ANTARCTICA, BENEATH THE STORM has been created by Sundog Productions, Tasmania. We are small production company based in Hobart / Nipaluna, Tasmania/ Lutruwita, 42ºS.
Sundog Productions is the creative platform for Dana Michelle Bergstrom & Dugald McLaren. We live and work on unceded lands of the Palawa and Muwanina people.
Creatives
Dugald McLaren
Music + Lyrics
Dugald McLaren is a modern-day renaissance man: a multi-platform artist – songwriter, sculptor and inventor with a passion for design. He wrote music and lyrics for the theatre production ANTARCTICA: A NEW MUSICAL (2016). Dugald has also written the music and lyrics for a song cycle A PRETTY SONG FOR YOU (at workshop stage) and published seven EPs and albums, as well as selected songs. He recently completed the design of a sensor platform for an international Antarctic science program.
Dana Michelle Bergstrom
Book + Producer
Dana is an eminent, award-winning Antarctic ecologist and science leader who studies the impact of climate change on life. Her scientfic research informs the book. Her arts practice has been in sculpture, art doll-making and writing for music theatre (Books ANTARCTICA, A NEW MUSICAL, A PRETTY SONG FOR YOU), and was the assistant puppet maker on the ANTARCTICA, A NEW MUSICAL . She is president and founder of the Pure Antarctic Foundation, a joint arts/science NGP, and a visiting Professor/ Senior Scholar at the University of Wollongong, and University of Johannesburg.
Cast
Katie Toft
Birdie, Penguin Biologist
Katie plays Birdie, the young penguin biologist on her first trip south in ANTARCTICA, BENEATH THE STORM. Katie is a accomplished performer, voice teacher, producer and Co-Founder of BeXD Create Theatre School in southeast Queensland, Australia. Her theatre credits include Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, Scaramouche in ’We Will Rock You’, and Kate Monster and Lucy in ‘Avenue Q’ with various companies in Brisbane, Australia. She has performed as a guest artist at the Sydney Opera House. Katie played Marianne in Nick Payne’s Constellations sellout performances at the Brisbane Planetarium. She recently presented ‘Peter Pan the Musical’ with a cast of 60 children, the outcome from her’s and Will Toft’s musical theatre summer bootcamp at BeXD Create. Katie brings a commanding presence to the lead role of Birdie.
Brenton Cosier
Doug, Station Doctor
New York-based Australian singer and actor Brenton Cosier, who plays the role of Doug, the war-torn doctor in ANTARCTICA, BENEATH THE STORM, is making waves in the world of theatre. With a commanding presence and an unforgettable voice, Brenton has captivated audiences in acclaimed Off-Broadway productions, including Audrey the Musical, and Skin: A New Musical. In 2024, he starred in Jamie Hornsby’s new play PYTHON presented as part of the 2024 Australian Theatre Festival NYC, as well as being the MC, while in 2025, he was a featured performer in their’s Cabaret . He recently played the role of Hans in the The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina’s Production of Disney’s FROZEN, The Broadway Musical.
His talent doesn’t stop at the stage — Brenton also featured alongside Ronny Chieng in the hit TV series Ronny Chieng: International Student He was one of the original principals in Sundog Productions ANTARCTICA (2016) premier.
Wendy Jamison
Elizabeth, Station leader
Wendy has performed in many musicals with the Port Macquarie Players. She also sings in various choirs, concerts and events. For many years she performed with her husband in a well regarded duo called “At Last”. ANTARCTICA, A NEW MUSICAL was an exciting experience for her and she is thrilled to be included in this original musical podcast. She portrays Elizabeth, the strong and supporting Station Leader with so much warmth and love, anyone would follow her to the end of the Earth.
Craig M Wood
Jim, Diesel mechanic + mountaineer
Craig is Tasmanian-born performer, composer, and musical director and all-round talented person, specialising in new works of theatre. After training at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music (BMUS, Music Theatre Voice), Craig began his career as an original member of The IHOS Music Theatre Laboratory, performing in nearly thirty original works. Craig’ s superb baritone voice anchors ANTARCTICA, BENEATH THE STORM’s songs and he breathes honesty, integrity and life experience into the character of Jim, the diesel mechanic and farmer from the Riverina.
Sarah Morabito
Skye, Meteorological Observer
Sarah’s voice is featured on the albums of various national and international artists, ranging in genres from Music Theatre, Folk, Pop, Metal and Opera, as well as on radio advertisements, TV, and film. Sarah is the proud owner, voice coach and teacher at SMM Studios where she is actively inspiring and developing the next generation of performers. Sarahs soaring, crystal-clear voice brings a sparkle to ANTARCTICA, BENEATH THE STORM.
Will Toft
Moose, Chef
The very talented Will Toft is starring in the fun role of ‘Moose’, the chef. Will is more than a triple threat: a singer, actor, songwriter, instrumentalist, teacher and music producer. He starred in sold-out shows in Harrison Allen’s production of CONSTELLATIONS (Brisbane), as well as in AVENUE Q and the 2021 multi-award winning short-film, EFFIGY. Will is the Co-Founder of BeXD Create Theatre School with Katie Toft. Will has worked with 100’s of students over the last decade and is passionate about improving the mental health of artists, confidence and community through engagement in the arts. He has recently released his original, hauntingly beautiful song ADDICTED. Will had a blast recording his role and we are so pleased with his heart-felt and energetic performance of our cheeky chef.
Additional roles
Amanda Gordon – Mary
Robin Wood – Little Bessie
Orderly – Mark Morabito
Announcer – Dana Michelle Bergstrom
Ensemble
Amanda Gordon, Sarah Morabito, Petronella van Tienen, Penny Evans, Ellis Wood, Mark Garrett, Mark Morabito, Ian Castle, Craig M Wood.
Musicians
Craig M Wood – piano, synth + percussions, Lukas Backeström – acoustic guitar, Andy Blackmore – bass, double bass, Victoria Stanmore – violin/ viola, Alyssa Tew – Cello, Dugald McLaren – midi trumpet + midi piano.
Editing + SOund
Editing, Mixing and Sound Design: Dugald McLaren and Dana Michelle Bergstrom.
Mastering: Sundog Productions and Harvey O’Sullivan, Studio 301.
Orchestrations: Sundog Productions.
Foley Library: Soundly and Sundog Productions.
History
Antarctica, Beneath the Storm’s development began when our composer and lyricist Dugald McLaren wintered (i.e. spent the winter) at Australia’s Casey Station, working as an electrician. The experience inspired the drafting of the anthemic song “Antarctic”. From there the story began to develop reflecting the Antarctic and subantarctic experiences and observations of Dugald, and book writer, Dana Michelle Bergstrom.
After readings and workshops, our fledgling company Sundog Productions, partnered with the Tasmanian Theatre Company to premiered our original musical Antarctica – A New Musical, at the Theatre Royal, Hobart, Tasmania in 2016. The production was directed by Terence O’Connor, with Peter Wilson, Director of Puppetry .
The show was well received. But as the saying goes, musicals are not written, they are re-written. So in 2019 Dugald approached Arts Tasmania for support to develop the work further and produce a concert for a major Antarctic conference planned for Hobart in 2020.
But yes! You guessed it! Like everything Arts in 2020, the concert was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.
Arts Tasmania was very accommodating. “Produce what you can”, they said, so we pivoted to a podcast musical format.
More and more of Dana’s scientific research and understanding entered the story as it evolved, especially the heatwave she experienced and documented in Antarctica during the summer of 2019/20.
With hindsight, what a fantastic low carbon way to enjoy theatre!
thanks
Craig M Wood, Ellis Wood and Will Toft supported the recordings and mixing. Enabling assistance from Rose Wilson, Jaimee Lindley, Luke Kerr, Sarah + Mark Morabito.
Dr Frederique Olivier provided images, vision and Adélie penguin recording.
Dramaturg analysis and advice from Jennifer Medway, Rod Anderson, Terrence O’Connor and Peter Wilson.
Antarctic theatre context and musicology analysis and continued encouragement from Dr Hanne Neilson, Dr Carolyn Philpott and Prof Elle Leanne.
The Australian Antarctic Division kindly provided a recording of the RV Nuyina’s horn and supported Dana Michelle Bergstrom’s multiple research trips to Antarctica and the subantarctic across her scientific career.
We appreciated the numerous people who have supported the show over the years including Charlie Hull, Martine Munro, Eamon D’Arcy, Robert Jarman, Allan Jeffrey, Liez Moore, Ryk Goddard, Kris Stewart, Amanda Hodder, Matthew Robinson, Charles Parkinson, Terence O’Connor, Peter Wilson, Martin Biew and the late Martin McCallum.
Arts Tasmania assisted with this production.