Alumni
BTC Alumni
For over 75 years, Bendigo Theatre Company has been a creative home for performers, crew, and creatives of all kinds. We’re proud to celebrate the many people who began their journey with us — and continue to make their mark in the arts and beyond.
Adam Lyon
A BTC member from a young age, Adam performed in both ensemble and lead roles over many years. He also contributed behind the scenes, taking on production roles such as assistant director, vocal coach, and director. Adam’s professional career includes training at the Victorian College of the Arts and performing lead roles in major productions including King Kong, Moulin Rouge, The Whale, and Beetlejuice. He is also an accomplished professional vocal coach.
Melinda Kruse
Mel was in numerous BTC shows as a cast member and later assisted in the technical side with volunteer duties back stage. She sings with the B# Chorus and still volunteers for BTC when she is able to. Professionally, Mel is a theatre technician for BV&E and is viewed as a valuable member of their team.
Marc Brew
Marc was appointed as choreographer for several BTC productions, where he proved to be an invaluable member of each creative team, bringing professionalism, vision, and passion to every show.
Professionally, Marc Brew is now an acclaimed international choreographer and the Artistic Director of AXIS Dance Company. He trained as a professional dancer at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and The Australian Ballet School.
For over 20 years, Marc has worked across the UK and internationally as a director, choreographer, dancer, teacher, and speaker. His career includes work with The Australian Ballet Company, State Theatre Ballet Company of South Africa, Infinity Dance Theatre, CandoCo Dance Company, and AXIS Dance Company. He has also served in key leadership roles as Associate Director with Scottish Dance Theatre, Associate Artistic Director with Ballet Cymru in Wales, and as Associate Artist at Tramway Theatre in Glasgow.
Hannah Smith
Hannah performed in numerous BTC productions, spanning both plays and musicals, and quickly became a familiar face on the local stage. Professionally, she has gone on to star in a range of theatrical productions and has built a career as a TV and film actor. Her work includes performances in burlesque theatre., film and television, including Zoe.Misplaced (2014), City Homicide (2007), and The Handbook for Keeping Us Safe from Terrorism (2015).
Scott Middleton
A dedicated BTC member, Scott performed in many productions across both chorus and lead roles, developing his craft on the Bendigo stage. He went on to study at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, and has since built a professional career in theatre. Alongside performing in professional productions, he also founded his own theatre company, Sheoak Productions.
Rebecca Moore
Rebeecca began her journey with BTC as a junior performer, appearing in many productions, including starring as Annie in Annie and taking on the lead role in Beauty and the Beast. Her professional training includes the ‘Performing Shakespeare’ program at NIDA (2002), the Victorian College of the Arts (2008), and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Cinema Studies from the University of Melbourne. She has worked across acting and modelling in TV commercials, voiceovers, and roles in independent and student films. Her stage career highlights include the lead role in the professional production of the hit musical Motherhood: The Musical.
Abe Watson
Abe has been a continuous member of BTC starting as a junior performer, committee member, President and Life member. Professionally has been employed as Production manager for Melbourne Theatre Company and is now the Artistic Operations Manager at the Victorian College of the Arts & Conservatorium of Music .
Sophie Cheeseman
Sophie joined BTC as a junior and was in several productions as well as cast as a lead in Les Misérables. She graduated from WAPPA and was cast in the London Palladium professional production of Sound of Music.
Charlie Munday
A dedicated BTC member since his junior days, Charlie performed in numerous chorus and lead roles over many years and also served as a Junior Member of the BTC committee. Charlie moved to New York to study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Charlie has been cast in numerous professional productions across the United States and is regularly employed as a professional choreographer and costumer.
Kyrilee Bodin
Kyrilee was a junior was a member of a number of musical and dramatic productions and was viewed as a keen cast member. She has a degree ub Theatre Production from the University of Melbourne/VCA and has worked at BV&E in technical and box office since 2015.
Ian Scott
With a long-standing association with BTC, Ian has been an integral part of numerous production teams, designing lighting for every major musical and many minor ones since 2012. Ian continues to offer invaluable support with lighting and audio. Professionally, Ian is an experienced and sought-after lighting designer and theatre technician. He runs his own lighting and sound company, ISLX.
Zoe Drummond
As a junior, Zoe was cast in numerous chorus roles in BTC productions and notably starred as Cosette in the 2008 production of Les Misérables.
Professionally, Zoe Drummond is an acclaimed Australian soprano featured on the English National Opera page. She is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she completed a Master of Music Performance (Opera) with Distinction and earned a Concert Recital Diploma for exceptional performance. Zoe also holds a Bachelor of Music Performance with First Class Honours from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she received numerous awards for both musical and academic excellence.
Do you know someone who’s springboarded from BTC to professional practice? We’d love to celebrate them.
Complete our Alumni Nomination Form to recognise their achievements.
To submit, please print the form then return it to us in person, by post, or via email. Nominations need to be seconded by two BTC members and passed by the committee to be carried.
BTC Life Members
Bendigo Theatre Company recognises the dedication and passion of our Life Members. These individuals have given extraordinary service and support, shaping the company’s success and legacy. We proudly honour their lasting commitment to the arts and to our community.
| 1980 | Madge Welsh (dec.) |
| 1985 | Patricia Lyon (dec.) |
| 1990 | Anne Ball |
| 1990 | Mrs Ball (dec.) |
| 1990 | Greg Harris |
| 1994 | Grace Cox |
| 2004 | Gael Emond (dec.) |
| 2007 | Vern Wall |
| 2007 | Colin Brown |
| 2015 | Annie Smith |
| 2017 | Stania Tresize |
| 2017 | Ken Wells |
| 2020 | Maureen Fleiner |
| 2020 | Ray Smith (dec.) |
| 2021 | Abe Watson |
| 2022 | John Trainor |
| 2022 | Selina Trainor |
| 2023 | Maree Kennedy |
| 2024 | Tim Scott |
| 2024 | Eva Lois Angus (dec.) |