The nine-show run of Vicar of Dibley is almost done, which means the inevitable breaking up of the production’s on stage romance.
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Bella Walker has taken on the role as Alice Horton (née Tinker) and Dan Ryan, Hugo Horton in the Shepparton Theatre Arts Group’s production.
Bella is a known name in the local theatre world, starting her thespian journey in primary school.
“I started doing it in primary school and then continued it in secondary school and then during uni and then now as an adult,” she said.
“It’s one of my favourite things about being a teacher is that I can do the cycle again for little kids.”
She credited STAG with her connection building since moving to Shepparton during COVID-19.
“The ones (productions) I’ve done here with STAG have been really memorable because that’s how I formed my community here in Shepp,” she said.
Although joining STAG for the musical Drowsy Chaperone, she is all about plays, performing in Vicar of Dibey and directing The Physicists earlier in the year.
“At the moment, I'm in my play era,” she said.
“It was obviously a different experience directing to being in it.
“I don't know if I prefer being in it over directing, but directing is certainly a different experience.
“I hope they let me do it again.”
The character of Alice Horton isn’t exactly known for her intelligence or social awareness, but Bella said that’s been fun to tap into.
“She’s the most fun character because I get to just play dumb for an hour and a half,” Bella said.
“I really enjoy the character, she doesn't understand the jokes, but she's so much fun, so funny, so silly, she’s the light in the show.”
She spoke of her on-stage spouse and the other characters as also being good, but all unique too.
“Every character in this show is very funny, I have a husband in the show who’s a great actor though, but all of the characters are really good,” she said.
Although Bella isn’t an original watcher of the show when it aired, she’s fallen in love.
“Whilst I may not have been in the prime demographic upon its release and the jokes may have gone well over my head at the time, the impact is profound and the intricacies of the wit within this show are still evident today,” she said.
“Our audiences have really responded enthusiastically each show.”
“STAG is such an important part of our community.
“It can be such a lovely way to form connections with people in Shepparton, and it’s been lovely to see audiences connect before, during, and after seeing the show.
“Theatre, and very good humour, has a way of doing that.”
Her counterpart Dan Ryan is also a relatively new Sheppartonian, moving to the area for a job opportunity.
“I moved here two years ago because I took up a job here,” he said.
“The first year was a bit rocky, but I feel like I've really found my groove in the second year.”
When he was a young lad he stepped into the spotlight for the first time but has since take a step back.
“I did The Lion King in Year 6,” he said.
“Then I did like a little bit of public speaking in sort of Year 7 and 8, then I was in the combined church choir in Finley, NSW.
“After that, I sort of stumbled on stage, and then I lost all of my confidence, and I haven’t done it since.”
But then inspiration struck, and he’s back performing in a sold-out show.
Vicar of Dibley is his first STAG stint, and he was roped in by set construction icon and stage presence Troy McKindley.
“I put a thing on Facebook asking if somebody could come and replace my air conditioner and lo and behold, Troy rocks up,” Dan said.
“We got chatting and realised we had a few mutual friends, and the few mutual friends we had were in STAG, and I said I've been thinking I should give it a crack.”
And that he did.
Vicar of Dibley auditions were happening in the following days so after an invitation from Troy, he couldn’t say no.
“I turned up to the audition, had nothing prepared or anything like that, and I just winged it,” Dan said.
“My (theatre) journey this year has been very staggered and non-existent for many, many years, but I'm happy to be back.”
Since joining the cast, he said that learning lines was a walk in the park, but putting himself back out there was a walk in a dark, scary park.
“I guess when you’re around a heap of new faces, when you’re an adult, you’ve got all of your insecurities, so trying to break down that barrier has been a big challenge for me,” he said.
“But at the end of the day, it’s been incredibly fun and a good test for me, a good way of sort of keeping my brain active and learning new things and meeting new people, having a laugh.”
Tickets have sold out; however, there is a wait list for anyone who missed out. To add your name to the wait list, head to tinyurl.com/ynezbazf
Cadet Journalist