Anne of Green Gables at Stirling Players.

A classic story is being brought to life as a youth musical at Stirling Theatre, Innaloo, WA, in September 2022. 

Based on the novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables features the book’s unforgettable characters as the story follows the comical adventures of spunky red-headed orphan Anne Shirley. It was the first book in a series, written between 1908 and 1939. The story is set on Prince Edward Island in Canada.

Eleven-year-old Anne is mistakenly sent to live with two middle-aged siblings, after they originally intended to adopt a boy to help on their farm. 

Written by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman and directed by Fran Gordon, the musical follows Anne’s journey as she wins over her new family and the people of Avonlea with her spirit and imagination. 

“Anne of Green Gables is a heart-warming story about the importance of love, friendship, forgiveness and family,” Fran said. 

“My mother and I had a love for these stories – Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote several – and many years ago, I was fortunate to travel with my parents to Prince Edward Island, where the story is set, and to visit the Green Gables museum.” 

Involved in theatre for many years, Fran’s first acting experiences were in Merredin where she worked as a teacher. 

She became involved with Stirling Theatre in 1986, first working behind the scenes before stepping up to the stage in The Cell. 

Fran has since appeared in numerous plays and musicals and directed A Better You before moving onto youth musicals – recent productions have included Mulan, Charlotte’s Web and The Addams Family.