Canberra theatre company to pull off a Heist! on stage

Mistaken identities, fumbling police, intriguing tricksters, and a touch of camp rumble together in the barrel of laughs that is Green Oak Theatre’s original production, Heist!, at Belconnen Theatre on 6-9 July.

Reading through a high school English book, writer, producer and co-director, Shaylie Maskell found a six-page script following a number of criminal gangs scheming to steal a platypus statue. Inspired by the story, the writer thought she could build on it and bring a bizarre and captivating story to life on stage.

“You don’t normally see a big heist thing on stage; you see murder mysteries but not those big kind of Ocean’s 11 type things. I wanted to put that on stage because you don’t see that in the format as much,” Ms Maskell says.

In Heist! there is no platypus statue, but there are a few crocodiles to be seen as the three Capella Brothers accidentally kidnap a billionaire. The renowned criminals must work with other shady characters to solve their problem and make a profit. The show is friendly to all ages with Ms Maskell saying if your child can watch Shrek then Heist! will be no problem.

“If your child is old enough to be able to sit still for two hours, then they can come and see the show. It’s very family-friendly, all the jokes go over the children’s heads that their parents might not want them to understand,” she smiles.

A drama teacher and active theatre member, Ms Maskell was motivated by a love of the craft, rather than by fame and fortune, when she founded Green Oak Theatre in 2019. Seeking a way to bring original productions to the stage, she believes this is what sets them apart from other local amateur theatre companies.

The inspiration for founding the theatre company was to share the musical she wrote based on The Thornthwaite Inheritance by Gareth P. Jones, a novel she loved as a child. Ms Maskell happened to meet Mr Jones in London when she was still working on the musical; he gave his blessing, and they were able to livestream the finished production to him.

“He loved it, no one had ever made a musical of any of his books before.” she says.

Green Oak Theatre presents Heist! at Belconnen Theatre, 6-9 July; greenoaktheatre.org

Full story online. - Jessica Cordwell

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