Toowoomba education | Meet the cast of Highfields State Secondary College school musical production Spamlot

The leading cast of the Highfields Secondary State School musical has opened up about their characters, dreams for the future and the huge impact the 2023 school musical has had on them.

More than 50 students from Highfields State Secondary College are set to take audiences on the journey of King Arthur and his quest to find the holy grail.

Based on the 1975 classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail, these talented students will showcase their skills through the musical parody Spamalot, with plenty of laughs guaranteed.

The Chronicle sat down with several lead cast members who opened up about their character portrayals and the bright futures they have ahead of them.

This included Ava Martin as Sir Galahad, Claire Harth as Lady of the Lake, Georgia Faulks as Patsy, Matthew McKenzie as King Arthur and Mya Volp as Sir Robin.

Other main cast members will include Darcy White as The Knight of Ni, Ruby Servin as Sir Bedevere and Vincent Smith as Sir Lancelot.

The show will be held at the school’s Performing Arts Centre on June 1, 2 and 3.

Doors open at 5.30pm each evening for a 6pm start and tickets can be purchased at the door.

Meet the cast of the Highfields State Secondary College musical Spamalot: Ava Martin. Picture: Rhylea Millar

Ava Martin, 16 – Sir Galahad

British-born Ava Martin recalls watching classic comedies on the television which left her family in stitches.

Whether it was Horrible Histories, Dad’s Army or One Foot in the Grave, the 16-year-old said she was ecstatic when late last year, she heard the school production would be Spamalot.

Her excitement only intensified when she was cast as her favourite character Sir Galahad.

“I loved Monty Python’s Holy Grail and Michael Palin was always my favourite when he played Sir Galahad because he was just so funny,” she said.

“The production is a little different to the film because Sir Galahad is the dashingly handsome in ours, but he’s dramatic, he’s silly and he flicks his hair a lot.”

Ms Martinspent many lunch times, weekends and afternoons outside of rehearsal practising for the show and was over the moon when she managed to nail a dance she had been struggling with.

She said her favourite part of the musical was feeling like she could be herself and embrace her quirky comedic roots.

“I grew up with this really silly, old fashioned, British comedy and if you ask anyone else in the cast they would tell you this show really reflects my personal sense of humour,” she said.

“We have all put in so much work so to see the community turn out to support us will be really rewarding.”

With an interest in becoming a historian, the Highfields student said she has had the ability to remember historical facts since she was a young child.

Meet the cast of the Highfields State Secondary College musical Spamalot: Claire Harth. Picture: Rhylea Millar

Claire Harth, 17 – Lady of the Lake

Inspired by the likes of music greats Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner, Claire Harth loves nothing more than belting out a melody.

The female lead who plays Lady of the Lake said despite the consensus her character is a fairy, she is entirely human but somehow lives in a lake.

Despite it being a challenging role, the senior high school student said she had “loved every second of it” especially as it was the last production she would be part of at the school.

“It’s a very singing-heavy role so it puts a lot of fatigue on the voice,” she said.

“There was a time there when a lot of sickness had been going throughout the cast so I also had to dodge that because singing with sickness is not ideal.”

But with the help of her secret remedy – hot lemon and honey tea – the music enthusiast has managed to avoid any disasters.

“It works a charm every single time,” she said.

Ms Harth who has performed in at least 15 school productions throughout the past five years said Spamalot had been one of her favourites.

“Not to toot our own horns but we have a very talented group of people here,” she said.

“Coming to the show would be a great way to spend your evening and you’ll get a great laugh out of it.

Referring to her idols Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner as “boss, powerful women” the 17-year-old said she hopes to the performing arts professionally or become a lawyer.

Meet the cast of the Highfields State Secondary College musical Spamalot: Georgia Faulks. Picture: Rhylea Millar

Georgia Faulks, 17 – Patsy

Fulfilling the role of Arthur’s servant and “right hand man” is Georgia Faulks who believes her role is comedy gold.

“I’m mainly there for comedic relief and to give the audience a bit of a laugh,” she said.

“I basically walk around with a pair of coconuts and I clap them together, pretending to be King Arthur’s horse.”

Pleasantly surprised when she discovered she would be playing Patsy, Ms Faulks said the cast and crew had been working hard on the production for about six months.

An active member of her school’s arts department, the 17-year-old said she hoped to carry the confidence and skills she had gained into a full-time career in musical theatre.

“I’ve done a fair bit of acting and was in the school musical about two years ago but I’ve only just started getting into singing,” she said.

“When I heard this would be a funny musical I jumped at the opportunity to be involved.”

Meet the cast of the Highfields State Secondary College musical Spamalot: Matt McKenzie. Picture: Rhylea Millar

Matthew McKenzie, 15 – King Arthur

Following in the footsteps of his dad who once played the trombone in the orchestra pit of a Spamalot production, Matthew McKenzie will play King Arthur.

Previously, Mr McKenzie has played smaller roles in the Empire Theatre’s Boy From Oz, as well as the Toowoomba Choral Society’s Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Hunchback of Notre Dame.

When he’s not taking centre stage at the theatre, the 15-year-old can be found catching up on school work or performing in jazz ensembles, concert bands and choirs.

“I play the trombone too like Dad,” he said.

“When I auditioned for the musical I had no idea what part I was going to get so it was a pretty good feeling when I saw I was King Arthur on the casting list.

“King Arthur and his knights run into a lot of people on their quest who either stall him to help him to find the grail, but often in the most complicated and funny way.”

When Mr McKenzie finishes high school, he hopes to take a well earned break, before returning to his studies and pursuing a career in musical theatre and acting.

Meet the cast of the Highfields State Secondary College musical Spamalot: Mya Volp. Picture: Rhylea Millar

Mya Volp, 17 – Sir Robin

Performing on stage has always been one of Mya Volp’s biggest passions, but after making a difficult choice, she has decided this will be her last production.

Acting, singing and dancing in musicals presented by the Toowoomba Choral Society since the age of 10, Ms Volp said she would miss the stage but wanted to focus on her academics post-school.

“When I was a kid I actually wanted to be a zookeeper because I love animals, but then I discovered my passion for science and medicine so I’ve decided to combine the two and do veterinary science,” she said.

“I did consider doing acting but that’s more of my hobby so it’s pretty sad that this will probably be the last production I ever do.”

Despite the lengthy amount of time Ms Volp said she had spent rehearsing and developing her character Sir Robin who is one of the four knights, she said the enjoyment gained was worth it.

“This whole show is so much fun and I have loved being a knight because the four of us get along so well,” she said.

“In my opinion Sir Robin sings the best song (You Won’t Succeed on Broadway) and even though it’s been stressful to learn and I’m always out of breath by the end of it, I’m so grateful to get to perform it.”