Henry Digital Program 2025

2025 PLC PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

HENRY A PLAY BY CHRISTINE CROYDEN

THU 31 JUL 7PM | FRI 1 AUG 7PM | SAT 2 AUG 11AM & 5PM PLC PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

DIRECTORS NOTE This year’s production marks a new chapter in the life of PLC Theatre – quite literally.

We are proud to present a newly commissioned work by playwright Christine Croyden, developed over nearly two years in collaboration with students, staff, and creatives. From early script workshops to rehearsals in recent months, this has been a living, breathing process – one shaped not only by Christine’s generous vision but also by the voices of our students, whose contributions can be seen and heard throughout tonight’s performance.

The play explores the life and legacy of Henry Handel Richardson, with a particular focus on her time at PLC and her fictional counterpart, the irrepressible Laura Tweedle Rambotham from The Getting of Wisdom. Laura’s misadventures, often self-inflicted, are a source of both humour and insight – and through them, the play reflects on the complexities of growing up, finding one’s place, and using one’s voice.

From the very first notes of the overture – composed by students – to the final song, also written by a student, this production showcases the creative spirit of our community. Many of the musical pieces you’ll hear were composed by students under the guidance of the extraordinary Johanna Selleck, with original choreography by students giving further life to these works. Our costume team includes talented student designers and makers, and the production itself is led backstage by our incredible Stage Manager, Alyssa Mark. In an effort to promote creativity and sustainability, the Costume Crew have taken delight in repurposing old school uniforms to create new pieces for the stage. We thank them for their considered efforts, ingenuity, and artistic vision.

This has been a truly collaborative undertaking, and I am deeply grateful to all who have shared in the journey. My sincere thanks to Ms Emily Bowman, whose partnership throughout this process – from script readings to production planning – has been invaluable. Mr Benjamin Daly, our technical wizard, continues to bring his expertise and inventiveness to every cue and concept. We also thank Mrs Hall (Backstage Manager), Ms Steenholdt (Make-Up Coordinator), Mrs Thomson (Hair Designer), and Mr Carroll, who joined us this year as Sound Engineer and quickly became an integral part of the team.

This production embodies the values we hold dear at PLC – integrity, empathy, courage, delight, and service. It has called on our students to be Scholars with curiosity and discipline, Thinkers with creative and critical insight, Citizens aware of those around them, Advocates with passion and voice, and Leaders who work collaboratively to realise a shared vision. Their dedication, humour, generosity, and imagination have shaped this work from the inside out.

We hope you enjoy this new story – one grounded in our past, alive in our present, and full of the promise of what’s still to come.

Miss Garrett

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THE CAST

MAIN CHARACTERS

Tehmina Dubash

Henry

Tess Phillips-Williams

Laura and Young Ettie

HENRY’S FAMILY Shenny Thalagala

George

Michelle Li

Mother

Angel Han

Lil

GETTING OF WISDOM TEACHERS Sinasta Au

Miss Day

Sriya Chahal

Mrs Gurley

Olivia Hayden

Miss Snodgrass

Sanayah Dubash

Miss Chapman

Gaga Wong

Miss Zelinski

GETTING OF WISDOM STUDENTS Chloe Cheah

Maria

Mia Essex-Roe

Tilly

Asha Groves

Maggie

Amy Huang

Lilith

Aleesha Li

Inez

Eva Russell

Mary

Grace Wang

Kate

Zoe Wang

Lucy

Emily Xie

Charlie

Katy Zhang

Bertha

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ADDITIONAL GETTING OF WISDOM CHARACTERS Kahlia George

Evelyn

Chamali Peiris

Isabella

Victoria Giesecke

Pin

Washma Hayat

Mrs Shepherd

Michael Woon

Reverend Shepherd

FEATURED CHARACTERS Ella Austin

Dame Nellie Melba

Sriya Chahal

Sally Capp

Sanayah Dubash

Leonie Kramer

Sayu Weerasinghe

Olga

Robyn Dunn

Germaine Greer

Sissi Qin

Vida Goldstein

MODERN SCHOOL CHARACTERS Kahlia George

Mrs Forbes

Anya Nanayakkara

Steph

Jenny Chen

Chloe

Karina Noor-Samie

Sophie

Aashi Gupta

Angela

Ananda Pandey

Maddie

Olivia Hua

Sarah

Avantika Ramroop

Aisha

Lisa Huang

Trisha

Sarina Samiee

Johana

Shanaya Karunaratne

Catherine

Cindy Sun

Emily

Arielle Kwok

Eve

Anjali Verma

Hua

Sheryl Law

Olivia

Grace Wang

Charlie

Sara Yu

Claire

Zoya Mahendru

Viv

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DANCERS Tirandi Abeyawardana Leah Alberti Emilia Black Ainsley Cameron Amber Chen Nathaya Dodantenne Alicia Lai Aleesha Li Crystal Ma Zoya Mahendru Sienna Mannakkara Ananda Pandey Riley Poh Evelyn Qi Nabiha Sarwar Stephanie Shi Melody Song Alanna Thuraisingham Emma Trautmann Anjali Verma Eshani Wewelwala Dasandi Wickramasuriya Brownie Zhang Katy Zhang Richelle Zhang Emily Zhi

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CREW Stage Manager

Alyssa Mark

Assistant Stage Manager

Hannah Cheng

Floor Manager

Evie Bernadie

Stage Crew

Sarah Chen, Agnes Chung, Lucy Dodson, Avin Fattahiandehkordi, Emily Guo, Abigail Nah, Summer Wang

Lighting & Projection Operation Follow Spots

Sophie Chan, Kayla Lee

Doudou Chen, Livy Cheung, Neriah Goei, Cindy Wang

Sound

Monica Zhu

Videography

Daniel Dinh, Alyssa Mark, Melanie Wang

Costume Creations*

Sarah Chin, Mia Essex-Roe, Eliana Giancotti, Amy Huang, Leanne Huang, Arielle Kwok, Emily Lam, Annie Qin, Shanti Sharma, Rhea Shih, Rida Syed, Adela Wang, Sophie Wang, Isabella Xie, Edria Yang

Hair and Makeup Choreography

Eloise Chua Ainsley Cameron, Zoya Mahendru, Stephanie Shi, Emily Zhi

*In an effort to promote creativity and sustainability the Costume Crew have taken delight in repurposing old school uniforms to create new pieces for the stage.

We thank them for their considered efforts, ingenuity and artistic vision.

COMPOSERS Amy Huang

Reflection Song

Nunu Ji

Between the Wars Waltz

Amy Wang

Garden Dance, Allegro

Yolanda Zhu

Overture, The Beach, Transition between 1945 and 1982, A Glimmer of Hope

POSTER ARTWORK Katina Kotsifakis

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MUSICIANS Ashlyn Cao

Glockenspiel

Charlotte Chin

Voice

Tessa Jones

Piano

Jane Kim

Violin, Viola

Katherine Lam

Cello

Ashleigh Low

Double Bass

Johanna Selleck, Composition Teacher Flute Clairesse Tan

Oboe

Amber Wu

French Horn

Yoyo Wu

Guitar

Mirribelle Yin

Violin

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FOYER CURATORS Semaya Kaur

Claudia Lang

Katina Kostifakis

Sofia Liu

Sissi Qin

STAFF PRODUCTION TEAM Director

Cath Garrett

Production Manager

Emily Bowman

Lighting Design

Benjamin Daly

Sound Design

Cath Garrett

Sound Technician

Ben Carroll

Costume Design

Emily Bowman, Cath Garrett

Set and Prop Design

Cath Garrett

Hair Design and Student Team Leader

Jen Thomson

Makeup Design and Student Team Leader

Harriett Steenholdt

Floor Manager and Student Team Leader

Susan Hall

Posters and Program

Anastasia Anastassiou

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank and acknowledge our magnificent maintenance team for their wonderful set pieces and props, and their consistent willingness to create all manner of strange objects for our stage!

Thank you to the very helpful administrative staff across the school for their support in so many ways.

We are also very grateful to the PAC staff for their patience during production week and the weeks prior and post!

We appreciate our amazing and supportive teaching and general staff for their help in supervising cast and crew throughout the production week.

Finally a big thank you to the parents and guardians of the cast and crew for their support throughout the process.

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