Braydee Audrain was born to be on the stage.
Her brother was a student at the Johnny Young Talent School and went on to form his own touring band.
Baby Braydee would follow her big brother around the studio with stars in her eyes, waiting for her chance to be in the limelight.
She began dancing as a toddler and showed real talent; she’s since won several national dance competitions with self-choreographed routines.
But her real love is musical theatre.
“I want to be on Broadway one day,” she said.
“She’s wanted that since she was five and has never wavered from that dream,” mum, Anita said.
Now, at seventeen years of age, the young Cammillo local has gotten her first real break in the showbiz industry, after being selected for the Aussie All Stars musical theatre troupe which will head to the US in January to compete in the worldwide Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta.
Chosen students also get to attend master classes and workshops with industry greats in New York and brush up on the latest shows on Broadway, and tour Universal Studios and Disneyland.
Rumour has it that the Greatest Showman of all – Hugh Jackman – has made an appearance at past events, and could again.
“It’s a good way to be noticed. Perth is so small, and so is the industry,” Braydee said.
“Being recognised over there could mean the start to a career.”
With thousands of other young performers all waiting in the wings for their big moment, Braydee will have to dig deep to stand out.
But Braydee knows how to pull out all the stops and push through against insurmountable odds. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be alive today.
A few years ago, someone she trusted broke her in almost every way imaginable.
“In Year 8, I was sexually assaulted,” she said.
The betrayal robbed Braydee of her passion for the stage, and her will to live.
“We nearly lost her. It was a terrifying time,” Anita said.
“But his life continued on as if nothing happened. And this year he turns 18 and his conviction is quashed.”
Braydee struggled to leave the house for a long time and was diagnosed with severe PTSD. She also made several attempts on her life.
But over time, and with gentle encouragement, Braydee worked through some of her trauma on the dancefloor.
“Dance pretty much saved her life,” Anita said.
“It became my escape. And it holds a deeper meaning in my life now than it did before,” Braydee explained.
She choreographed a contemporary dance routine to ‘Body’ by Jordan Suaste which helped her express her experience through movement.
That routine won her gold at the State Dance Association of Australia’s national competition in 2022.
“I think that was really cathartic for her. Just letting it all out like that,” Anita said.
That year she also won student of the year at Showtime HMS Performing Arts.
The next year she came back to defend her title with another incredible self-devised routine to ‘Praying’ by Kesha – a song about finding peace in forgiving those who have hurt you. And Braydee triumphed again.
“That made me realise I did still have a reason to be here, and people who care about me, and that it’s not worth throwing something away that I’m good at,” Braydee said.
Last year Braydee made her return to musical theatre, securing a role in Western Theatrics’ production of Legally Blonde the Musical JR.
“From there it’s just been show after show,” Braydee said.
She’s performed in Elf JR, Camp Rock, and will perform in Dot the Kangaroo which premieres at the Roleystone Theatre this month. In December, she’ll play Queen Iduna in Frozen JR, and she’s just been named as a ‘Teen Queen’ in We Will Rock You which premieres in July.
Last October was when she headed over to Newcastle with a troupe from Western Theatrics to compete and audition at the Australian Junior Theatre Festival.
“I wasn’t overly confident because there were a lot of talented people there. But I thought I picked up the dance pretty quickly,” Braydee said.
Back in Perth, Braydee and her friends waited weeks for a call back and had almost lost hope when an email slid into her inbox to tell her she’d made the cut.
She was one of five from WA chosen to be on the 40-strong Aussie All Stars squad.
“When we found out we were all sobbing,” she said.
“I’m so happy I get to experience this with my close friends.
“It’ll be my first time travelling overseas – if you don’t count Bali. And, I mean, if I get to meet Hugh Jackman that’d be pretty great.
“But just getting to see the life that my idols live will be worth it.”
Getting there will not be cheap, however. For both Braydee and Anita to make it to Atlanta, they’ll need to find $25,000 before January.
Braydee has been collecting cans from locals around the area to raise funds through the Containers for Cash initiative.
And a few businesses have stepped in to help: local cake maker ‘A Little Nonsense’ donated a cake to raffle off, and New Spring Church, where Braydee is a youth leader, will donate the proceeds from their drinks and lolly bar from an upcoming dinner.
Anita has also set up a fundraiser for anyone in the community to donate to: ‘Help Braydee Represent Australia in Atlanta USA’.
“It would mean the world to me for her to go over there and see that her life has worth and she really can achieve her dreams,” Anita said.
