Australian actor-director Kelton Pell heads creative team in Saltwater’s world premiere of Beyond the Vasse

A celebrated Australian actor and director will bring the untold stories of Aboriginal people in the South West to the stage in a world-premiere production at Busselton’s new performing arts centre next year. The musical comedy Beyond the Vasse will be will be directed by multi-award-winning actor and director Kelton Pell. Best known for his appearances in Redfern Now, The Circuit, Mystery Road and The Xrossing, Pell said this production was an opportunity to bring to the stage a shared love of the South West. “To truth tell and share in the collective history and love of this country is a wonderful opportunity that makes me realise my responsibility to the production and I’m excited by the potential results we may find together,” he said. Beyond the Vasse will be the first local production to premiere at the new performing arts and convention centre, Saltwater, which will open in February next year. The brain child of Busselton community members who wanted to tell the stories of the Wadandi people in the area, the performance will be led by an Aboriginal leadership professional creative team and feature a cast of professional actors working alongside non-professional actors. City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley said the centre was already proving to be a catalyst for arts and culture in the region. “Beyond the Vasse will be entertaining, heart-warming and educational,” he said. “With a professional creative team and lead cast, supported by local performers, this will be a production to bring the whole community together.” Beyond the Vasse was one of four WA creative projects awarded funding through the State Government’s Made in WA funding, the production receiving $148,687 of the total pool of $557,535 for this round of projects. Arts Minister David Templeman said projects like this showcased the stories and talents of regional communities. “I’m proud the McGowan Government provides funding to support the great stories that come out of our communities right across WA,” he said. “Investing in the development of new performing arts work, made right here in WA, also improves economic and employment growth in WA’s regions.