Taste of big time

By Matt Trotman
FOR five days in September Nicola Bull realised her dream of performing in front of a packed audience at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne.
Her role as Ado Annie in Oklahoma! has now earned her a nomination by the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria for Junior Performer of the Year.
Nicola, who has just completed year 12 at Pakenham Secondary College, joined 40 other young performers from Victorian schools in the Joining the Chorus production of the classic Broadway musical, playing to audiences of up to 1500 people a night.
The production has since been nominated for six awards, including Nicola’s nomination.
“It was a bit of a surprise to be chosen,” she said. “I’m very grateful to the theatre company as well as the other performers for the opportunity.”
Nicola said she had an “absolute ball” doing the show. “The musical is a love story set in the town of Oklahoma. I played a character named Ado Annie who is a flirty, floozy type of individual. I had a fantastic time – it was just the best experience,” she said.
Seven others have been nominated in Nicola’s category so she concedes she will have a bit of competition for the award.
“I haven’t seen any of the other shows so I’m not really sure what I am up against,” she said.
“From what I understand, everyone performed very well so I think we all have an equal chance. I am going to write a speech, just in case I win.”
Nicola has big plans for the future. Next year she will do a bachelor of musical theatre course at the University of Ballarat and is aiming for a career in the industry.
“I hope to do musicals in the future, but also a bit of acting, a bit of classical stuff, a bit of everything really,” she said.