Blue Heeler among stars to arrive for Bedfellows

Dean Murphy, who will produce the multi-million dollar production with Instinct Entertainment and Spencer McLaren, said the producers were delighted to secure the high-profile pair.

“We knew who we wanted for the parts and it was fantastic to have Peter and John join the cast,” he said.

“And in the coming weeks we will be announcing more big-name performers who will be coming on board.”

Blue Heelers’ Wood is well-known to Border theatre goers as he has appeared in productions presented by HotHouse Theatre and at the Albury Entertainment Centre, going back to 1970, while Cousens is in the area for the first time.

Cousens, an Australian singer, actor and writer, said the live stage musical was a serious piece of work.

“It’s a new musical that’s been given the opportunity to have some time in a really terrific regional centre,” he said.

“The work can be explored, developed and evolved into something with, hopefully, potential in a safer environment.”

Wood said it made sense to have the musical premiere in Albury.

“The original script was set in Yackandandah, so it’s a local show ... and Dean (Murphy) is from the area,” he said.

“It’s the first time I’ve been involved in what you might call ‘an out-of-town tryout’.”

Cousens said the concept was an interesting model.

“It could set the shape of the way things are done, which will be great for places like Albury or Tamworth or Wagga or wherever, and you could have a circuit of the bigger centres which can support something like this,” he said.

Wood said he was amazed by the number of new entertainment centres being built in regional areas, such as Wangaratta’s new performing arts centre, which he described as sensational.

Tickets to Strange Bedfellows — a NEW Musical are now on sale at www.strangebedfellows.com.au.