Audrey's Wish Takes Centre Stage
Eight-year-old Audrey's wish comes true as she shines on stage of the Rebel Theatre in Sydney to bring her self-written, self-directed, and self-starring play to the people
A star in the making
Eight-year-old Audrey is a confident, energetic, and endlessly creative young performer who was diagnosed with Wilms tumour at just five years old. She loves to sing, dance, and act—especially when there’s an audience involved!
Whether she’s putting on backyard musicals with her twin brother, Oliver and best friend, Eve, or hosting living room shows (with tickets and all 🎟️), Audrey is always dreaming up her next production.
When she’s not on stage, she’s crafting, drawing, reading, or hanging out with her beloved pets - Milo the dog, and two guinea pigs, King Julian and Chip.
Having a wish was something that Audrey could feel special about. Something to look forward to. Something very special at the end of a really, really difficult journey.
Nick, Audrey's dad
Preparing for Show Day
With thanks to the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP), Audrey spent many weeks writing, preparing, and rehearsing for her wish 'to put on a show for a HUGE audience'. From scriptwriting, to stage direction, to costume design, Audrey had a hand in every aspect of her debut play Escape of the Animals.
On Dress Rehearsal Day at the Rebel Theatre in Sydney, Audrey, Oliver, and Eve had the opportunity to rehearse the show together for the first time on stage—including costumes, lights, and all the other technical elements of the show.
Escape of the Animals
Show Day began at 2:00pm on Thursday afternoon. The full cast had one last rehearsal on stage, and then it was off to hair, make-up, and costumes.
A couple of hours later, the foyer was arranged with a red carpet and a photo area, where VIP guests (including some celebrities who had sent "Chookas" or goodluck messages to Audrey) could pose with a life-sized cut-out of Audrey herself.
Show Time kicked off at 5:00pm!
As Audrey and the cast took their bows, the audience erupted into a roaring standing ovation. Audrey received a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and stated that she felt “happy and proud.” In describing her show in one word, Audrey said, “perfect”.
Curtain Call
130 esteemed guests including Audreys family and friends, Make-A-Wish staff and Sydney Branch Volunteers, community supports and theatre industry VIPS attended Audrey's show to cheer her on.
Australian actor, Stephen Curry gave the play 5 stars!
"Audrey is a star in the making - she lit up the stage from the opening scene to closing curtain."
Hayden Tonazzi, Artistic Director and CEO of the ATYP, said it had been a privilege to help bring Audrey’s vision to life.
"Watching her light up on stage, and share her love of storytelling with such confidence and joy has reminded us all why theatre matters – it empowers young people to dream big, use their voice and shine in their own unique way. The courage and creativity Audrey has shown throughout this journey has inspired our entire team.”
Photo right: Australian actors, Stephen Curry, Claudia Karvan, and Dan Wyllie
