An award-winning musical by Aleathea Monsour and Katy Forde
A Surprise Smash Hit – Fuel the Momentum!
Dear You!
Thank you for being here!
We’re Aleathea Monsour and Katy Forde.
We wrote the musical “A Girl’s Guide to World War”.
We are passionate about sharing this incredible true story.
To our surprise and delight, our heartfelt show has become a runaway success. It has played to sell-out crowds and standing ovations across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.
The musical also won “Best New Australian Work” – the first regional production to win this prestigious Matilda Award.
And we’re so thrilled to announce the show will tour Queensland in 2025, with a possible national tour in 2026.
Our musical is like a rocket, ready to take off.
But we need YOU to fuel the momentum!
By donating today, you directly invest in us and our team, and help us achieve our dream of touring our show throughout Queensland.
95% of your donation goes directly to the actors, musicians, creatives, and more, as we prepare for our very first tour in 2025.
Your tax-deductible philanthropy ensures this powerful work can achieve its full potential, and reach success at a state and national level.
Become a ‘Guiding Light’!
If you generously donate $1000 or more, you will be honored as one of our esteemed “Guiding Lights.”
Ambulance Girls
Photo by Bulimba Studios
As a Guiding Light donor, your name will be prominently featured in our programs and on our website, recognising your invaluable support. You’ll also receive exclusive behind-the-scenes access, including private footage from rehearsals and backstage, allowing you to witness first-hand the passion that goes into bringing this powerful story to life. Additionally, Guiding Lights will be invited to special cast and crew events, connecting you directly with the talented artists involved. Your transformative gift will quite literally help guide the way for this groundbreaking musical.
Want more information?
Keep reading below if you’d like to know more about our show.
Or get in touch – info@musicaltheatreaustralia.com. We’d love to talk with you!
Thank you so much for supporting the arts – we’re here because of you.
Love
Aleathea and Katy
www.musicaltheatreaustralia.com
info@musicaltheatreaustralia.com
How to Donate:
Choose your amount, make the transfer using the details below, and we’ll take care of everything else!
We currently accept donations by electronic transfer only.
Please use the following bank details:
Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation Ltd
BSB: 633 000
Account number: 169 034 485
(IMPORTANT! Please put the name of the partner that you are donating to and your email address in the reference line.)
You’ll receive an email confirmation and a tax receipt to claim your deduction.
A Girl’s Guide to World War Poster
Cast of A Girl’s Guide to World War
Photo by Bulimba Studios
Our musical – the backstory!
We discovered this story by accident! We were walking down a Brisbane street and saw a plaque on an old building that said Queensland’s first female doctor once lived there.
Her name was Dr Lilian Cooper.
Dr Lilian Violet Cooper, Queensland’s first female doctor, Australia’s first female surgeon.
Lilian led us on an incredible journey of discovery. We unearthed a forgotten true story of ‘lady doctors’ who try to join the army in World War One. When the army tells them to ‘stay home and sit still’, these incredible women fight back.
This inspirational story became “A Girl’s Guide to World War”.
We first staged “A Girl’s Guide to World War” back in 2018 in the Black Box in Nambour. We had a shoestring budget, but we were fuelled by love of the story, and supported by the Sunshine Coast community – a community of wonderful artists, makers, creators, and arts lovers. We also had the support of the Sunshine Coast’s Regional Arts Development Fund who saw in the potential of the show.
Our first little indie production became a runaway success. It went on to have several sell-out seasons, both on the Sunshine Coast and in Queensland, and in 2020 won “Best New Australian Work” at the Matilda Awards (the first regional theatre production to win this major award)
Matilda Awards Acceptance Speech
Photo by Bulimba Studios
And now …
The show is now gearing up for its first ever tour in 2025!
This tour will take us into ‘main house’ theatres. We’ll be playing to audiences of 600 to 800 people. We’ll also be performing at QPAC (Queensland Performing Arts Centre). That means our little musical needs to step up its game! We need to elevate the production design, develop new orchestrations, add choreography, redesign the lighting and much more.
Growing support for the production
Over the last couple of years, support has grown for this musical. The 2025 tour of “A Girl’s Guide to World War” is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. With the support of the Queensland Arts Showcase Program and the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, the touring production will have elevated set, costumes and lighting. The Regional Arts Development Fund (Sunshine Coast) also funded a week’s workshop with the incredible choreographer Fiona Jopp. As for the music itself, we were able to create beautiful new orchestrations thanks to the support of the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia, administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance.
We are deeply and profoundly grateful for the support we have received. We have reached a pivotal juncture that means our musical is just about ready for takeoff!
With your support – we can reach the stars!
The first black box production
Photo by Bulimba Studios
Your support will take us places!
Your support is vital to propel this transformative work through a crucial stage of artistic development. Our goal is to create an unforgettable touring show that will take Queensland by storm. Our dream is that this will be the first step towards a national tour – and then an international tour!
But for that to happen, we need help!
With the support of the Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation, we are raising funds for an intensive development and rehearsal period with our actors, musicians and choreographer. Strategic, creative workshops and rehearsals will realise the potential of our new tour-ready production.
And that’s where you come in!
Your donation will go directly to the Sunshine Coast creatives in this production!
With your support, our choreographer will workshop new and exciting ways to bring movement into the piece.
With your support, the actors will rehearse with the stunning new set and lighting ensuring their timing and performances are impeccable.
With your support, our musicians will delve into new orchestrations that breathe deeper emotional impact into the music.
By donating today, you directly invest in this important musical theatre work. Your tax-deductible donation helps our show reach its full potential.
Help us share the true story of “A Girl’s Guide to World War” with the world!
This project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia, administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance.
This project was supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund.
The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
This project is made possible with funding support from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.
