Rock of Ages is a silly, totally enjoyable arena-rock musical that the students of the Glen Innes High school pull off with reckless abandon and a big sense of fun.

The show is jam packed with radio favourites from the MTV era and you will find yourself singing along with the cast on classic songs by Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Poison, Whitesnake and Twisted Sister, the show is a guilty pleasure that should have you tapping your feet and smiling widely if you let yourself go and just enjoy the whacky plot. 

The story revolves around Drew (James Cameron) who is a shy kid who sweeps the floors at a bar. He is biding his time until his rock n roll dreams come true. Cameron plays the role with sensitivity and the right amount of uncertainty to make him believable. Sherrie (Tiana Varcoe) is an aspiring actress from a small-town who has her own dream of Hollywood stardom. Miss Varcoe has some good acting chops and when she sings with confidence her character comes alive. When Drew and Sherrie meet, its love at first guitar solo.

Lachlan Martin plays the sensitive rock star Stacee Jaxx who is all cool on the outside, with a bevy of hot chicks at his call, played wonderfully by Hannah Quilty, Kathryn Luxford, Molly Campbell, Emma Woolfe, Jennifer Mackenzie, Taylah Grob, Angie Mccarthy and Keela Tibbs, who also dance up a storm throughout the entire play. But he seeks a deeper love and may find it with a no nonsense Journalist played perfectly by Katie Miller. 

Eleanor Malone as Venus virtually steals the second half of the play with her lovely voice, megawatt smile and sassy attitude.

Other notable mentions are Ed Malone, Yasmin Hahn, Rachel Keihne and Paige Van Kempen who gave their all to their roles. A full live band also adds to the rock n roll atmosphere and the fact that Director Jade Bradley insisted on this aspect, shows she is a director with confidence and a good instinct for what works.

You don’t have to truly like the music to submit to the memories the tunes may bring, but it does help if you recognise at least a good portion of the songs. The Glen Innes High School’s production of Rock of Ages is a guilty treat, so get along to the Chapel Theatre and rock out with the kids, you’ll leave with a smile and a song or two in your head, I promise.