http://hatingalisonashley.ninemsn.com.au
Coming to Cinema's 17th March 2005
| Actor/ess | Character | Last seen.. |
| Delta Goodrem | Alison Ashley | Neighbours ('03) |
| Saskia Burmeister | Erica Yurgen | Ned Kelly ('03) |
| Jean Kittson | Mrs Belmont | The Nugget ('02) |
| Rachael Carpani | Valjoy Yurgen | McLeod's Daughters ('04) |
| Craig McLachlan | Jeff Kennard | McLeod's Daughters ('04) |
| Tracey Mann | Mrs Yurgen | A Country Practice & Home and Away |
| Richard Carter | Lennie | White Collar Blue ('02) |
| Alexander Cappelli | Barry | Blue Heelers ('04) - recent graduate |
| Katie Fitchett | Margaret | Ballet performer |
Did you know? Delta Goodrem and Rachael Carpani both attended Hills Grammer in Sydney - Rachael graduated 4 years ahead of Delta.
Production occured on the Docklands in Melbourne, Victoria and ran for 6 weeks. It was Delta Goodrem's first stint back at work after recovering from treatment for her cancer.
What's Hating Alison Ashley About?
The screen adaptation of Robin Klein’s classic best-seller Hating Alison Ashley is a comic and poignant portrayal of the dilemmas of being a teenager. In it schoolgirl rivalries, first kisses and embarrassing families all combine misunderstanding, awkwardness and insecurity to eventually map the road to true friendship.
Meet 14 year old Erica Yurken (Saskia Burmeister), commonly know as ‘Yuk’ or ‘Erk’, she’s a melodramatic teenager with a love of Romeo and Juliet. Yuk is entirely convinced that she’s a cut above the other students at Barringa East, must have been secretly adopted and is destined for greater things. In order to deal with her very ordinary life she daydreams about being a famous movie star, great heroine and almost anything else that takes her away from the hum drum world of Barringa East.
But reality always bites back in the chaotic house and very unconventional family in which Yuk lives.
Her younger sister Jedda (Abigail Gudgeon) believes she’s a horse, her brother Harley (Anthony Cleave) tries to get in touch with extraterrestrial beings and her boy-obsessed sister Valjoy (Rachael Carpani) takes great pleasure in tormenting Yuk whenever possible.
And to top it all off, her adoring mum Liz Yurken (Tracey Mann) has just let her heart of gold, truck-driving, gap-toothed boyfriend Lennie (Richard Carter) move in.
Yuk feels like a misfit and a loner, at home and at school. That’s until 9C teacher Miss Belmont (Jean Kittson) arrives at Barringa East High. Miss Belmont is a woman after her own heart who whips the unruly 9C into shape and who Yuk Believes can see her true potential. At last Yuk feels she is shining. That is until…..
….the arrival of miss perfect, Alison Ashley (Delta Goodrem) ruins all her plans. Alison is beautiful and rich and to top it all off, she’s smart.
After a failed attempt engratiate herself to the new girl (what sort of person doesn’t like the sick bay??) Yuk decides they must be rivals and she hates her, but somehow this is harder than it seems and the two girls seem inexplicably drawn together through their hidden similarities.
But everything comes to a head on drama night of the annual school camp.
Yuk sees the drama night as an opportunity to begin her glittering career on the stage and she plans to write, direct and star in the leading role. However, a terrible case of stage fright during rehearsals puts an end to Yuk’s acting career.
In steps Alison Ashley, who performs the role brilliantly.
But Yuk soon sees that all is not as perfect as it seems for Alison Ashley. Her mother ignores her and won’t come to the school play and despite her self assured ways she’s desperately lonely.
In a rousing finale Yuk realises that Alison is the friend she has always longed for and her family are the best thing in her life, and who knows? There may even be a romance waiting in the wings….
Production runs from 5th April until the 21st May 2004. The location is Melbourne's Docklands - so if your from the area get yourself down there!
Production Company: Top Cat Films Pty Ltd
Executive Producers: Gary Hamilton, Victor Syrmis, John Brousek
Producers: Elizabeth Howatt-Jackman, John Brousek
Director: Andrew Prowse
Writer: Christine Madafferi
Distributed by Universal / Arclight Films
