Issue 2 2024
Image credits:
Daniel Ferris
Margaret Olive
Casey Moon-Watton
Contact us:
Our mailing address
Pymble Players Inc.
PO Box 203, St Ives 2075
E: theatre@pymbleplayers.com.au
W: pymbleplayers.com.au
F: facebook.com/PymblePlayers
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”
— Dr. Seuss, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”
From the President
Hello again to all PP members and past members – welcome to Issue 2 of Noises Off.
My remarks in Issue 1 about 2024 being our 67th year and our 50th year in our beloved intimate theatre have gained even greater significance with the headline news for PP which is included in the following announcement to ensure you are all aware:
“17 March 2024
Hello PP members past and present,
I am writing to share the news that Pymble Players will be moving to new premises in 2025!
The move is a result of the decision by our landlord (the Uniting Church) to sell its Pymble premises, meaning our premises license for the current theatre will not be renewed beyond 2024, our 50th year in residence.
However, as one door closes another opens and we are delighted to share the exciting news that we are in advanced stages of negotiations with the Zenith Theatre, Chatswood for our 2025 season. The Zenith Theatre is located in the heart of Chatswood and is focused on community performance-based arts. It is a versatile, professional venue offering an excellent theatre, quality facilities and convenience that includes parking, a major transport hub and various eateries close-by.
Pymble Players is one of Sydney’s most enduring and successful community theatre associations. We are committed to producing an entertaining and varied program of classic and contemporary plays which are professional in execution, and which stimulate and entertain our audiences.
We have an excellent reputation based on 67 years of quality theatre, we are playing to full houses, and we have a bright and promising future which we anticipate with excitement. We look forward to the ongoing support of our loyal Pymble Players community as we honour the past, celebrate the present, and embrace the future!”
This communication was sent to all members past and present, previous subscribers and ticket buyers, and to people who have registered to receive advice of auditions. You’re invited to forward it on to your family and friends.
The season of our first play of 2024, The White Sheep of the Family, concluded with a 98% capacity audience. Congratulations to the director, Margaret Olive, the actors, and the hard-working PP crew and front-of-house team.
Our next play is The Spook by Melissa Reeves. We are delighted to welcome Casey Moon-Watton in his first director role with PP. Set in 1965, this play is based on a true story from country Victoria. It tells an intriguing story about the world of activity involving the Communist Party and ASIO in Australian society during the post-war decades. The Spook opens on 15 May. See you there!
The 2024 AGM will be on Monday 22 April, and we look forward to welcoming members that evening.
Warren Blood
President
AND THAT’S A WRAP! – The White Sheep of the Family
By Arrangement with ORIGIN™ Theatrical on behalf of Samuel French – A Concord Theatricals Company
21 February – 16 March 2024
Written by: L. du Garde Peach & Ian Hay
Directed by: Margaret Olive
No show reaches any theatre stage without the Herculean efforts of those behind the scenes. I cannot sing enough praise for all the production team and the actors who shared their talents with great generosity. Each of you enriched our end result!
A huge thank you to Ian Ackland, our set designer, chief set-builder, and lighting designer. A big thank you to Wendy Knight, our Stage Manager, and Leah and Rob White who were stalwarts of support throughout the production. Thanks also to Brendan Dart, Warren Blood, Bronwyn Watkins, Linda Young, and Geoff Jones.
Jan McLachlan, our Props Guru, Marisa Newnes, our costume designer, and Cettina Lahiri, our set colourist and decorator were amazingly generous with their time. Dave Allsopp’s soundscape had everyone almost dancing in the aisles. Our audience members were leaving with great smiles on their faces. Thank you!
If anyone is looking for a fabulous dialogue/acting coach, Tom Sweeney should be at the top of your list. We welcomed a couple of new assets to the PP acting flock, and Tom was fantastic in helping to prepare them. He was always a strong support at rehearsals and backstage.
Actors each have different methods to prepare for auditions. Some of them look at versions of a play on the internet. For our little flock, “The White Sheep” presented a problem. There is nothing there – it is too old, having been written in 1951, and too obscure. Our cast were forced to create their characters from scratch, and they did a great job. The actors found it challenging to learn the dialogue, but it became funnier to them as they came to know it better. This spilled brilliantly into their performances and the show grew organically. A big thank you to all for your efforts, especially those who assisted with set building and bump-out.
I only hope that we haven’t inflicted a pseudo-diabetic state on Dave Kirkham after forcing more sugar down his throat.
Margaret Olive, Director
Applause for cast
Cast with Margaret Olive, Director.
HAPPY 99TH BIRTHDAY PETER HOWARD
It was our honour and privilege to celebrate the 99th birthday of Professor Peter Howard as part of our Opening Night celebrations for The White Sheep of the Family on 21st February. Peter is a member of Pymble Probus and has been coming to Pymble Players plays for some 20 years. Peter had been a fighter pilot during WWII and enjoyed a long academic career. Some of those in attendance had been students of his at university. Peter and his partner Michelle were thrilled with the evening and told us that they really enjoyed the play. As for the birthday celebration, Michelle said that Peter “was very chuffed”. They were kind enough to share his fabulous birthday cake with everyone at the party!
OUR NEXT PLAY – THE Spook
By Arrangement with the Licensor, Melissa Reeves, c/- Fran Moore
15 May – 8 June 2024
Written by: Melissa Reeves
Directed by: Casey Moon-Watton
In 1965 there doesn’t seem to be too much going on in the ranks of the South Bendigo Communist Party. Even the presence of young recruit Martin Porter has done little to inject life into the weekly grind. While Martin’s mum frets about his inexplicable abandonment of the church, short hair and the army reserve, George and Eli Tassekis welcome him into their family like a second son. But Martin is an ASIO spy, and he’s about to get his new friends into serious trouble. Based on a true story from country Victoria, The Spook reveals the world of activity involving the Communist Party and ASIO in Australian society during the post-war decades.
“Just a little chat… about the state of the world… There might be something you can do for your country.”
General bookings open from 10 April 2024
A Note from our Director
Rehearsals for The Spook are going well. We are excited to now be in the theatre and moving around in the space. The team are hard at work exploring their characters, the play, and learning lots about communism in Australia in the late 1960's.
We'll get the set built after Easter, we are starting to gather props, and just generally having a great time as we prepare this really interesting play for you all. Looking forward to sharing it with everyone soon.
Casey Moon-Watton, Director
Cast in rehearsal.
Diary Date: Final Dress Rehearsal
8pm, Monday 13 May 2024
Pymble Players extends an invitation to all financial and Life members to come to the Final Dress Rehearsal of The Spook at 8pm on Monday 13 May 2024.
URGENTLY SEEKING A STAGE MANAGER – THE SPOOK
SEASON 15 MAY – 8 JUNE 2024
We have a great team in place for The Spook, but we are missing one vital cog in our machine. That missing cog is a Stage Manager!
You do not need to have had experience in this role, as full training will be provided. This is a great opportunity to play an integral role in getting this play onto the stage. The role can be shared.
If you can’t help out this time, but you know someone who might be interested, please forward this information on to them.
We are certainly looking forward to hearing from you. Please contact theatre@pymbleplayers.com.au. More information about the play, cast and existing production team can be found here.
UPCOMING AUDITIONS – SWEET ROAD
Season: 7 to 31 August 2024
Tickets Available From: 3 July 2024
Written by: Debra Oswald
By Arrangement with Cameron’s Management Pty Ltd as agents for the Author.
Directed by: Rob and Leah White
Closed Auditions BY APPOINTMENT ONLY will be held on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 April. Callbacks (if required) Wednesday 24 April.
8 actors (3 females, 4 males plus 1 which can be either) with stage ages from 18 to 60+. A great opportunity for actors to immerse themselves in the lives of very real Australians and be engrossed in their journey.
Remember, auditions are by appointment only, so registration is essential.
Click below to Download the Audition Pack for full information.
Call for Directors
With the excitement around our new venue next year at the Zenith Theatre, we are now calling for experienced directors to apply to direct in our 2025 Season.
If you or anyone you know might be interested in participating in our first Zenith season, download the application form here.
Applications close on 19 April 2024.
Wendy Morton, Chairperson – Play Selection Subcommittee
AGM 2024
The Pymble Players 67th Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 22 April at 7.30pm in the Hayward Hall, Pymble Players, 55A Mona Vale Road (Cnr Bromley Avenue), Pymble, and via Zoom. The notice of meeting and related documents will be sent to all members shortly. We look forward to seeing you there, either in person or via Zoom.
Pymble Players need sound and lights operators and designers for our upcoming season.
It is exciting to be part of a production so directly as an operator. Operation is not difficult or onerous. It is rewarding to contribute so directly as an operator. As designers, you will work in collaboration with a director to create atmosphere. We need experienced designers to add to our team as well.
I would be happy to show you our operating equipment and have you run through sound and lighting cues to get the sense of what’s required. We use QLab which drives sound and lights (Chamsys lighting console) via a single operator.
Training will be provided in a supportive environment. Come on…join our team!
Contact me: Geoff Jones theatre@pymbleplayers.com.au
ARTISTS AWAY
Daniel Ferris is in The Pavilion Theatre Castle Hills’ production of Caravan.
https://paviliontheatre.org.au/caravan/
Season 5 – 27 April 2024
Catherine Potter, Ross Alexander and Kate Mannix will be appearing in Two Ladies and an Emu at The Theatre on Chester. Tracey Okeby Lucan is the Director.
https://www.theatreonchester.com.au/
Season 12 April – 4 May 2024.
David Allsopp will be appearing in The Front Page at the New Theatre.
https://newtheatre.org.au/the-front-page/
Season 24 April – 18 May 2024, with a Preview performance on 23 April.
For inclusion in Artists Away, please let us know details of the production in which you are performing or involved by sending information to theatre@pymbleplayers.com.au (Attention: Noises Off). We look forward to hearing from you!