Musical telling tale of real-life beauty queen coming to Narrogin Town Hall

From country girl to Australia’s first international beauty queen, Miss Westralia is coming to the Narrogin Town Hall this month to tell the real-life story of Beryl Mills.

Growing up in the early 1900s on a Geraldton sheep station, Mills became an international treasure overnight when she was crowned Miss Australia in 1926.

Picked from 1000 competitors as the ideal Australian woman, she travelled to 1920s America where she was met by the fast-paced world of celebrity and status.

The challenge was remembering her roots.

Often using verbatim text, the show examines the parallels between 1920s America and now, exploring the power dynamics of international relations.

A small cast of four bring this inspired and true world to life, blending nostalgia with witty dialogue.

With performances in Geraldton, Kalgoorlie and Narrogin, co-creator of Miss Westralia, Amelia Burke, said bringing the story of Beryl Mills to regional WA made it particularly special.

“We are delighted to have developed this work in the place that Beryl once called home,” she said. “We want Australia to be proud of Beryl’s brilliant story and join us in contributing to the wealth of female voices that are finally being celebrated.”

Tour producer Andrew Baker agreed.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing Beryl home for a whistlestop tour of WA,” he said. “It’s a wonderful piece of new writing, telling a great local story that will enthral just about anyone.”

Miss Westralia will show at the Narrogin Town Hall on Friday, July 30.