General News
1 August, 2025
Students take to the stage
Months of passion and practice will come under the spotlight this month as Highview students and teachers alike gear up for their latest production.
Over a three night run, Highview College presents the musical horror comedy, previously of Broadway and big screen fame, Little Shop of Horrors.
Locals will follow larger than life characters as they manage an accidentally monsterous plant set on world domination.
From a hapless worker, to the grumpy florist, a crazy dentist, and even a greek styled chorus — local students fill-out the cast alongside a professional set, costumes, and props.
Drama and theatre studies teacher, and the production’s director, Dean Gale said investing in the production was a way of honouring the students’ commitment to the show.
“These kids are particularly passionate about this musical and I’m hoping people come along and honour that effort they’re giving,” he said.
Centrepiece of the props, and on loan from its home with Altona Theatre Company near Melbourne, is the carnivorous plant in escalating sizes.
It’s a character that takes two students to come to life — one manning its movements while the other, Atti Dunn, brings it to life with his voice.
“He’s a big plant with a sassy personality, what’s not to love,” he said.
“He’s not just your traditional monster.”
Atti’s performances have come a long way since playing a toy soldier with no speaking lines.
In the years since he’s played other roles, joined a band, and now gets to showcase both his acting and voiceover skills in a careful balance of each.
“I’ve been working on this voice for quite a while so it doesn’t hurt me, so it sounds good, sounds natural, so he has a range,” he said.
“I have to sing with the voice on and so it’s hard to reach that vibrato but also keep that rasp.”
The love for the character extends to his love for the show — the balance of the gothic to the fun and mature to the immature.
“I watched this movie when I found out we were doing it and I fell in love with it,” Atti said.
“I don’t know how the board approved it but we got it.”
His role as a brash plant is introduced to the florist shop by Phinnaeus Knighton-Weire’s character, Seymour, who assures the community the plant won’t bite.
“Come to the musical. A lot of work has been put into it. It’s turned out really great,” he said.
Months of practice has been especially unique for the doo-wop girls, or “fierce baddies”, which Elissa Raeburn, Jorgia Brown, and Ember Pritchard call themselves.
“We’ve actually got pretty close considering we didn’t know each other,” Elissa said.
Their experience echoes what is seen on stage. They play three sisters where the oldest, Jorgia Brown, is the most experienced both as a character and a performer.
“I’d call them my friends,” she said.
“We are that trio.”
They’re a greek chorus of sorts who provide their collective voice to the spiralling story unfolding in Miss Mushnik’s, the florist played by Matilda Williams, shop.
“It’s really good being able to work with people who have got the same interest as me,” she said.
Although this is Matilda’s first main role it was one literally crafted for her. Her acting skills alongside her voice meant the director picked her out for the part.
“It was cool they’d change it just for me,” she said.
“I’m really glad it’s happened with this cast because they’ve been super good.”
Matilda’s performance is in her voice and body language which she credits to her careful consideration of this cranky florist’s motivations.
“I like to imagine what’s led the character to this point in their life. Why is she so cranky? Why the flower shop? Why did she take in Seymour,” she said.
“It just helps me understand more and get more of the little things.”
Both Felicity Rentsch, playing the love interest Audrey, and Cedric Carless, playing Orin the crazy dentist, share the focus on community in theatre.
“Everyone who’s here from the school has something in common. Has an interest in something. You make friends and you get talking to new people that you wouldn’t talk to otherwise,” Felicity said.
It’s an experience Cedric “dragged” friends along to who are now on and behind the stage. One their parents thanked him for, he said.
The community which theatre creates for students, as Mr Gale explained, can’t be emphasised enough.
“When kids jump into a theatre cast and ensemble they create those connections and they feel they’re a part of a community,” he said.
Mr Gale remembers performing in this same show in high school — his friends still talk about it.
“It’s a fantastic show itself. It’s got horror, comedy, lights and jazz,” he said.
Little Shop of Horrors will be across three nights, August 14 to 16, starting at 6 pm at the Geoff James Theatre.
Tickets are currently for sale on Highview College’s website, available through trybooking, and food will be available to purchase on the night during intermission.