About Us

About Northern Light Theatre Company

Northern Light Operatic Society was formed in April 1966 with the aim of presenting musical comedies and light opera to the people of the Northern district in the newly opened Shedley Theatre. Our first production was Quaker Girl and, since that first show, we have produced over 100 quality shows. The change to Northern Light Theatre Company came in the 1970s where we became an incorporated body.

Our Committee

The 2025-26 Northern Light Theatre Company Committee consists of the following members:

President/Treasurer: Sue Pole
Business Manager: Jan Powell
Secretary: Tegan Gully-Crispe 
Publicity Officer: Kim Abbott
General Members: Cheryl Ford (Vice President) Delwyn Watts, Jo Herring, Gavin Cianci

Awards and Nominations

Northern Light has had many award nominations and award-winning shows including:

2025

& Juliet

  • Winner – Best Ensemble (CAL-ective) Award – TASA
  • Winner – Costumes (Techni-CAL) Award – TASA
  • Winner – Most Popular Adult Musical – A Thousand Words Awards
  • Winner – Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Jake Hipkiss (May) – A Thousand Words Awards
  • Nominated – Outstanding Performer – Bec Pynor (Anne Hathaway) – TASA

Billy Elliot the Musical

  • Winner – Outstanding Youth Performer – Aidan Salmon (Billy) – TASA
  • Winner – Outstanding Performer – Sarah Hamilton (Mrs. Wilkinson) – TASA
  • Nominated – Best Musical (Musi-CAL) – TASA

2024

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

  • Winner – Best Musical (Musi-CAL) – TASA
  • Winner – Technical Excellence (Techni-CAL) Award (Sets, Lighting) – TASA
  • Winner – Outstanding Performer – Andrew Crispe (Claude Frollo) – TASA

The Wedding Singer

  • Winner – Outstanding Performer – Sam Mannix (Robbie Hart) – TASA

2023

Catch Me If You Can

  • Winner – Best Musical (MusiCAL Award) – TASA
  • Winner – Outstanding Performer – Musical – Deon Martino-Williams (Frank Abagnale Jnr) – TASA
  • Nominated – Outstanding Performer – Musical – David Macgillivray (Carl Hanratty) – TASA
  • Nominated – Outstanding Performer – Musical – Melanie Cowmeadow (Brenda Strong) – TASA
  • Nominated – Techni-CAL (Videography) – TASA

Singin’ in the Rain

  • Nominated – Techni-CAL (Videography) – TASA

2022

Les Misérables

  • Winner – Outstanding Performer in a Musical – Mark Oates (Jean Valjean) – TASA

Jersey Boys

  • Nominated – Outstanding Performer in a Musical – Deon Martino-Williams (Frankie Valli) – TASA

2019

Seussical: The Musical

  • Winner – Best Male Performer – David Salter (Cat in the Hat) – ATG Curtain Call Awards
  • Nominated – Best Show – Musical – ATG Curtain Call

Dusty – The Original Pop Diva

  • Winner – Best Female Performer – Robyn Brookes (Dusty) – ATG Curtain Call Awards

2018

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

  • Nominated – Best Technical, Costume Design & Construction – Ann Humphries – ATG Curtain Call

2017
Annie

  • Winner – Best Youth Female Performer – Holly Abbott (Annie) – TASA
  • Nominated – Best Female Young Performer – Holly Abbott (Annie) – ATG Curtain Call

2014

  • Winner – Bravo Award – Ann Humphries – TASA

2012
Into the Woods

  • Winner – Best Technical – Production & Costume Design – ATG Curtain Call
    Production & Costume Design: Damon Hill, Alex Ramsey, Chris Golding, Darren Sheldon, Ann Humphries & Fran Edwards
  • Nominated – Best Show – Musical – ATG Curtain Call 
  • Nominated – Best Ensemble – ATG Curtain Call
  • Nominated – Best Musical (MusiCAL Award) – TASA

Little Shop of Horrors

  • Nominated – Best Show – Musical – ATG Curtain Call 

2011

Beauty & the Beast

  • Nominated – Best Musical (MusiCAL Award) – TASA
  • Nominated – Best Show – Musical – ATG Curtain Call 
  • Nominated – Best Male Performance – Andrew Crispe – ATG Curtain Call 

Leader of the Pack

  • Nominated – Best Technical – Mardi Peal (Costume Design) – ATG Curtain Call 

2010

Monty Python’s Spamalot

  • Nominated – Best Musical (MusiCAL Award) – TASA
  • Nominated – Best Show – Musical – ATG Curtain Call 
  • Nominated – Best Technical – Ann Humphries (Costume Design) – ATG Curtain Call

2009

The Sound of Music

  • Nominated – Best Musical (MusiCAL Award) – TASA

2008

The Witches of Eastwick

  • Nominated – Best Musical (MusiCAL Award) – TASA
  • Nominated – Best Female Performance – Robyn Smith

2007
Singin’ in the Rain

  • Winner – Most Popular Show – ATG Curtain Call Awards

2006
The Wizard of Oz

  • Winner – Best Technical (Costumes) – Ann Humphries – ATG Curtain Call Awards
  • Nominated – Best Female Performance – Kate Dempsey – ATG Curtain Call

2005
Copacabana

  • Winner – Best Musical – ATG Curtain Call

A Fractured G&S Trilogy

  • Winner – Criti-CAL – TASA
  • Nominated – Best Show – Musical – ATG Curtain Call

1998

The King and I
Winner – Criti-CAL – TASA

Achievements of Past and Current Members

We are justifiably proud that we were the training ground for many talented performers and technical crew who have since gone on to work in professional theatre locally, interstate and internationally. The most notable of these are Andy Pole, who has appeared in Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and Jekyll & Hyde nationally, Charisa Lynne (Barfoot) and Jaii Beckley.

Apart from these in full time musical theatre many of our past and current members are part time or semi professional.

Past and current members who have worked professionally include:

Andy Pole
Professional musical theatre, commercials.

Charisa Lynne (Barfoot)
Professional musical theatre.

Jaii Beckley
Professional musical theatre.

David Winston
Films, plays, commercials.

Neil McKinnon
Professional musical theatre, commercials.

Vaughan Harmer
Films, commercials.

Rob Syme
Theatre restaraunt, music, cabaret acts.

Sue Pole
Theatre restaraunt, choreography, television, promotional work.

Matt Byrne
Commercials, theatre restaurant, writing, directing.

Rodney Hutton
Films, commercials, TV, theatre restaurant.

Ceri Hutton
Theatre restaurant.

Jeff Lang
Promotional work, commercials, theatre restaurant.

Theresa Dolman
Commercials, film script, stand-up comedy.

Linda McCarthy (nee Brooks)
Professional singing engagements.

Darren Hassan
Promotional work, commercials, cabaret.

Adrian Dilger
Theatre restaurant.

Rick Williams
Commercials.

Anne Williams
Commercials, films.

Lisa Lacy (nee Bld)
Commercials, theatre restaurant.

Drew Webb
Promotional Work.

Shella Gee
Commercials.

Kurtys Ramond
Theatre restaurant, touring ships in Asia.

Rohan Watts
Theatre restaurant, MC and compere work.

Ian Barge
Professional theatre technician.

This list is not exhaustive, but just an example! The depth of talent in the company at present is a sign that many of our young members will follow in their footsteps. We welcome performers of any experience level, and encourage those with little or no experience to make Northern Light Theatre Company their new home for theatre!