Come From Away

The Heartbreak Choir

Written by Aidan Fennessy

Licensed by Nova Weetman

Celebrating the healing power or music, The Heartbreak Choir is set in the old CFA hall on the outskirts of a Victorian rural town. Five women having broken from their original choir, on a matter or principle, gather to sing, connect, share food and daily life updates. Joined by new recruit Peter they find a new name and purpose.

Funny, uplifting, a moving celebration of community, culture, beauty and love, it’s a play with songs in it, a warm hearted hug of a show, a tribute to the power of friendship & the tonic of music. If your heart is breaking, the best thing you can do, is sing…together.

The Heartbreak Choir will be performed in October 2025 - six performances over two weeks from 17 to 26 October

Content warning: this play does have some coarse language, mature themes, reference to sexual assault and reference to suicide.

Cast & Creatives

Cast

Barbara: Michelle McLean
Mack: Susan Hawton

Savannah: Aleka Hutton
Totty: Jayne Baylis
Aseni: Simran Kaur
Beau: C.J Stephens
Peter: Andy Parry

Creatives

Directors: Susan Gibson

Assistant Directors: Etienne Goessens, Will Hardy

Vocal Coaches: Will Hardy, Etienne Goessens

Production Manager: Elaine Cope

Email: heartbreakchoirbpltc@gmail.com for all enquiries

L-R The cast and directors of The Heartbreak Choir - Susan Hawton, Michelle McLean, Andy Parry, C.J Stephens, Jayne Baylis, C.J Stephens, Susan Gibson (Director), Aleka Hutton, Simran Kaur, Will Hardy & Etienne Goessens (Assistant Directors)

News

'The Heartbreak Choir' set to win hearts

In my little hamlet of Eagle Point there’s a community hall – ancient, weather-beaten, hopelessly outdated alongside the multi-million dollar ‘hub’ down the road, yet still loved and used by the locals, and witness to countless dramas, tragedies and happy endings over the past near-century. You’ll find an almost-identical building in literally every small community around Australia, which is one reason why a play like Aidan Fennessy’s The Heartbreak Choir resonates. The pl

Oct 18

Healing in song with The Heartbreak Choir

Among the characters audiences will meet in Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company’s upcoming October production of The Heartbreak Choir, are Peter and his son Beau, a father and son navigating the raw ache of grief after the loss of their wife and mother.

Oct 4

Voices of community in The Heartbreak Choir

At the centre of Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company’s production of The Heartbreak Choir is, naturally, the choir itself. Written by acclaimed Australian playwright Aidan Fennessy, and opening this month on Friday 17 October, the play is set in a small-town community hall where singing becomes the unlikely glue binding together a group of fractured lives.

Oct 4

Performances

Show Dates

Friday 17th October 7:30 pm

Saturday 18th October 7:30 pm

Sunday 19th October 2:00 pm

Friday 24th October 7:30 pm

Saturday 25th October 7:30 pm

Sunday 26th October 2:00 pm

Opening Night Fundraiser BPLTC will donate $5 for every ticket sold on our opening night to the Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House

Ticket Prices **

Adults $45

Concession $40

Student $25

Children (14 years and under) $25

Family (2 Adults, 2 Children) $130

Early bird discount of $5 will be applied at checkout - valid till midnight Friday 19th September.

**A service/booking fee of 2.5% + $0.50 inc. GST will be added at checkout.

Accessible seating is available when booking

Opening night nibbles courtesy of New Leaf Cafe, with a glass of complimentary champagne