Newcastle

Unlocking the Secrets of Carmichael Manor: An Immersive Journey into the Past

The Secrets of Carmichael Manor

Maitland, in the heart of the Hunter Region, is set to host its next immersive theatre experience this November. Get ready for a ghostly journey into the unknown as “The Secrets of Carmichael Manor” unveils its mysterious tale within the historic walls of Grossman House. 🏰🌟

This haunting and secretive immersive theatre show will run for four nights, from November 25th to December 10th. With limited seats available, securing your tickets promptly is essential to ensure you don’t miss this charming experience. 🎟️🔒

A Journey Through Time and the Supernatural ⏳👻

They say there’s no such thing as time travel or ghosts, but who are “they,” anyway? In “The Secrets of Carmichael Manor,” a well-intentioned attempt to bring solace to the tormented souls inhabiting Carmichael Manor takes an unexpected turn. An eccentric priest and his companions find themselves transported back in time to the fateful day of October 31, 1919 – the day of Elspeth Carmichael’s impending wedding to her beloved Henry Strallen. Or is it? 🚪✨

A Web of Intrigue and Mystery 🧩🕵️‍♂️

As you step into the world of 1919 with Father Patrick, you’ll find yourself immersed in a web of murder, mystery, and secrets lurking within Carmichael Manor’s walls. Your task? To aid Father Patrick in deciphering the clues that hide the truth behind this mystifying manor. What happened to those who once dwelled here? Can you uncover the secrets before the sands of time run out, or will you remain trapped in the past forever? 🌄🔍⏳

The Secrets of Carmichael Manor
The Secrets of Carmichael Manor

An Adventure Awaits at Grossman House 🏡🌟

Prepare for a memorable journey into the unknown as you enter the past at Grossman House in Maitland. The historical setting provides the perfect backdrop for this experience, where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs, and secrets long buried come to light. 🌌🌠

Don’t miss your chance to unlock the mysteries of Carmichael Manor. Secure your tickets now for “The Secrets of Carmichael Manor” and be a part of this unique adventure. Remember, with only a few performances and limited seats available, you must act quickly to ensure your place in this mesmerizing journey through time and the paranormal.

Get ready to uncover The Secrets of Carmichael Manor – an adventure awaits! 🎭🌟🎫

Conmen At Work – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a fun and witty musical. Put on by the Metropolitan Players at the SPCC Theatre. 

The show is set on the French Riviera, where Lawrence Jameson is a successful working conman. When a young rival, Freddy Benson, invades his territory. Lawrence whimsically takes Freddy under his wing to teach him the tricks of the trade. The arrival of a well-endowed American heiress starts a battle to see who can con her first.

Khalil Khay, who plays Laurence did an amazing job carrying the show through the twist and turns of the cons. However, the character that stole the show was Jolene, played by Lizzy Lindus, the comedic tone and energy she brought to the character leapt off the stage. 

The ensemble was full of talented people who kept the world alive. Standouts from the ensemble were Wade Neilson and Megan Kennedy. Their dance ability and facials were incredible. The whole ensemble did a fantastic job playing multiple different characters and doing astonishingly quick costume changes. 

Now the thing that truly makes this musical stand out and who is generally overlooked. The production team, set dressing, lighting and costumes were incredible. I believe this show should definitely be up for CONDA for Excellence in Lighting and Audio Visual Design. 

All in all it was a good show with belly laughs throughout. 

Tickets are on sale for the final week of this production (19th through 22nd July) from the SPCC Theatre website, with 7pm sessions on Wed, Fri, Sat and a 1pm matinee session on Sat 22nd.

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Come From Away – Civic Theatre

How do you humorously portray the horrific? Add a touch of human.

Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s hit musical Come From Away brought to you by Civic Theatre Newcastle, tells the story of a small town called Gander during the week after the 9/11 bombings. From this dark context, the play blossom into exploring what it is to be human in the face of tragedy. Through themes of love, loss, compassion, and exhaustion, the play examines what it means to be human when faced with the unimaginable.

The text of this play is a combination of script, lyrics and verbatim, resulting in an unforgettable piece of theatre. The stories told are amalgamations of real people and events, allowing us to see a snapshot of what happened in Gander in September 2001.


The cast consisted of 12 actors playing multiple characters, and every single one shone. The performers were able to showcase humanity both in the micro and the macro as we were invited into people’s homes and lives while reliving a very public tragedy.


Although each actor played multiple parts, Sarah Nairne’s portrayal of “Hannah” stood out. She portrayed the sorrow of loss and heartache that comes with losing a loved one. Simple costume changes made the transitions between the characters seamless, and the stage setting of about a dozen chairs and a couple of tables made quick scene changes effortless.

The ensemble worked together as a living organism on the stage, moving us from scene to scene with unison, clarity, and precision. They flawlessly transitioned us from scene to scene, supporting and holding space for the individual characters that emerged from the group.


The musicians provided a pulse for the immense and powerful heart of the ensemble, which guided the audience through the emotional journey of the performance. The few times they appeared on stage were a celebration of all things coming together.


Although the lighting fitted the action on the stage, my favourite part of the play was a beautiful moment where the grand lighting backdrop was stripped, and the actors took control of the lighting via torches. Their elongated shadow behind them created an eerie and foreboding effect on the drama as it played out.

Come From Away is being performed in Newcastle until the 5th of March. If the review itself did not convince you to go and see the award-winning performance, let me bluntly tell you to check it out! Upcoming show dates are:-

  • Wednesday 22 February 2023 – 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM
  • Thursday 23 February 2023 – 7:00 PM
  • Friday 24 February 2023- 7:30 PM
  • Saturday 25 February 2023 – 2:00 PM AND 7:30 PM
  • Sunday 26 February 2023 – 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday 01 March 2023 – 11:00 AM AND 7:00 PM
  • Thursday 02 March 20237:00 PM
  • Friday 03 March 20237:30 PM
  • Saturday 04 March 20232:00 PM AND 7:30 PM
  • Sunday 05 March 20232:00 PM and 6:00 PM

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