By Luke Voogt
Newtown eight-year-old Kempton Maloney could be Geelong’s next big acting talent.
The Grade 3 Geelong Grammar student will take the stage for the first time next month in CenterStage Geelong’s production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
“It’s my first musical,” he told the Indy this week.
“I’m very excited and a little bit nervous, but it’s going to be great.”
Kempton will take on the role of Jeremy Potts after a year with the local theatre group.
“I love pretending to be Jeremy, he’s got some very good lines and he has a lot singing,” he said.
“It’s a fantastic show. I hope lots of Geelong people see it and they enjoy it.”
Kempton was enjoying the chance to learn from veteran local actors and checking out the old cars on set.
“It’s a fantastic cast, probably some of the best people I’ve worked with,” he said.
“My mum and dad are really proud of me, and they’re really excited.”
Kempton hopes to one day audition for a movie.
He appeared at least to have fine-tuned the art of the acceptance speech, rattling off the names of all who had inspired him so far.
“And a big shout out to my family for encouraging me to do this,” he added.
But theatre is not his only talent.
“I play the drums, too,” he said.
Last year Kempton won a national drumming competition in the under 12 age group, where he met drummers who perform for superstars including Lady Gaga, Madonna and Ringo Star.
A huge fan of Nirvana and Foo Fighters drummers, Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins, he dreams of writing a rock song.
CenterStage president David Greenwood was optimistic about Kempton’s future.
“He is a talented young actor with so much potential,” he said. “I’m sure we will see him on Broadway in years to come“
David was liberal in his praise of the show’s other cast.
“Rachel, who plays Truly Scrumptious, is an extremely talented performer. Her natural stage presence is remarkable,” he said. “You wouldn’t even know that this marks her first show since leaving school many years ago.”
“Mark has taken on the persona of Dick Van Dyke. The athletic agility required to sing, dance and fly for the entire show is a massive achievement.”
CentreStage’s acting talent will be on display during the play, which runs at Geelong Performing Arts Centre from 10 to 18 March.
“We have a wonderful cast full of over 70 cast members including kids, adults, dogs and even a flying car,” David said.
