Gladstone State High School student Campbell Suter lands lead role in major production

“Sometimes it is a feeling of freedom I guess, to just be someone else and escape you, you just let everything go.”

A Gladstone singer will use the 2021 Eisteddfod as a warm up for his school’s major production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, set to premiere next year.

Gladstone State High School student Campbell Suter, 13, competed in the Modern Vocal Solo and Vocal Jazz sections at 50th Gladstone Eisteddfod on Wednesday.

The Observer caught up with him and his mum Janenne before the show to discuss Campbell’s journey into the arts and future prospects.

Campbell said with it being his first Eisteddfod, he was a little nervous but full of excitement to take the stage.

“My goal is to go out there, have a good time and look at other people’s pieces and learn from them,” he said.

“I have spent about a month or so preparing and practising for these two events so all I can do is my best.”

Having participated in choirs and pantomimes since the age of seven, Campbell is not short on experience and has solid goals in mind.

“Hopefully I can aim for the top and get somewhere around there, hopefully I can hang around the music scene,” he said.

Campbell is well on his way to being ‘somewhere around the top’, as he was recently named to play Willy Wonka in GSHS’ production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2022.

“I am pretty excited that I received the role,” Campbell said.

“Sometimes it is a feeling of freedom I guess, to just be someone else and escape you, you just let everything go.”

Ms Suter said she was extremely proud of her son, as was his grandmother.

“She has been in both theatre and musical productions so he is following in her footsteps,” he said.

“He’s got a good coach and this is his first lead so the sky's the limit.”