When you think about it, musical theatre is probably the oldest form of entertainment.
Back in the day when Ugg and Grok were sitting around the fire putting on a show for the other Neanderthals, they didn’t isolate the ballet from the opera, or the softshoe shuffle from Greek chorus and the drama and the jokes.
In ancient times a story would have all the elements of a good yarn without any boundaries between the ‘arts’.
Musical theatre has come a long way since the cave, and still further since Brigadoon and Carousel . Even in modern times, the form has travelled a long way from Jesus Christ Superstar and Grease , to find us firmly planted in the front row of Wicked , Matilda , and Hairspray .
One of the things we love about musical theatre is that it’s not tied to one style of music – there’s usually something fast, something slow, a love ballad, something funny or quirky, a dramatic aria and something anthemic to finish off – a little heartstring tugger.
At Byron Bay Singing they love musical theatre so much, that they are dedicating the first half of the year to it – starting with a junior intensive in January. Then, all the private and group classes during the term will learn and rehearse selections of vocal arrangements, culminating in a performance on the first weekend of May.
Byron Bay Singing director Eve Jeffery says for her, the same rules apply to the musical theatre lessons as to any of her other classes. ‘I want people to sing however they want. Though I love virtuoso performances and watching some of the TV “talent” shows, unfortunately singing has become very competitive – TOO competitive, as opposed to a form of self-expression and community connection.’
‘While I feel there is absolutely a place for choirs, (and we have so many great ones in the Shire), I don’t use the “C” word when it comes to holding space for singers. If your voice wants to sing high – sing high, or low, or start high then switch to low – off you go.
‘I don’t care if you don’t get it right, I just want you to enjoy the process.
‘When we apply too many rules to how someone sings a song, particularly for beginners, or people who struggle with confidence, then we are in effect excluding them from the song (excluding them from singing) and in the famous sung words of Matilda: “And that’s not right! And if it’s not right! You have to put it riiiii-ight!” I’m trying to put that right.
‘If singing isn’t bringing you joy then you need to change the way you are doing it. If someone tells you, you can’t sing – they are wrong. If you are telling someone they can’t sing – you are wrong! (and you need to examine your motives).
‘I know I sound overly soapboxy when it comes to singing but I can’t tell you the number of times someone has come to me and said: “Oh I can’t sing because my mum said I can’t,” or: “I wanted to join a choir but they said I wasn’t good enough”. I have had parents of primary-aged children tell me that they were refused entry into the school choir – what on earth is that! It’s absolutely terrible, let alone traumatic, to tell a child they can’t sing.
‘It make me sad when people feel excluded from singing. Everyone can sing. Everyone can join in. Singing is not a competition. It’s a place, and sometimes the only place, where people can unite’.
To find out more about musical theatre for juniors and adults in 2026, visit: evejeffery.com.au.
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