Community
17 June, 2026
History to hit stage in St Arnaud Theatre Company's first show
The newly formed St Arnaud Theatre Company will open its first show “The Hanging of Andrew Vair” at the St Arnaud Town Hall on July 9.
A GROUP of St Arnaud’s own will take to the stage next month to showcase a dark side of the town’s history.
And it’s a part a lot of people probably don’t know about.
The newly formed St Arnaud Theatre Company will open its first show “The Hanging of Andrew Vair” at the St Arnaud Town Hall on July 9.
In 1869, a Scottish miner named Andrew Vair shot a man dead on the tramway off Silvermines Road. The victim was Amos Cheale, the mine manager who had stripped Vair of his gold and silver reef discovery in Armenian Gully. Vair fled, was caught, tried in Ararat, and hanged. He was the last man hanged from St Arnaud.
The shooting happened on Silvermines Rd, the Mercury Newspaper building documented events, and the lockup cell is still behind our Court House.
In 1985, local playwright Bryan Small turned this forgotten chapter into a play.
Forty-one years later, it is back - performed by the people of the town where it all happened.
When Tobias and Lauren Sherson arrived in St Arnaud, Richard Bazely, who had a hand in bringing the play to life, introduced himself, mentioned the play, and asked whether it might be time to bring it back.
Tobias, who has a theatre background, and Lauren, who runs entrepreneurship ventures, knew the answer was yes before Richard had finished asking.
“To us, this is more than a play,” Mrs Sherson said.
“This is what a small town can do.”
Auditions were held with support from the St Arnaud Library team.
Artistic director Mr Sherson said the female roles filled quickly.
The search for male actors took longer - until it became obvious to everyone that Tobias himself was the only choice for the lead.
He is now both Artistic Director and the man standing at the centre of the photograph: Andrew Vair, condemned, looking back at the events that brought him to the gallows.
Mrs Sherson said local costume designer Amelia McIntyre has spent months ensuring every detail is authentic to the 1860s.
The cast and crew that gathered for last weekend’s photograph are St Arnaud - people photographer David Holyoake, teachers, business owners, community members - who have given their time to this story.
“When some look at it, they see a Scottish miner in colonial dress. A dying man. A judge,” Mr Sherson said.
“But to us, it’s cast of locals who have spent their Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings becoming someone else entirely.”
The cast will perform three shows and open on Thursday, July 9 at 7.30pm.
The next will be a matinee show at 11am on Saturday, July 11 and the last showing will take place at 7.30pm that night.
Tickets are on sale now and cost $25 for adults, $10 for teens (aged 13 to 17).
You can buy tickets online at trybooking.com/DNBLY
You can also purchase a production playbill for $10 on the night or a limited edition commemorative tin sign for $15.
The show is suitable for people aged 13 years or older.
St Arnaud Theatre Company is a special program of The St Arnaud Economic Development Company Ltd, ABN 14 640 009 178.
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