'Strawberry' is on the starting block!

Such exciting auditions with so many very talented people gave us quite a lot to think about... thank you to those who gave up their time to come along and audition.

We were spoilt for choice, always a good dilemma!

In the end, we ended up with a strong and exciting cast:

Tabitha: Maxine Palmerson

Adam: Liam O'Kane

Helen: Tamar Collier

L-R Liam O'Kane, Maxine Palmerson, Tamar Collier, Shirley Sydenham

Photo: Celia Meehan, Photo editing: Kerry Drumm

Liam is no stranger to WLT, and in the last two years has taken out the Craven Award for Best Actor for The 39 Steps and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, both showcasing him in multiple, very humorous, roles. This role is quite different from those, but we think you'll agree, equally strong!

Maxine, while a newcomer to our stage, is no stranger to performing, from school productions to dance and music, and performing with Williamstown Musical Theatre Company in Gypsy. As Tabitha, we think she'll win your heart as her teenage 'attitude' and smartphone tests Adam and Helen, but when she faces the toughest challenge of her young life, you'll be hoping she makes it through.

A very experienced actor with theatre companies across Melbourne, Tamar also is a newcomer to WLT. She plays the difficult role of Helen, a sort of fulcrum between Adam and Tabs when she precipitates Tabitha's crisis. A traumatised childhood has left her a damaged person but meeting Tabitha helps her face some of her own limitations.

WLT is enormously proud to be presenting the World Premiere of this wonderful play. It's a warm and moving story that will make you laugh, cry and, we hope, empathise and love these three characters.