Bert Van Manen (Forde, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remain blown away by the sheer talent that exists in my electorate of Forde. I'd like to take the opportunity this afternoon to acknowledge the wonderful work of the Beenleigh Theatre Group for its incredible efforts and ongoing dedication to its craft. Last month, the devoted cast of more than 40 put on a brilliant production of the musical Anything Goes. I'm grateful to have had the pleasure of seeing the performance on its opening night. It was a truly fantastic evening. Originally written in 1934 by songwriter and composer Cole Porter, Anything Goes has become an iconic piece of theatrical history, taking place on board the SS American. It's a classic tale of boy meets girl, skilfully complemented by music, singing, dancing and some very funny comedy.

Directed by Michael Skelton and assistant director Katya Bryant, our own Beenleigh Theatre Group presented the 1987 version, which features more dance music than in the original. The Anything Goes band, directed by Cindy Ashton and musical director Christine Leah, also did a fantastic job scoring the production. The arts and those who work in the industry are an incredible asset to our communities. They entertain us, inspire us and enrich the fabric of our societies. I'm proud to see the industry flourishing so well in my home town of Beenleigh. I'd like to thank Ms Dana Le Brocq for her assistance putting this together during her work experience in my office over the past couple of weeks.