Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn

A Well Done Creative Production

Well Done Creative's Holiday Inn at Parramatta Riverside is a lively, good‑humoured production that thrives on energy and wit. Strictly speaking, it’s not a Christmas show but it is definitely a welcome injection of nostalgic cheer to interrupt your busy December.

It’s a story that reflects another time, the “golden age” of movie musicals, which leans into music and humour without taking itself too seriously. For those unfamiliar with the tale, Jim Hardy, a performer weary of the spotlight, retreats to run a country inn. His plan for peace and quiet quickly unravels when the inn becomes a stage for holiday‑themed performances and the starting point for the wholesome romantic storyline one would expect of the era.

Rob Mallett leads as Jim Hardy, bringing warmth and charisma to the role. Linda (Mary McCorry), the passionate schoolteacher, is played with poise and vocal strength, a delightful contrast to the comically vain and perfectly fashioned Hollywood starlet Lila Dixon played by Paloma Renouf.  Max Patterson, playing Jim’s rival, Ted, adds flair, comic tension and compelling energy, while Louise (Paige Fallu), the inn’s quick‑witted fixer, provides sharp laughs and scene‑stealing humour. Each embodies the engaging stereotypes of the 1940s rom-com with charisma and perfect comic timing.

This production relies strongly on the unity of its cast as a finely tuned ensemble, and the additional characterisation provided by Molly Bugeja, Matt Hourigan, Niky Markovic, Jaime Reisin and Zohra Bednarz ensures the production sparkles with personality and energy. The choreography is crisp and dynamic, with dance numbers that fill the stage with momentum and vocal strength that belies the small size of the cast. The comic timing is a strength of the whole cast, the vocal power is undeniable, but for Holiday Inn, it is the dancing that drives the show and keeps the energy high.

Well Done Creative’s Holiday Inn is a nostalgic tale, perfect for the Christmas season. It’s a production that leans into a wholesome sense of fun and a sense of energetic joy.

Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn

A Well Done Creative Production

6-14 December

Director: Sally Dashwood

Music Director: Dylan Pollard

Associate Director: Sasha Lian-Diniz

Choreographer: Veronica Beattie George

Ticket: LINK