PREVIEWS The Winter's Tale Youth Production 2026

PREVIEWS

What's a preview performance? A preview is a full run of the show with costumes and all technical elements running from beginning to end. If everything is going well, the preview will not be interrupted but if not, the Director or Stage Manager may stop the show. Previews are an essential part of the production process and they are under-utilised in Australia. It is not the same as watching a rehearsal but you might notice a few creaks or bumps and this is reflected in the reduced ticket price.

The Winter's Tale Youth Production  

Shakespeare’s The Winter's Tale comes to life in a bold new production driven by jealousy, loss, reconciliation, and one of the most extraordinary endings in theatre. Spanning sixteen years and two kingdoms, the story follows King Leontes as his sudden paranoia destroys his family and friendships — only for time, love, and sheer theatrical magic to offer the possibility of redemption. Moving from tragedy to romance to joy, The Winter’s Tale contains shipwrecks, disguises, young lovers, pastoral chaos, and perhaps Shakespeare’s most famous stage direction: “Exit, pursued by a bear.”

This production is the brainchild of director Heidi Silberman, whose deep love of Shakespeare and actor training sits at the heart of the work. Joining the creative team is Lakespeare & Co. co-founder Lexi Sekuless, who will work with the cast on verse speaking and Shakespearean technique — giving Canberra performers access to the same rigorous text-based approaches used in leading UK training institutions and rehearsal rooms.

Duration: 80 minutes approximately without an intermission.

Audience suitability: Anyone who likes Shakespeare, bears and second chances.

Please note this show incorporates haze and some flashing lights.

The opening night of this show is Wednesday 12 August and you can select tickets via this link.

Cast

Aleksis Andreitchenko: Hermione and Perdita

Dakota Paull: Cleomenes, Archidamus, and Shepherd

Jarrah Palethorpe: Polixenes

Jennifer Noveski: Emilia and Mariner

Joanna Tollis: Camillo and Officer

Max Wilson: Leontes

Tabby Silberman: Paulina and Mamillius

Nick Parr: Antigonus and Florizel

Phoebe Chua: Female & Non-Binary Contingency Actor

Chipz Jin: Contingency Actor

Production Team

Director: Heidi Silberman

Production Designer: Tania Jobson

Production Stage Manager: Steph Evans

Lighting Designer: Will Smith

Sound Designer: Lexi Sekuless

Technical Directors and Mentors: Ezekiel Chalmers, Andrew Snell and Tim Sekuless

Assistant Production Designer: Chris Jobson

Verse Nurse: Lexi Sekuless

Photographer: Daniel Abroguena

Producer: Lexi Sekuless Productions

Major Sponsor: Sidestage

Front of House: Heidi Silberman and Lexi Sekuless

TICKETS 

All tickets are $35 exclusive of GST and Humanitix booking fees. In 2026 The Mill had to increase tickets by passing on GST to patrons (we are very sorry to do this!)

Here's the breakdown:

1. GST (Goods and Services Tax): A standard 10% GST is applied to all ticket prices, in line with Australian tax requirements.

2. Booking & Payment Processing Fees: These cover the costs of securely processing your transaction and managing ticketing services.

   • Purchases via Humanitix: 4% + $0.99 per paid ticket (excluding GST)

     • Example:

     • $50 ticket → $2.00 processing fee plus $0.99 = $2.99 (excl. GST)

     • 10% GST on $52.99 = $5.30

     • Total customer fees: $50 + $2.99 + $5.30 = 58.29

   • Purchases via Square: A flat 2.2% transaction fee applies to all payments

     • Example:

     • $50 ticket → $1.10 processing fee

     • 10% GST on $51.10 = $5.11

     • Total customer fees: $50 + $1.10 + $5.11 = $56.21

Tickets are fully transferable up to one day before the event only. No refunds are available.

Tickets are for entry only and are available online until one hour before the show. From that point, box office tickets in person are available for purchase.

The information below goes into a lot of detail but if you have further questions, please email us at hello@milltheatreatdairyroad.com. A small team can see that inbox and we respond very quickly. The Mill is a very quirky space and we want to welcome you!

SEATING & ACCESS

• All tickets are general admission and no seats are reserved so the earlier you arrive, the better position you will have. If you have any access needs and require reserved seating you must email us before the show please hello@milltheatreatdairyroad.com

• Seating is on one side only for this production.

• The venue is fully accessible for wheelchairs with a ramp from the P3 parking spot and same level access from entry into building 3.3 into the theatre all the way to the accessible seating positions inside the Mill. We have two wheelchair seating positions both with very different views. Please contact us at hello@milltheatreatdairyroad.com.so we can talk through the options, including adding companion card tickets. All accessible bookings will be reserved.

• Every seat in the house has a great view, and a different view. Patrons walk through the set to find your seats, adding to the intimacy of the space. This means, late arrivals or patrons who leave the theatre before intermission or the end will NOT BE ADMITTED TO THE THEATRE.
  



ARRIVAL & PROTOCOLS

ENTERING

• Please head to the Box Office on arrival. You really must do this please. If you have already purchased a ticket, the Front of House team checks off the name of every booked attendee. Please do not try to walk directly into the theatre.

• If you haven’t purchased a ticket, you can get one onsite an hour before show time. However, it is a very small theatre and we have started selling out and we do not hold any seats. 

• The doors open approximately 15 minutes before show time. The Front of House team will let you know when you can enter.

LOCK OUT

• Due to the unique layout of the venue, the audience walks through the stage to take their seats. This means we cannot accommodate anyone slipping in late for the beginning of the show or for the return after intermission. This also means, if you need to leave during the show, we cannot allow you back in. If patrons are rude or resistant about this fact then it makes for both an unsafe and unpleasant time for everyone. Please think about this before you book and before you arrive. 

• The Front of House team rings a bell and counts the audience to ensure you won’t miss out but please don’t tempt fate otherwise you will be locked out and we cannot let you in. We even call any audience who might be running late to make sure you won’t miss the show! 

LOCATION

The Mill Theatre is in Building 3.3, the Screencraft and KeepCo building which is a short walk from Capital Brewing. There are two easy ways to approach the Theatre:

PARK in P3 at the back of the precinct. From there you will see building 3.3 which has a large Screencraft sign. The public entrance is just up from that sign (not underneath it!). Once inside, walk about 5 metres and the theatre is to the right, next to Mojo Guitars.

WALK from Capital Brewing or the Less sculpture into the KeepCo building, pass Ramen Daddy and at the end of the corridor we are on the left. 

PARKING

All parking in the precinct is free with several accessible parking spots in all the parking locations. The best spot to park is P3 at the back of the precinct. If you park elsewhere please be warned that signage and way-finding around the precinct is extremely difficult. Arrive in plenty of time to possibly get lost, possibly be in a bad mood, and remedy that with a drink at our bar before enjoying a smashing show!