Community Choir: the musical

About the Show

Community Choir: The Musical is a heartwarming and hilarious tale written by Emma Dean, set in Brisbane (Meanjin Country) and performed by local community members. Follow the story of a quirky community choir finding themselves accidentally invited to Sydney’s prestigious National Choral Competition (in Gadigal Country). Internal conflicts and personal dilemmas temper their initial excitement. As they grapple with song choices, rivalries, and hidden secrets, their journey takes a fantastical turn with the arrival of the flamboyant ‘Spirit of the Song’. Only one unlikely choir member can see this enigmatic character with the magical ability to reveal people's deepest truths and fears.

With a mix of humour, drama, and catchy original music, this toe-tapping experience directed by Belinda Raisin, explores themes of unity, love and self-discovery.

This production of Community Choir: The Musical is proudly performed by local community members. 95% of the cast are non-professional performers; some have never performed on stage.

Show Details

3-6 Sep

Thomas Dixon Centre, West End, Brisbane

Wheelchair accessible seats are available across all performances. Seats for the Auslan Interpreted and Audio Described performance on Sat 6 Sep are available. Please contact Thomas Dixon Centre on (07) 3013 6666.

Content Warnings & Access Info

Content warnings: haze, flashing lights, loud sound effects
Age recommendation: N/A
Accessibility notes: Wheelchair access via side door.  Auslan Interpreter and Audio Description available on Saturday 6 September show

Show duration

75 minutes

Image by Kate Davies from KD Photography

Emma Dean

Emma Dean is an internationally acclaimed musician, performer, writer, composer, arranger, creativity coach, and dreamer from Meanjin/Brisbane. 

With a passion for the magical place where music meets storytelling, she has released over ten independent EPs, albums, and soundtracks, starred in productions like Cabaret and The Tempest, and toured her original shows around the world, from Off-Broadway to the Edinburgh Fringe. 

Emma’s work spans television – composing for the Emmy Award-winning Bluey – to creating choral arrangements for John Farnham, Kate Ceberano, and Katie Noonan. 

Though her most rewarding work to date, is as the conductor of Cheep Trill and Upbeat Arts community choirs, where she champions the joy and transformative power of group singing.

Belinda Raisin

Belinda Raisin has had a diverse career in the Performing Arts as an actor, singer, voice over artist, dancer and choreographer. In the last few years, she has also juggled her passion for performing with raising her two young daughters and teaching. 

She recently co-produced and performed in the sold-out season of Whatever Gets You Through the Night by Nicky Peelgrane at Metro Arts Theatre. She also appeared in The Good Room’s That’s What She Said. 

Her comedy cabaret, Confessions of a Control Freak, has toured nationally, receiving rave reviews and standing ovations including two sold out seasons at Brisbane’s Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts.

Belinda toured Australia in April’s Fool by David Burton and appeared in the ABC telemovie Mabo. She also played a lead role in the feature film, The Umbrella.  Belinda is a passionate advocate for the Arts.

Tony Dean

Tony Dean is the owner of Tiny Dream Studios, a recording and teaching studio based in Meanjin/Brisbane. 

With a deep passion for music, Tony has been instrumental in shaping various projects, including producing, mixing, and mastering multiple albums for various artists including Emma Dean’s 2022 album “Shape Of A Girl” and contributing to the music featured in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Corinne Buzianczuk

Corinne Buzianczuk has over 20 years’ experience in large corporate organisations, in roles that require large scale project, people and funding coordination.  Corinne’s leadership and organisational skills are paramount.  With her collaborative nature – she delivers in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

Corinne has held the Managing Director and Treasurer position with Cheep Trill Ltd for over 10 years and is passionate about bringing spotlight shining opportunities to regular everyday community members.

Molly Keen

Molly Keen is a vocalist, musician, producer, songwriter and singing teacher. In 2023, Molly graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music Griffith University with a Bachelor of Music with Distinction, majoring in Popular Music Voice. 

In 2024, Molly was a recipient of the City of Gold Coast’s Professional Placement Program, where she worked as Associate Producer - Projects with Everybody NOW! on the large scale production ‘Those Who Rock’. Molly has continued to work on a variety of arts projects in producer roles, and is also an experienced performer. 

Laura Purcell

Laura has been on the stage since the age of 4, either as a dancer, musician or more recently, a health research professional. She grew up learning jazz and tap at her local dance school and is now trained as a Bollywood dancer. 

Laura loves getting involved with her community to contribute to the creation of music and art with others. She has programmed and organised the tune sessions at Woodford Folk Festival as well as led her own folk tune sessions for beginners. She coordinates multiple projects and teams in her role as a child disability researcher which incorporates skills from her background in anthropology.

Emma Dean (Writer, Composer, Choral Arranger and Choir Conductor)

The idea for writing a show about a community group started when I was about 18 years old and was in a local community mandolin orchestra with my dad, Christopher, who plays classical guitar. Even back then, I remember thinking how fascinating the dynamics were in this particular group – the quirky characters, the politics, the romance, the drama – and couldn’t help but wonder if it could be the premise for some kind of performance piece. 

Fast forward over 20 years and I’m now the proud conductor of a community choir - Cheep Trill. In this role, I’ve met the most phenomenal people, each with a story to tell about why they joined our choir - hilarious, heartbreaking, strange, inspiring and everything in-between. These are the stories I’ve collected over the past ten years, and these are the stories that have inspired the loveable characters in our show. 

‘Community Choir: The Musical’ features predominantly non-professional performers, some who are stepping onto the stage courageously for the first time ever. Over the past few months I have witnessed the most profound transformations as the cast grappled with the challenges and nerves that come from being in a full scale musical. As the weeks have ticked on, these nerves have started to turn into fizzy excitement and self-belief, and what started as a group of individuals has now become a family.

I am in awe of what the choir and lead performers have achieved. 

Belinda Raisin’s vision has far exceeded anything I could have possibly dreamt up. It has been one of the greatest joys of my life to collaborate with her on this show. And of course, none of this would have been possible without our exceptional Creative Team, Brisbane Festival, Thomas Dixon Centre, and an array of ridiculously talented and hardworking volunteers from our colourful community and beyond. Special thank yous to the loves of my life - Lucas, Tilda and Otis Clarke for your belief in me and my wild dreams. I love you so much. 

As we near show time, the realisation of what we have achieved comes into focus. A project of gargantuan proportions, full of joy, heart, challenges, triumph, and spirit fingers. A true celebration of what it means to be part of something “bigger than you, bigger than me”. 

Belinda Raisin (Director and Choreographer)

Directing this musical has been one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life. Firstly, there is the story and the music. It still makes me laugh out loud and now, it gives me goosebumps hearing those harmonies blend. Together with the humour and quirkiness, there is an authenticity and depth of human experience reflected in this story and, at times, it brings tears to my eyes. I love all the characters. They reflect the wonderful, unique people that make up the real Cheep Trill Choir. They are what make this production so special. As one character says: “They are a collection of humans from all walks of life, beliefs, backgrounds, experiences coming together and acknowledging their differences, but focussing on the things that unite them”. This choir has been a regular dose of endorphins in my life for the last 10 years and I feel energised at every rehearsal.

It was important to me that this production reflects that community that it is about. Accessibility and creating a safe and positive culture were key values for the whole team. Theatre is a truly collaborative endeavour and, I think that is one of the most joyous parts about making it; allowing space for creative ideas to be shared and built and refined. I have been overwhelmed by the courage of the performers to take creative risks in rehearsals and give it their all to tell this story.

The design needed to be simple. The main feature of the musical is the choir itself and with up 100 people – they would take centre stage! I love theatre that engages the audience’s imagination and so I knew early one that I wanted to use the choir to help create the sense of place and mood. One of the central characters narrates the action and another early design inspiration was my 9-year-old daughter’s Book Week outfit – the orange Kombi from Dirt By Sea by Michael Wagner (a great book btw). She made from cardboard boxes in our garage over many weeks with sweat, tears and a lot of sticky tape. I wanted the show to capture that community spirit with a home-made feel and a bit like a fantastical story book coming to life. I am also hugely passionate about recycling (maybe because I hate throwing things out…just in case they come in handy!). Hence, most of the props are made from cardboard, or sourced from Op Shops or Reverse Garbage. This show would not be what it is without the generosity of the local community and the vast number of volunteers who came on board to help bring my vision to life. They have created props beyond my imagination and invested their time and talents, and I am so incredibly grateful. Spoiler Alert: There are over 90 accessories made from recycled CDs!!!

I have huge admiration and respect for the ridiculously talented, Emma Dean, who was instrumental in so many aspects of this show. And the Creative Team behind this project have been such a joy to work with. Mounting a brand-new musical with two separate casts, and over 100 cast members, across all of Brisbane, would not have been possible without their unwavering support and incredible skills

Thank you to Brisbane Festival and the Thomas Dixon Centre for supporting this project. Lastly, a huge thank you to my family for their love and support along the journey. x

Acknowledgements

We are overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who has played a part in bringing this project to life.

Thank you to Brisbane Festival for their incredible support and partnership in helping us present this work [note to Francesca - feel free to adjust this wording], and to the Thomas Dixon Centre for giving our show a home.

To our talented volunteers – your creativity and dedication shine in every costume, prop, and accessory on stage. We couldn't have done it without you.

To our generous donors – thank you for believing in our vision and in the impact we strive to make within our local community.

To our family and friends, thank you for giving us the space, time, and unwavering support to create.

And lastly, to our courageous, brilliant, hard-working, talented cast and choir.  The show is yours now.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for bringing this dream to life.

'Community Choir: The Musical' is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

This project is also supported through the Giving Program by Carolyn Vincent - Ubuntu Foundation.