Above photo – Nancye Hayes AM with ACT Communication officer David Spicer
The Association of Community Theatre (ACT), ACT – an umbrella organisation for community theatre companies in New South Wales -which offers promotion, training and insurance coverage for member companies – recently held a weekend conference, on the 21st and 22nd September, at the hallowed National Institute of Dramatic Art.
I have been reviewing theatre in Sydney for over thirty years, more than half of which was with Stage Whispers before setting up Sydney Arts Guide. I have had the privilege of seeing many mainstream, independent and community theatre productions.
I have been impressed by the commitment and quality of the productions by community theatre groups, whether they perform conventional theatre (comedies, dramas) or musicals put on by musical societies.
These performers and creatives give their time, lots of time, including rehearsals after work and on weekends, because of their love for theatre and their wish to put on entertaining and thoughtful shows. They don’t do it for money, no-one gets paid, and the performers are aware that though they may want ‘the big break’, they know how tough and competitive it is to get one of these gigs.
No matter what age you are, from the quite young to the elderly, a place can usually be found in your local community theatre.
Whilst there is humour to be found in the productions that mainstream theatre companies have put on which portray community theatre companies, I have always found these shows a bit offensive, and disrespectful and filled with cheap shots.
I suspect that many of the theatre practitioners involvcd in these productions have never stepped inside a community theatre and come from a place of ignorance.
It is the same for many theatre reviewers. Have any of them deigned to cover a community theater production?
Are they aware that many of these community theatres have been around for well over fifty years and have a very proud history. Sure reviewers go to the New Theatre in Newtown because it has a high profile but how many have covered shows at the inner city Genesian theatre, a church was converted in to become one of Sydney’s most quaint intimate theatre venues. I suspect very few.
This is a theatre which has been around for eighty years and has been a starting place for actors of the pedigree of John Bell and Bryan Brown?
If only the Sydney theatre scene, and this includes audiences, who won’t go to see anything that isn’t at a mainstream theatre, weren’t so snooty! Isn’t theatre about play?!
I found the ACT conference rewarding. It was great to be around many kindred spirits.
I had a great chat with Nichola Creighton from. Moruya’s Red Door Theatre Company. She spoke of how this local theatre company, which has been putting on shows around Moruya for over ten years, began from very simple origins, A guy just put a notice in the local paper asking for people who are interested in forming a community theatre to get in touch with him.
There were many fascinating seminars aboutthe different aspects of theatre from directing, creating a character to makeup, costumes, props and stage management. My favourite seminar, from those I attended, was run by the lovely Chloe Dallimore, about what is involved in being an in Intimacy Coordinator, a fairly new position within the theatre world, and one which has always sounded intriguing. The seminar ended with Chloe and her partner showing how two actors, can appear to the audience, to be having an intimate kiss but their lips never meet. Quite the magic trick!
The main event of the weekend was a very well attended dinner at Maroubra Juniors on the Saturday night.
Eight new theatremakers were inducted in to the ACT Hall of Fame.Nancye Hayes AM, the patron of the Assocciation, was there to present certificates to these members. Hayes spoke of how she recalled receiving some of her first acting roles were in an amateur theatre company on Sydney’s northern beaches.
“It was such a privilege to hear the wonderful contributions made by our award winners and to see the genuine surprise with which they responded and the obvious pleasure we all felt for them. Congratulations one and all. So well deserved.”
Inducted into the Hall of Fame were:
Diane Crease (Bankstown Theatre Company.) A theatre professional who has worked tirelessly for the company for 40 years.
Andrew Davis ( Willoughby Theatre Company, Cumberland Gang Show, North Shore Theatre Company.) Andy’s unwavering dedication to community theatre over the course of several decades has made him the very definition of “Community Theatre.”
Tim Dennis (Miranda Musical Theatre.) For decades of outstanding service on stage as an actor, as a director, prop maker and lighting designer.
Rod Drummond (Tweed Theatre Company.) A dedicated and consistently hard-working member of Tweed Theatre Company Inc for over 20 years.
Neil Litchfield (ACT.) Fifty years as a performer and Director. Dedicated compiler of What’s on listings for 30 years and Editor of Stage Whispers since 2008.
Caroline Reddel (Eastwood Uniting Church Musical Society.) Tireless performer and committee leader for several decades.
Brenda Warren (Tugin Theatre Company.) A performer, director and committee member who is still working front of house at the age of 90.
James Worner. (Inner-west theatre company) His passion for costumes is unmatched. His attention to detail and creativity has elevated the production values of all levels of shows, from schools, large scale community theatre and professional productions.
Attendees at the award dinner also enjoyed preview performances of The Willoughby Theatre Company’s Singin’ in the Rain, North Shore Theatre Company’s production of We Will Rock You and a special tribute the Bankstown Theatre Company’s 75th anniversary season which will culminate in a production of Sweeney Todd.
The full Hall of Fame citations can be read at
https://www.communitytheatre.com.au/index.php/hall-of-fame
A calendar of community theatre productions is listed year around at
http://Www.community theatre.com.au
