ production of ‘Clue’ because I thought it was such an exciting, intriguing topic! Cluedo is one of my all-time favourite board games, and I was super keen to get involved in adapting it to the stage.

I have been studying drama and music through BCMA’s musical theatre program since 2015. I have previously performed the musical roles of Donkey (Shrek), TeFiti/TeKa (Moana), Marty (Madagascar) and Wendy (Peter Pan), and ensemble in We Will Rock You (Ballarat Lyric Theatre), Seussical (BLOC Jnr) and The Lion King Jr (Take The Mic). While rehearsing Wadsworth, I am also rehearsing the role of Campbell in BCMA’s Bring It On.

I have many fond memories of the rehearsal period for this amazing show. One of my favourites was when we were doing a scene where my castmate Megan and I had to stare intently at each other, and we just couldn’t stop laughing! Thankfully, we pulled ourselves together and got back on track… eventually!

I have had many challenges while playing Wadsworth, but one of the most predominant was trying to be nasty! Wadsworth is quite a sketchy, mysterious character and I kept on playing him too nice! It’s difficult, because when I think of a ‘butler’ I think of ‘polite gentleman’. As you can tell, Wadsworth is not your ordinary butler!

This is my first role in a play, and I have grown so much over the course of these rehearsals. Being cast alongside such talented performers has really encouraged me to lift my game to the next level. As well as learning from the cast, I have gained so many new techniques and skills from the amazing Mr Seeary and Ms Burness, who have assisted me so much on this journey.

Some people shy away from performing because they don’t know enough about the incredible processes you get to enjoy when you’re a part of this community. However, Damascus widens the opportunities in production by allowing all ages and experiences to audition, or be a part of the backstage crew, or just come and be an audience! Theatre is, and always has been a very inclusive and supportive environment to be involved in.

Oh my goodness! I didn’t even realise I was the first Year 8 to get a lead role! Wow. That means the world to me, and I feel extremely proud and privileged. I feel that me being cast as a lead role will also hopefully encourage other junior students to engage in future productions and drama as an elective.

I have always been passionate about performing arts and pursuing it as a career in the future. My dream is to perform on Broadway, West End or Melbourne in a professional production. Major bucket list plotline!”

Dana Reynolds, Year 8 student