Return to the Forbidden Planet

Ballina Players have another hit on their hands with their production of the Juke Box musical Return to the Forbidden Planet, a double Olivier Award winning show for Best Musical in the West End in 1989 and 1990.

Clem and Shelly Halpin have woven their magic once again in this tribute to Rock and Roll music with a stellar cast dodging meteorites in their intrepid space ship.

Featuring 28 hits from that golden age, the show has something for everyone including audience participation. The intergalactic cast included Brian Pamphilon, Jamaika Smith, Graeme Speed, Josh Green, Yvonne Lingua and Jaime Sheehan who also choreographer the production. Musical Director Paul Belsham led a 6 piece orchestra that revelled in such time honoured classics as ‘Great Balls of Fire’, ‘Gloria’, ‘Born to be Wild’ and ‘Teenager in Love’.

Set inside the spaceship, complete with robot and several aliens, this show soared high into the stratosphere and the audience enjoyed the ride.

The Australian Tour opened in 1991 with former Radio and Beauty and the Beast Host Clive Robertson as the Announcer.

Roger McKenzie

Photographer: Lyn Gale