Issue 3 2026

From the President

Hello members and past members,

From the warm-hearted hug of The Heartbreak Choir to the unbridled hilarity of Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall and on to the upcoming rich and innovative retelling of Dickens’ beloved A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas, what a super mix of Pymble Players plays we are experiencing at the Zenith Theatre in 2026. 

Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall: This show was a huge success with top production quality and record audience numbers. Very imaginative direction by Declan Moore, a highly talented cast and a very professional production team led by Daniel Ferris (who stepped in as production manager), Diane Howden as stage manager, and Ross Alexander who led the complicated set construction. Special mention also to our marketing team (Bronwyn Watkins, David Allsopp, Linda Young and Tonia Davis) for their constant efforts to sell our productions. 

We were delighted that the co-playwright and Artistic Director for the Ensemble Theatre, Mark Kilmurry was able to attend a performance and stay to meet the director, cast and production team after the show. Mark was very impressed at the ‘business’ which had been added to his play.

We had great pleasure in having the ever supportive and popular Mayor of Willoughby City Council, Tanya Taylor attend our opening night and address audience, cast and production team.

A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas: We are proud to present this adaptation as a first to Australian audiences and to be dedicating the play to two giants of community service and theatre; John Howitt and Tom Sweeney OAM. Rehearsals are well under way, heading towards opening night on Friday 13th. Glowing team spirit abounds with the high-quality cast and production team under the excellent direction of Joy Sweeney. This will be a delightful theatrical experience. Please invite all your friends and family to join us for this wonderful Christmas finale to the year.

Child Safety: Due to the presence of children in our upcoming production, we have adopted a new Pymble Players Child Safety Package in consultation with the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG), the NSW government statutory agency. This includes a Statement of Commitment to Child Safety, a Child Safe Code of Conduct, and a Child Safe Policy.

Sound at the Zenith Theatre: In our ongoing objective to produce the highest quality experience for our Pymble Players audiences, we have been using wireless body mics for our 2026 plays. This resulted from the recommendations of our directors, an audio readiness assessment by a professional audio engineer, and Zenith audience feedback. We will continue this practise throughout 2027. As always, if any members or past members possess skills in this discipline or any other of our technical operations (light and sound) or who would like to be trained, we would love to hear from you. 

I look forward to seeing you, and your family and friends, at A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas. We greatly appreciate your on-going support!

Warm regards

Warren Blood
President

AND THAT’S A WRAP! – Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall

By Mark Kilmurry & Jamie Oxenbould
By arrangement with David Spicer Productions
Commissioned and first staged by the Ensemble Theatre
Directed by Declan Moore

31 July – 9 August 2026

A Note from our Director

With the final curtain call now a memory, I’d like to take this opportunity to say a sincere thank you to everyone who poured their heart, soul, and countless hours into making our production the great success it was. It was my first outing as director for Pymble Players and the positive support, advice and friendship offered by the entire committee and team made the experience a wonderful one.

Thank you to our hugely talented cast of Michael, Emily, Murray, Kate, Harry and Ciara. They were as passionate, bonded and collaborative off stage as they were wonderfully entertaining on stage. Brimming with impeccable comic timing and energy, but also with heart and relatable vulnerability, no wonder the audiences loved them all!

From set construction, technicals, stage crew and lighting to set painting, sound, props and costumes - thanks to all for keeping the many manic mishaps in this fast-paced play cleverly confined to the stage! Four of the team that deserve a special mention are my assistant director (and close advisor on all things theatrical) Sarah Dolan, my two technical wizards, Daniel Ferris and Casey Moon-Watton, and my amazing stage manager, Diane Howden. Your combined endless work, artistry, and attention to detail in aspects big and small helped build the entire wonderful world our audience stepped into.

Finally, to those audiences, thank you for your support and for filling our season with much laughter and joy. The energy you brought to the room made every single performance such a worthwhile and rewarding experience for the whole cast, crew, team and company.

Declan Moore, Director

Charles Dickens
Adapted by Michael Wilson
By arrangement with Michael Wilson Productions, LLC
Directed by Joy Sweeney

13 November – 22 November 2026

This rich and heartfelt retelling of Dickens’ beloved tale brings Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey of redemption to life with theatrical magic, music and warmth. It’s a festive celebration of generosity, transformation, and the spirit of togetherness!

A Note from our Director

Well, here we are at the pointy end of rehearsals for A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas. And what a fun and fascinating rehearsal time it’s been AND what a challenge! With a cast of 22 including six children and four dancers, Daniel Ferris and I have been flat out in the wrangling department. Everybody is working incredibly hard on stage and behind the scenes and you are in for a treat. As we rehearse more, we’ve realised what a great show this is for children. It’s only short and full of visual surprises – they will love it. So, if you have grandchildren, great grandchildren or neighbours’ children please bring them along. In addition, what wonderful acting performances you’re going to see. It’s not a musical but it’s jam-packed with beautiful music, dancing and great acting.

I feel privileged in bringing Michael Wilson’s adaption of this wonderful play as a first to Australia, and to the Zenith Theatre. A must-see production!

Thank you to Stage Whispers for their featured article on A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas by David Allsopp here.

Joy Sweeney, Director

Subscription tickets for the full 2027 season are ON SALE NOW

When you subscribe for 2027, you get to see all 3 plays for only $90, get an early-bird choice of dates and seats, and the option to change your dates throughout 2027 for a nominal fee.

Click the button below for more details on our 2027 season, including info on how to subscribe, or to download the full season brochure.

A Love Letter to Community Theatre Volunteers

There is a moment in every show, right before the lights go down, where everything feels a little electric. The audience settles in. The set is waiting. The room changes. And for a second, it all feels effortless. But of course, it never is.

Why Dress Rehearsal Is a Love Letter to the Crew

Dress rehearsal reminds everyone in the room that theatre is handmade. It is carried by people who may never take a bow, but whose work is inside every laugh, every blackout, every entrance, every quick change, every perfectly timed piece of stage magic.

Kate Mannix – The Day of the Triffids, New Theatre, Newtown. 30 June to 25 July.

Clive Hobson and Catherine Potter – The Dining Room, Theatre on Chester, Epping. 24 July to 15 August.

Tim Wotherspoon – Jesus Christ Superstar, Rockdale Musical Society, Riverside Theatres Parramatta. 5 to 8 August.

Nick Roberts – Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, The Guild Theatre, Rockdale. 14 August to 5 September. 

Gina Willison, Cassandra Gorman and Tonia Davis – Bittersweet Productions, KNOWING HOW IT ENDS? One Act Plays. Eternity Playhouse, Darlinghurst. 21 & 22 August. 

Chantal Harrison – After Dinner, Lane Cove Theatre Company, The Pottery Lane Performance Space, Lane Cove. 21 - 30 August.

Ross Alexander, Nathan Heinrich, Emma Lebeuf and Christine Rule – Black Coffee, Hunters Hill Theatre, Ryde. 21 August to 13 September.

Tonia Davis and David Allsopp – Rhinestone Rex and Miss Monica, Elanora Players, Narrabeen. 2 - 10 October.