Two Bermudians are in the cast of a German-language production of the musical Show Boat in Austria.

Actor and singer Craig Walters, originally from Pembroke, who lives in Berlin, met Ginea Wolf, formerly Lambe, at a press event to promote the show at the Linz State Theatre, which started its run yesterday.

“Imagine my surprise at the opening press conference to find that I was, for the first time, not the only Bermudian in the cast,” Mr Walters said. “Immediately after the close of the meeting, I went over and introduced myself as Craig Walters from Pembroke West.

“The look on Ginea’s face was worth a thousand words — she was as shocked as I was.

“To think that we would both come all the way from Bermuda to Linz, Austria, to meet on the stage in a German language production of this popular American musical.”

The coincidence was heightened by the fact that both Mr Walters and Ms Wolf, who is married to a German and also lives in Berlin, both started their stage careers in local shows at the Ruth Seton James Memorial Hall in Pembroke, although some years apart.

“My first experience there was in a show called ‘The Dot’ which was staged in the 1970s when I was still a student at West Pembroke School,” Mr Walters said.

“Ginea, who went to Central School and Warwick Secondary, began her career a few years later with a role in a Gina Spence production. She then went on to Black Box Productions with Pat Pogson.”

Mr Walters, who plays the role of Charlie, added: “Ginea and I are both thrilled to be a part of such a huge professional production in this beautiful new theatre and are hoping not only for a great success here in Austria but also for continued successes in other musical productions throughout Europe.”

Ms Wolf plays the role of Queenie in the 1926 musical, written by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein.

Mr Walters said the musical was considered ground-breaking at the time and was an immediate success when it opened on New York’s Broadway in 1927 and features well-known songs like Ol’ Man River.

“It is considered by many to be one of the very first musicals to have a complete storyline and follow its lead characters from start to finish,” he said. “Show Boat was also the first musical to feature black and white performers sharing the stage.”