Wise & Wonderful –  A Staged Reading

Have you ever wondered what happens before the lights go up on a theatre show?

Behind every theatre production are hours upon hours of rehearsals, rewrites and artistic construction. Then, there is the music, orchestration, lights, stage design, costumes, etc.

It is not a usual occurrence for just about anyone to get the chance to step inside that creative process and help bring something to life.  

Now is your chance!

Wise & Wonderful is a brand-new musical, written by 91-year-old Doncaster poet, playwright, and lifelong storyteller Al Turley, in collaboration with half-Al's-age musician and composer Jason Whatt. 

The musical celebrates life, love, and friendship through the eyes of residents in a retirement village—12 characters aged between 60 and 100 who will prove that love (and mischief!) doesn’t stop at  age 59. It’s heartfelt, funny, and full of surprises you'd least  expect from life’s so-called “golden agers.”

This is your invitation to help produce  a Staged Reading of Wise & Wonderful.

Why This Musical Matters

"Just because we are older, it doesn't mean we are useless.  We elders still have heaps to give" 

                                        -  Al Turley

Meet the Creators

AL TURLEY, AUTHOR

Al Turley has entertained the public over many years with appearances on TV, film and stage. In 2024, he published his anthology of poems entitled Rhymes and Ruminations of a Romantic Rebel. 

He has previously written and staged two short plays, but his ultimate goal has always been to create a three-act musical.

Now aged 91, with Wise & Wonderful he is in sight of that goal.

JASON WHATT, COMPOSER

Jason Whatt is a musician, songwriter, lyricist, poet from Naarm, Melbourne. He has composed scores for multiple plays and films and performs in a number of bands. 

He has produced shows for Melbourne Fringe and the Sonic Poetry Festival. 

Wise & Wonderful is his first musical. 

BETH MONDRAGON WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR

From staging the Opening Ceremony of the 2nd Arafura International Sports Festival to engaging a group of homeless, street-dwellers in Darwin towards the performance of a devised play, Beth carved for herself a significant and respected name in the arts and cultural scene of Northern Australia from 1990 to 2014. 

Then, whilst relentlessly pursuing the staging of her own musical iMPERFECT Messiah (imperfectmessiah.com) Beth continued to share her artistic expertise with the community theatre artists in Gympie, QLD, Seymour, VIC, and recently with the COG Theatre Group in Ashburton. 

How You Can Help

Because we need a presentation venue and rehearsal space, purchase some costumes and props (like 100 candles for Eirini's 100th birthday cake), hire a sound system,  have the scripts printed, buy tea, coffee and cakes for our guests

reimburse our petrol expenses and so many other creative stuff needed for an entertaining and excellent Staged Reading, 

WE NEED YOUR PLEDGE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT!

Every dollar brings us closer to a fully produced staging of Wise & Wonderful.

Why Support Us?

• You’ll be backing a 91-year-old playwright who is still creating, dreaming, and inspiring through his art.

• You’ll help bring fresh, meaningful representation of seniors through theatre and music.

• You’ll be part of the birth of a brand-new Australian musical—one that is able to inspire and entertain for years to come.

Your financial support will take a script on a page closer to a story on the stage.

The bare minimum of $4000

will make it possible for Al, Jason, Beth and the Wise & Wonderful creatives to present a Staged Reading to various audiences in October 2025

Support Wise & Wonderful!