Haileybury proudly presents its inaugural Autumn Play, The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet by Peter Bloedel.
Join our Senior School students as they bring to life this whimsical and wildly imaginative retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Bursting with rhyme, colour, and comic energy, this playful adaptation transforms Shakespeare’s classic tale of star-crossed lovers into a fast-paced theatrical romp full of larger-than-life characters and Seussian flair.
Rehearsed in workshop with Haileybury’s Artist in Residence, Alister Smith, the production celebrates creativity, collaboration and bold storytelling. Don’t miss this joyful celebration of theatre as our talented students take to the stage for an unforgettable Autumn performance.
Set in Aikman reverse stage.
Date: Wednesday 18 March - Thursday 19 March 2026
Time: 7pm - 8:15 pm
Location: Aikman Hall, Haileybury Keysborough
855 Springvale Rd, Keysborough VIC 3173, Australia
The Suessification of Romeo & Juliet Program
Welcome to the inaugural Haileybury Autumn Play, The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet. Tonight, you are invited into an evening of rhyme, silliness, and joyful theatricality as Shakespeare’s classic tale is turned delightfully on its head.
This production has been created through a workshop-style rehearsal process, where exploration and experimentation are just as important as the final performance. Under the guidance of Artist in Residence, Alister Smith, students have drawn on his expertise in characterisation to develop bold physicality, comic timing and inventive staging.
With only a handful of Saturday rehearsals, students from across campuses came together to play with the material, discovering new ways for scenes to leap from page to stage. Often arriving straight from Haileybury Sport, their energy, commitment and generosity have shaped this production into something truly special.
This project stands as a testament to the dedication of our students and the spirit of collaboration that lies at the heart of theatre-making.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating the beginning of what we hope will become a wonderful Haileybury tradition.
Enjoy the show!
Nicole Smith
Head of Senior School Drama and Theatre
Cast
Romeo: Eamon Mullen
Juliet: Mavis Varghese
Lord Monotone: Mitchell Fisher
Lady Monotone: Molly McKillop
Lord Capitulate: Zac Parkes
Lady Capitulate: Deshna Karnavat
Tybalt: Harrison Thorn
Benvolio: Anika Flynn
Mercurio: Maverick Lawrence-Politis
Monk Larry: Rafael Picone
The Prince: Vivian Vu
Nurse: Leah Mikhail
Paris and Sampson: Oliva le Marshall
Gregory: Nathan Fisher
Abram: Oscar Levinson
Balthasar: Phoenix Brydges
Servant Of Cap: Elaine Yu
Narrators
Lily Beckwith
Megan Stark
Chloe Pieris
Savanna Grossi-Mastroianni
Deneth Abeykoon
Vivienne Kruger
Phoenix Brydges
Elaine Yu
Oscar Levinson
Creative team
Artist in Residence & Guest Director: Mr Alister Smith
Assistant Director: Ms Elne Ackermann
Producer and Director: Ms Nicole Smith
Production Design: Mr Alister Smith, Ms Nicole Smith and Mr Matthew Sanderson
Lighting Design and Operation: Mr James Gedicke
Ticketing: Ms Roslyn Rodgers
Poster and Marketing Design: Mr Andrew Thomson
Special thanks
Thank you to Ms Caroline Merrick and Ms Lucy Cumming for hosting the Autumn Play rehearsals at our beautiful City Campus. What a wonderful way to celebrate One Haileybury and the opportunity for multi-campus productions.
Our deepest gratitude to Ms Nada Razum and her incomparable Facilities team. Our shows would not happen without you!
Thanks to Director of Performing Arts Mr Rodney Marhsall who always is available to support and find solutions.
Thank you to our Drama Captains whose leadership and passion inspires the next generation of Haileyburians.
Alister Smith
Alister is a multi Award–winning theatre director and Victorian College of the Arts graduate whose work spans commercial theatre, university collaborations, and grassroots community practice. He works extensively with performing arts students nationwide, collaborating with institutions including the Victorian College of the Arts, Federation University, the National Theatre Drama School, and the Queensland Academy of Music Theatre Excellence at Griffith University (QAEMT).
In the past year, Alister has directed several major productions, including Mart Crowley’s seminal play The Boys in the Band for The James Terry Collective at Chapel Off Chapel; the Australian premiere of Disney’s Tarzan: The Stage Musical at The National Theatre; A Chorus Line for QAEMT; and The Drowsy Chaperone for VCA Music Theatre. Other major career milestones include the international premiere of Elvis: A Musical Revolution, the national tour of Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical, and the international tour of The Wedding Singer The Musical.
Across his 20-year career, Alister’s creative credits include: Billy Elliot (Footlight Productions & Geelong Arts Centre); Legally Blonde (QAEMT); Heathers (VCA Music Theatre); Cry-Baby(QAEMT); A Very Naughty Christmas (Woodward Productions); Into the Woods (Federation University); Fiddler on the Roof (Footlight Productions); 42nd Street (QAEMT); Grease(QAEMT & QPAC); Romeo & Juliet (Essential Theatre); Bring It On: The Musical (Australian première and national tour – DVE); Heathers (VCA Theatre); Macbeth (Essential Theatre); London Road (QAEMT); The Boys (VCA Theatre); Much Ado About Nothing (VCA Theatre); Chicago (Federation University); Les Misérables (QAEMT); The Mystery of Edwin Drood(Federation University); Wicked (Footlight Productions); Project: Hysteria – A Tennessee Williams Exploration (TBC Theatre Company); Femme Fatale (Melbourne Fringe 2015); Urinetown (VCA Music Theatre); Slavs! (The National Theatre Drama School); Pacific Overtures (Watch This Theatre Company & Manila Street Productions); Penelope (Red Stitch Actors Theatre); Himmelweg (The Smith Co); Behind Closed Doors (Red Stitch Actors Theatre); Tribes (Melbourne Theatre Company); Hose (MKA Theatre of New Writing); John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt (VCA); and The Threepenny Opera (The Smith Co).
Coming soon
