The Playhouse Program
Presenting 'The Mysterious Tale of the Mary-Celeste'
written by Elizabeth Avery Scott.
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Want to be in a play? In Perform Australia's Playhouse Program, you'll work with a professional director to perform in a play in our very own theatre in Tuggeranong, ACT. ​​
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FOR: Students aged 15+ in Years 9-12
REHEARSING: Term 2, 2026 + three performances in the July school holidays
REHEARSAL STUDIO & THEATRE: Perform Australia Studios, 12/38 Reed St North, Greenway ACT 2900
CLASS TIMES:
**Please note, to be in this production, you must be available for ALL rehearsals and performances listed below.**
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Thursdays in Term 2, 4-6:30pm, commencing 23 April
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Holiday rehearsals: The show will be performed in the first week of the school holidays. Therefore, you will also need to be available for:
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Technical rehearsal: 7 July 6pm,
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Dress Rehearsal: 8 July 6pm
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PERFORMANCES: 9,10 11 July 7:30pm (Actors need to arrive at 6pm to get ready)
​PERFORMANCE VENUE: Perform Australia Theatre, Greenway
COST: $380 per term
About the play
The Mysterious Tale of the Mary-Celeste
Written by Elizabeth Avery Scott
Directed by James Scott
Back in 1872, a merchant vessel set out on a voyage from New York to Gibraltar. Days later it was found completely abandoned near the Azores Islands... there was no one left aboard... just an eerie wind blowing through the ripped sails.
So where was the Captain? Where was the crew?
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The mystery of the 'ghost ship' Mary-Celeste has puzzled historians and adventurers alike for more than a century. What actually happened, and where did all the people go? Was it pirates? A storm? Disease? Aliens, even?
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This 35-minute comedy play is a mad romp through all the possible explanations, as the actors retell the story and try to solve the mystery.
Beneath it all is a lesson about the fragility of human life, when we find ourselves at the mercy of the elements.
How do rehearsals work?
Students rehearse weekly at our studio during the term, and present the play live on stage in the first week of the school holidays. Each class will be a combination of actor training and performance preparation. Skills developed will include acting technique, character work, voice and stagecraft, as well as the vital ability to collaborate as an ensemble member.
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Production week includes the final rehearsals and getting all the technical aspects of the show ready. Technical rehearsal is 7 July 6pm, Dress Rehearsal is 8 July 6pm, and the performances are 9,10 11 July 7:30pm (Actors need to arrive at 6pm to get ready)
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Please note: Before enrolling in the program, please ensure you will be available for the rehearsals and performances in the first week of the school holidays.
About your director
James Scott
James Scott is an actor, director and teacher. He is co-founder and CEO at Perform Australia.
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He holds a Diploma of Performance from the Actors' College of Theatre and Television and a Master of Arts Practice in Acting from Charles Sturt University, as well as a Diploma in Vocational Education and Training.
James's performance credits include a wide range of stage and screen projects over more than 35 years of performance. Most recently he has been seen in 'Lies, Love and Hitler' (2010, 2014), 'The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged' (2015), 'Underneath the Lintel (2015), 'Henry Five' (2016), 'It's A Wonderful Life: The Live Radio Play' (2017), 'Mistakes Were Made' (2018), 'The Woman in Black' (2019), 'Danny The Champion Of The World' (2020), 'According to Mark' (2021) and 'Anastasia Krupnik' (2022) - the majority of these with Honest Puck Theatre, a company he founded.
He has also recently performed the role of 'Lucky' in Waiting For Godot at The Street Theatre, Canberra, the role of Fritsky in the film Break A Leg, and a cameo in the movie Snatchers.
Roles in the show
As this is an ensemble piece, all students get ample stage time contributing to the performance,​​ but the show's director has the final say on who receives which role.
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Tickets
Tickets go on sale 4-6 weeks before the show, from our website. Tickets to the show cost $22.
Ready to enrol?
Download your full information pack here, for additional info about the program:
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Existing customers: Log in to your portal—no need to create a new account.
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New customers: Click on your preferred class below and set up your portal account, and you’ll be ready to enrol
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Enrolment is only secure once payment has been made.
We look forward to having your child as part of the show!
Other classes you may be interested in
Many children do more than one class with Perform Australia each week! Take a look at some of our other programs that may support your child as a performer.
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