IN 2004, Australia was gripped by the trial and imprisonment of Schapelle Corby for smuggling cannabis into Indonesia.
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Fifteen years later, her story has been taken to the stage in an original production at the Factory Theatre in Sydney.
Schapelle, Schapelle is a comedic drama that was written, scored and produced by theatre media students at Charles Sturt University Bathurst.
The show debuted at the Ponton Theatre as part of the 2018 Sprung Festival in Bathurst and won the Blair Milan Memorial Tour Prize.
Now the show is gaining more attention after four sold-out shows at the Factory Theatre in inner west Marrickville.
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One of the show's original writers, Gareth Thomson, says the musical has come a long way since its first showing at the Sprung Festival last September.
"We have really developed and strengthened the show," he said.
"The show was originally more about Schapelle's case ... now it is more about the huge media following surrounding the Corby family."
The music is a selling point for the improved production.
CSU Bathurst graduate and New York University-trained composer, Tim Hansen, was added to the production team for the show's run at the Factory Theatre.
"We were able to add Tim Hansen to the team and he really added some great music and improved the music we already had," Mr Thomson said.
The audience response to the musical has been positive.
Mr Thomson said there was noticeable excitement among the crowd at each show.
"The audience reaction was great ... there was a lot of laughter," he said.
"The show is such a spectacle and there was a real buzz among the audience."
The Schapelle, Schapelle crew are hoping the show will continue to grow, but are focusing on the current production for now.
They are negotiating to bring the show back to the Factory Theatre during Sydney's festival season later in the year.
"We want the show to go as far as it can but we're already in a great spot ... we have this self-contained thing happening now at the Factory Theatre, but we hope to develop it into an even greater show," Mr Thomson said.
