The Griffith University Conservatorium graduate plays the ex-girlfriend in the musical playing an exclusive season at HOTA at the Gold Coast HOTA from June 17 to 22.

“I always loved theatre, but my first love was music and violin,” Clark said.

“And that’s what makes this show so beautiful as everyone plays their instruments on stage. And it’s very rare that you get an opportunity to play your instrument, I mean for me it’s playing my first love with another big love of mine, which is theatre.

“So to incorporate those two aspects is an absolute dream.

“I grew up on the Goldie, but I don’t think I’ve done anything on the Gold Coast. So I’m super excited. And that’s extremely exciting for my mother. Who I imagine is coming to nearly every show.”

Based on the movie of the same name, ONCE the musical is a classic authentic non-Hollywood love story. It centres on a Dublin busker on the verge of giving up, when a charming Czech piano-player takes an interest in his music.

It’s the only Broadway show that has won an Academy Award, Grammy Award, Olivier Award and Tony Award for Best Musical.

Clark said people don’t need to have seen the movie to appreciate the show.

“The music is divine. It’s folk music, heaven. I mean, I say I’m obsessed with the music,” she said. “It was always a dream show to do.

“It’s such more than love between two people. It is love of community, it is connection, it is family.

“It’s what brings people together and what you’ll fight for and putting other people before yourself. There are so many layers of love and even the exploration of the Czech family living in Ireland, and a lot of the layers of the different religious values that different parts of Ireland had.

“Also people putting past experiences behind them or seeing people for people instead of the layers that they project onto them. The show is community, and what melts it all together – the connecting tissue – is the music.”

Enda Walsh adapted the movie to the stage using the music and lyrics from Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, and taking a few different twists and turns from the original storyline. The Oscar-winning song ‘Falling Slowly’ features along with other songs from the critically acclaimed film.

Clark will be familiar to may musical theatre devotees as Rizzo in the national tour of Grease, and Maureen in the QPAC season of Rent.

But she said the unique connection between the cast and the audience that ONCE fosters generates excitement every night they perform.

“There is busking, so it is worth your while coming in about 15 minutes before the show. That’s when musicians will come out and play for you, which is just a really beautiful vibe,” she said.

“It’s always fresh. I cannot tell you the passion and the love that every single cast member has for this show is, it’s unwavering in everyone.

“Before every show we sing together, we have a circle, often someone will say something, people will say things like, remember this is someone’s first show or this is someone’s last show. Everyone believes so passionately in the story, so passionately in the show, in the love of the show. It’s just so beautiful.

“I honestly think it’s the love of music that everyone has that makes this show so magical and makes everyone want to come to work every day.”

Clark said she hopes Gold Coast audiences are as swept away by ONCE as the audiences were in Melbourne where they last performed. She said it is impossible not to be swept away by the musical’s captivating music, emotional depth and authenticity.

“The show lends itself to an intimate experience. And for people to be so connected to the story, it only solidifies the fact to me that it’s going to translate to the Gold Coast just as well,” she said.