Packemin Productions was formed in 2010 to produce Pro-Am musical theatre in association with the Riverside Theatres in Sydney. The company burst onto the stage in February 2011 with a spectacular new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Riverside Theatre. The show starred Andrew Conaghan (Guys & Dolls, Titanic, The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber) as Joseph, Australian E
ntertainment Legend Barry Crocker as Jacob, and one of Australia's premier Elvis interpreters Mick Gerace as Pharaoh, spearheading an enormous cast. This was followed in February 2012 by the hugely popular production of Oliver! starring Wayne Scott Kermond (Singin' In The Rain, Guys & Dolls) as Fagin, Todd Keys (Phantom Of The Opera, Dr Zhivago) as Bill Sikes and Katie McKee (My Fair Lady, Floyd Collins) as Nancy.
2013 marked a huge year for Packemin as we rolled out two major productions in the one year for the first time. February 2013 saw the Iconic THE WIZARD OF OZ brought to life on stage. The show starred Jimmy Rees (Jimmy Giggle on ABC's Giggle & Hoot) as The Scarecrow, Laura Murphy (Sparkles The Fairy on Channel 9's Magical Tales) as Dorothy, Helpmann Award winner Luke Joslin (Avenue Q, Annie, Dr Zhivago) as The Tinman, and multi-Mo Award winner Adam Scicluna as The Lion. Our hugely popular production of HAIRSPRAY followed in July / August 2013, starring Australian Entertainment Legend Jon English (Pirates of Penzance, All Together Now, Jesus Christ Superstar) as Edna Turnblad, Wayne Scott Kermond (Singin' In The Rain, Guys & Dolls) as Wilbur Turnblad and Cle Morgan (Hairspray, Australian Idol) as Motormouth Maybelle. In February 2014, Packemin produced the family favourite ANNIE, starring Amanda Muggleton (Prisoner, Hello Dolly, Shirley Valentine) as Miss Hannigan and Rodney Dobson (Wicked, Miss Saigon, The Full Monty) as Oliver 'Daddy' Warbucks. July / August 2014 saw the production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST starring Scott Irwin (Les Miserables, Beauty And The Beast) as The Beast, Donna Lee (Les Miserables, High School Musical) as Mrs Potts and Adam Scicluna (Mo Award Winner, The Wizard Of Oz) as Cogsworth. The inaugural PACKEMIN YOUTH PRODUCTIONS show was the family classic JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT which played at The Concourse in Chatswood in January 2015. Our revival of the iconic musical starred Sam Moran (The Wiggles, Play Along with Sam) as Jacob. Our sell-out production for February 2015 at Riverside Theatres was the world's most popular musical, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, starring Ben Mingay (Wonderland, Jersey Boys) as The Phantom, Erin Clare (Snow White) as Christine and Johanna Allen (Wicked, Dr Zhivago) as Carlotta. In July / August 2015, Packemin brought to the stage Cameron Mackintosh's MARY POPPINS, starring Penny McNamee (Wicked, Salem's Lot, The Witches of Eastwick) as Mary Poppins, Shaun Rennie (Cats, Mamma Mia, Fiddler on the Roof) as Bert, Sam Moran (The Wiggles, Play Along with Sam) as George Banks and Kate Maree Hoolihan (We Will Rock You, Little Women, The Boy from Oz) as Winifred Banks. In January 2016, Packemin Youth Productions presented the totally awesome musical, BACK TO THE 80's at the Concourse, Chatswood. February 2016 saw our production of the world's most iconic love story, WEST SIDE STORY at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta starring Luigi Lucente (Dogfight, Wicked), Elisa Colla (Wicked, My Fair Lady), Rowena Vilar (Sweet Charity, Fame) and Tony Cogin (Dirty Dancing, Doctor Zhivago). In July / August 2016, Packemin presented WICKED at Riverside Theatres starring Wayne Scott Kermond as The Wizard, Ashleigh O'Brien as Elphaba, Mikayla WIlliams as Glinda and Linden Furnell as Fiyero
In January 2017, Packemin Youth Productions presented CATS at The Concourse, with special Guest Star Simon Pryce (The Wiggles, The Phantom Of The Opera). This was following by our incredible production of MISS SAIGON at Riverside Theatre in July / August 2017, starring Marcus Rivera (Miss Saigon, The King And I) as The Engineer, Vivien Emsworth (The King And I) as Kim, Haydan Hawkins (Priscilla, Dogfight) as Chris, and Ashleigh O'Brien (Wicked, American Idiot) as Ellen. Packemin's first show of 2018 was family favourite SHREK at Riverside Parramatta in February starring Jay Laga'aia (Playschool, Wicked) as Shrek , Luke Joslin (Avenue Q, Annie, Dr Zhivago) as Lord Farquaad, Mikayla Williams (Wicked, Hairspray) as Fiona and Nat Jobe (You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Lion King) as Donkey. In July / August 2018, Packemin presented LEGALLY BLONDE at Riverside Parramatta starring Mikayla Williams (Wicked, Hairspray, Shrek) as Elle Woods and Rodney Dobson (Wicked, Miss Saigon, The Full Monty) as Professor Callahan.
2019 saw our production of the world's first rock musical JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at Riverside Parramatta starring Toby Francis (Kinky Boots, Dogfight, We Will Rock You) as Judas, Joe Kalou (Hi-5) as Jesus, and Brittanie Shipway (Big Fish, Ordinary Days) as Mary. at Riverside Parramatta in August starring Scott Irwin (Hairspray, Mack & Mabel) as Sam, Debora Krizak (Anything Goes, Sweet Charity) as Tanya and Courtney Bell (Madiba the Musical) as Sophie. Packemin's 2020 production was LES MISÉRABLES at Riverside Parramatta in February starring Les Miserables Starring Daniel Belle as Jean Valjean (Les Miséables, Ten Tenors) and Robert McDougall as Javert (Les Misérables). Our 2021, 10th Anniversary season was WE WILL ROCK YOU in February starring Toby Francis, Wayne Scott Kermond and Debora Krizak. We are excited to announce that our February 2022 production will be Mamma Mia!
