Christmast came early to the rural town of Wondai, with the premiere of Dear Santa – Keep the Lights on.
Wondai audiences were treated to an unforgettable afternoon on Saturday, 29 November when Dimities hosted the world premiere of the latest theatrical creation from Goomeri performer Louise Winton, known across the region as ‘Louise the Diva’.
Visitors travelled from across Queensland to witness the debut — including guests from the South Burnett, Gayndah, Capalaba, Rochedale and even Coomera.
Among the crowd were several generations of Louise’s own family: her daughter, granddaughter, mother, sister and mother-in-law all gathered to witness the special event.
The show delivered a heartfelt blend of humour, nostalgia and Christmas spirit, brought to life through the character of Amarina Dean, a once-glittering starlet now navigating life in the dementia wing of Sunset Acres.
Audiences were swept up in Amarina’s memories, her mischief and her music — and the response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
A standout moment came when a technical glitch caused the pre-recorded video appearance of Amarina’s granddaughter, Rhapsody, to lose audio.
Without hesitation, 10-year-old Mackenzie Gunton, who plays Rhapsody, stepped up for a completely impromptu live performance.
Her calm confidence and professionalism drew admiration from the entire room and was described by guests as “the absolute highlight” of the show.
On top of a moving production and delicious afternoon tea, the crowd was also treated to some thrilling behind-the-scenes news: Louise announced that her writing has been shortlisted for Stageable 2025 through the Queensland Writers Centre — a significant recognition of her creative work and an exciting step forward for the South Burnett artist.
With such a glowing debut, anticipation is now building for the Monto performance on Friday, 6 December, where Dear Santa – Keep the Lights On will be staged as part of the town’s Christmas festivities.
A special shout out goes to Graham Mitchell, host at Dimities, for a wonderful afternoon tea.
