Repton Public School ready to sing in original musical about Bellingen Shire

Writing an original musical is hard enough, but how about herding 70 kids into position on opening night?

Eedie Turnbull (plays a mother circa 1844) and Bronte Hely as The River.Repton Public School are gearing up for their production of 'The River'. The original musical created by Toni Swain is based on true characters and real events that took place along The Bellinger River from 1840 to present day.

You might think writing a musical is hard, but Toni Swain says trying to direct 70 school kids “all at once” is harder.

Ms Swain is the writer and director of ‘The River’, a musical to be performed by Repton Public School which tells a series of stories which took place along various parts of the Bellinger River from the 1800s right up to today.

“(The kids) are loving it. They were a bit hesitant at first … but now that they have been practising the songs they are excited.

Top Row left to right: Indica Green (circa 1908), Rachel Radecki (Mr Wheatley), Toby De Jong (George Moore) Bottom row left to right: Cash Wilby (Clarry Pearce), Billie Foley (developer circa 1981), Evie Singleton (Bundagen resident circa 1981). Repton Public School are gearing up for their production of 'The River'.

A musician who is usually writing soul and blues, Ms Swain tried her hand at a musical in 2018 when she and her family were living in the small NSW town of Nundle. The event was a huge success and Ms Swain is hoping to replicate that in Repton and is inviting the community to come and share in the fun.

“With a musical anything goes,” she said.

“You can say anything you want, it is really fun and you don’t have to think twice about sounding cool. You can be cornball in a musical, I really enjoy it.”

“When moved over here I just thought wouldn't it be nice to have that same sort of community performance going on with the kids. “

Cash Wilby. Repton Public School are gearing up for their production of 'The River'. The original musical created by Toni Swain is based on true characters and real events that took place along The Bellinger River from 1840 to present day.

Struggling to find one character to base the story around, during her research Ms Swain said she suddenly had a “light bulb” moment.

“There are all these events that have happened in the area and the one common thread among them all was the Bellinger River,” she said.

There are songs about early settlement, river creatures and even the origins of the Bundagen cooperative. And of course the mighty Hammond and Wheatley building, one of Bellingen’s most famous landmarks, gets the broadway treatment.

The performances are scheduled to go ahead in next month (depending on the public health orders) with opening night on Wednesday, September 15 at 6pm. There will be two further performances on September 16 at 12pm and 6pm.

For more information and to book tickets contact Repton Public School on 66554201.