Two talented performers from the Douglas Shire, Stephen Bigby and Narelle Spencer, are making waves in Cairns as they star in the Cairns Choral Society’s production of the musical Come From Away. 

The show, currently running at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre (CPAC), brings to life an incredible true story of humanity, kindness, and resilience in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy.

For Stephen and Narelle, both long-time performers in the local Port Douglas theatre scene, this marks a milestone in their acting careers.

“We’ve been performing at The Clink Theatre in Port Douglas for years, me for five and Narelle for ten,” Stephen said. 

“This was our first Cairns Choral Society audition, and we didn’t expect to get in. So being selected to represent the Douglas Shire feels incredible.”

Based on a true story, Come From Away follows Gander, a small Canadian town of 9,000 that sheltered 7,000 stranded passengers when U.S. airspace closed on September 11, 2001. Over five days, the town displayed remarkable kindness and hospitality amid a global tragedy.

“The show is an hour and 40 minutes with no interval, and it’s a rollercoaster of emotions,” Stephen explained. 

“We change characters on stage, sometimes I’ll take off a jacket, put on a hat, and suddenly become someone else. 

“We use just chairs to create planes, buses, bars, and other scenes. It’s choreographed in a way we call ‘chair-ography’, and it keeps everything dynamic and engaging.”

Stephen plays two contrasting roles: Ali, an Egyptian Muslim facing post-9/11 challenges, and a Gander union boss with an Irish-Canadian accent who helps coordinate transport for stranded passengers.

“It’s been a dream come true to play these roles,” Stephen said. 

“Narelle is part of the ensemble, so she takes on several different characters and background roles. We’ve done a lot of plays and musicals together, and I think the team really appreciated how we bring our characters to life. 

“It feels amazing to see all the work we’ve done at The Clink pay off on a bigger stage.”

Catch the show on Friday, January 17, at 7.30pm, or on Saturday, January 18, with performances at 2.00pm and 7.30pm. For more info click here.