Love Letters: Cast Announcement

STAGED Theatre Co
2 minutes ago
6 min read

The timeless play Love Letters by A.R. Gurney is coming to life with a fresh and captivating cast. Directed by Nick Smith, this production features two couples who will bring the heartfelt story to the stage with depth and emotion.

We are thrilled to announce Sean McDermott and Lisa Blair as our first couple, alongside Nick Smith and Peta Beattie as the second. This unique casting choice promises to offer audiences a rich experience of the play’s intimate and poignant narrative.

About Love Letters

Love Letters is a play that captures the power of written words and the passage of time through the correspondence between two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. The story unfolds through letters exchanged over decades, revealing their hopes, regrets, and enduring connection.

What makes this play so compelling is its simplicity and emotional depth. The entire narrative is conveyed through letters, allowing the audience to witness the characters’ lives and relationship evolve without traditional stage action.

This format demands strong performances from the actors, who must convey complex emotions through voice and subtle gestures.

Introducing the Cast:

Sean McDermott and Lisa Blair

Sean McDermott and Lisa Blair bring a fresh dynamic to the roles of Andrew and Melissa. Both actors have a history of strong performances in intimate dramas, making them ideal for this play’s demands.

Sean McDermott has had quite the year. After his standout performance as the morally bankrupt Bernard in Don’t Dress for Dinner at Coolum Theatre Players, he followed up with his role as the disturbed Arthur in his debut performance at the Lind Theatre, in the fabulous and ghostly Woman in Black. Now, for his trifecta, Sean debuts for Staged Theatre and plays at the Black Box for the first time.

Sean’s first appearance in community theatre was way back when, in the UK, playing the title role in Oliver! Since arriving in Oz, he’s been involved in some class theatre including Cinderella, Spamalot, Avenue Q, Blood Brothers, Home I’m Darling and Last of the Red Hot Lovers. At Coolum’s annual awards, the Coolies, he’s been nominated as Best Actor three years in a row. Quite the body of work.

We at Staged are super happy to have Sean along for the ride – his versatility, nuance and emotion in the role of Andy, will break your heart.

Lisa Blair has been navigating the frailty of life the past few years with some life altering events including grief and loss, which meant taking a hiatus from performing and directing. She is quite thrilled to be finally returning to her great love for community theatre and treading the boards with Staged Theatre for the first time. With 3 decades of acting to her credit and a string of directing and acting awards she is delighted to say she’s BAAACK!

Originally from Western Australia, Lisa built quite the backlog of roles, starring in shows such as Are You Being Served? ‘Allo ‘Allo (twice - once as Michelle, once as Helga) Fawlty Towers, Educating Rita (for which she was nominated as Best Actress), The Vicar of Dibley, Steel Magnolias, 1984 and popular musicals Annie, Footloose and The Full Monty. Lisa has directed popular Australian material with Cosi, The Sum of Us and the first ever (and only) community theatre adaptation of The Castle (adapted from the screenplay). In the musical genre she won directing awards for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and The Sound of Music, and also created sell out shows with Pirates of Penzance, Disco Inferno and Little Shop of Horrors.

Since arriving on the Coast in 2017 she has appeared in the one act festival performance of Tinder Surprise, took on the feisty role of Mrs Birling in An Inspector Calls and flexed her directing muscle once again with shows at Coolum (Get Smart, Dr Lurve and The Syringe of Shame) and BATS (Deckchairs and Winter Warmers).

Lisa is thrilled to be returning to theatre by stepping into the shared role of Melissa (with Peta Beattie) in LOVE LETTERS and breathing life into this exquisite play.

Together, Sean and Lisa create a believable and engaging couple whose story will resonate deeply with audiences.

Nick Smith and Peta Beattie

Director Nick Smith steps into the role of Andrew alongside Peta Beattie as Melissa for the second couple. This casting choice adds an exciting dimension to the production, as Nick’s dual role as director and actor allows for a unique interpretation of the play.

Nick Smith is a director and actor who has been lucky enough to have played some wonderful past roles and is “gagging” to get to grips with the role of Andy, sharing the role with Sean McDermott. Bringing a very different acting style to Sean, the differences in interpretation of this old-school WASP will be an engaging experience for those lucky enough to see both versions.

Nick has been nominated for Coolum Theatre’s annual awards, The Coolies, two years running and was last seen on stage in The Full Monty, which he also co-directed. He has also acted as Eddie in Blood Brothers, Paris in Romeo & Juliet and Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby.

Directing credits include One Man, Two Guvnors (2024), Don't Dress for Dinner, The Full Monty (both 2025), Bus Riley’s Back in Town (2024), ART (2023), Picasso at The Lapin Agile (2022), and All the Great Books (Abridged) (2021).

We’re buzzed to have Nick back on stage, debuting as an actor for Staged Theatre. He cannot wait to help bring this Pulitzer Prize finalist to the Coast for the first time in many years.

Peta Beattie has been involved in many local productions for several companies including as director of six works of Shakespeare, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Steven Berkoff’s West and adaptations of F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, amongst others.

Peta has been honoured for her writing, directing and acting in South East Queensland festivals and competitions, with her most recent performance was in the BATS production of “All the Great Books (Abridged)” under the direction of Nick Smith.

Peta is passionate about history, classic literature, and authentic storytelling. Several of her plays have a historical influence including an adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, 1912 (a play about real people on board the Titanic) and Romanov (focusing on the final days of Tsar Nicholas II’s reign in Russia). Peta has also enjoyed taking on the roles of Stage Manager and lighting and sound tech for a number of local companies and not-for-profit groups. Her favourite past roles were Helena from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, performed in Queens Park, Toowoomba, and the Maniac in Dario Fo’s “Accidental ‘Death of an Anarchist” in the studio rooms of Metro Arts, and reprising the role again onstage in Buderim 15 years later.

After a hiatus of several years on stage, Peta is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful production. Quality writing, authenticity, a blend of light and shade and a little risk is what really draws Peta to projects and “Love Letters” encapsulates that perfect combination. Peta will be sharing the role with Lisa Blair.

This pairing offers audiences a chance to see the story from a slightly different perspective, enriching the overall experience.

What Audiences Can Expect From This Production

This production of Love Letters promises to be a memorable theatrical event. Here’s what makes it stand out:

Dual Couples: Using two couples to perform the play allows for varied interpretations and a dynamic presentation. Audiences will witness the same story through different performances, adding depth and nuance.
Intimate Setting: The play’s format lends itself to a close, personal atmosphere. The actors will engage directly with the audience, making the experience immersive.
Emotional Range: The letters cover a lifetime of emotions from joy to disappointment to love and loss. The cast’s ability to convey these feelings will create a powerful connection with viewers.

Why Love Letters Remains Relevant Today

Despite being written decades ago, Love Letters continues to resonate because it explores universal themes:

The complexity of human relationships
The impact of time on love and friendship
The power of communication and memory

In an age dominated by instant messages and digital communication, the play’s focus on handwritten letters reminds us of the intimacy and thoughtfulness that written words can carry.

How to Experience This Production

Tickets for Love Letters are now available here. Whether you are a longtime fan of the play or new to A.R. Gurney’s work, this production offers a chance to experience a classic story with fresh energy.

This play reminds us that the stories we tell and the words we write can shape our lives in profound ways. Seeing these characters brought to life by such a skilled cast is an opportunity not to miss.