In this issue:

From the President

And That’s A Wrap! – It’s Only a Play

Our Next Play – Spider’s Web

AGM

Artists Away

Reviews – It’s Only a Play

“Above all, you must remain open and fresh and alive to any new idea.”

— Laurence Olivier

From the President

The past year has been one of the most significant periods in Pymble Players’ history. Over that period, we have been focusing on several work streams:

Stream 1 – Ongoing 2024 productions. Namely, The Spook directed by Casey Moon-Watton, Sweet Road directed by Rob and Leah White, both very successful productions and then ending our 50 years at Pymble on a high was a sold-out season of The 39 Steps directed by David Allsopp.

Stream 2 – Planning and booking of three 2025 plays in a completely new environment at the Zenith Theatre, Chatswood. Our debut production, It’s Only a Play directed by Joy Sweeney was an outstanding success both artistically and as a hit with audiences. Opening Night was attended by the Mayor of Willoughby City Council, Tanya Taylor, who was very impressed with the production and warmly welcomed Pymble Players to the Willoughby LGA. We estimate that this play attracted approximately 60 percent of previous Pymble Players ticketholders and up to 40 percent of new patrons which augurs well for the future and is a result of our exemplary marketing work. We had set an aspirational target of 1200 tickets for our debut play at the Zenith, this being equivalent to a run of full houses (excluding ‘whole of theatre’ nights) at Pymble. We achieved 1187 tickets, which was very gratifying.

Stream 3 – Financial and contract negotiations with the Uniting Church, the Coptic Church, Willoughby City Council, Zenith Theatre and builders.

Stream 4 – In accordance with our contractual obligations the demolition of the Pymble Players theatre and disposal of 50 years accumulated furniture, fittings, equipment, costumes, tools, lighting, sound and scenery.

Stream 5 – Financial management. We had to accomplish all this work with the least possible impact on our financial resources.

Before we embarked on this major transition project we had three main challenges. These were the sheer amount of work involved in the transition/relocation, the financial risk of our contractual ‘make-good’ obligations at Pymble and moving to a quasi-commercial workplace at our new home. Not to mention the risk of losing our audiences and not attracting new patrons. Would we get bums on seats?

As a result, we had budgeted worst case for $80K of our financial resources for the ‘make-good’ costs and forecast a loss of $50K in our first year of operations at the Zenith Theatre.

As for the concern about the workload, we have a very dedicated, hardworking and professional committee and other generous volunteers, and we contracted a very competent builder for the dismantling project. The entire project was well managed and came in on time and within budget.

As for the concern about financial risk, our one-off relocation costs were $40K, not $80K, due mainly to sourcing a highly recommended builder. To offset this cost, we negotiated rent relief with the Uniting Church of $18K and a contribution from the Uniting Church of $5K. We had also achieved an operation surplus of $16K. So, rather than a big financial hit, we finished the year ended 31 January 2025 with a net operating loss of merely $3K. As a bonus, we also negotiated out of the cost of painting as part of the ‘make-good’ project which saved us a further $22K, the cost of which was borne by the Uniting Church.

As for the projected $50K operating loss for the current year, we have negotiated the following savings:

• 50 percent discount of standard Zenith Theatre hire rates as a not-for-profit association. Saving $18K (estimate).

• Storage. We negotiated to retain the storage container at Pymble for no charge. And we disposed of all other surplus storage items. Saving $23K (which was the projected storage estimate).

• Pymble rent relief February 2025. Saving $3K.

• Grant from Willoughby City Council in support of community and cultural objectives. Contribution $7.5K.

So, the total of offsets to our original budget forecast is $51.5K. The caveat is that this is estimate territory only, but the prospect is that we can hopefully achieve close to break even in our first year in Chatswood as opposed to the projected $50K loss. Going forward, we need to secure a permanent storage and set construction facility and would welcome any member suggestions or contributions to that end.

All in all, our transition has been an emphatic success, of which we can all be justifiably proud.

Back to the stage and our next play is an Agatha Christie classic, Spider’s Web, which will run from 4-12 July. Bookings will open on 23 May. So, please spread the word.

In closing, I want to thank our outgoing Management Committee for their open minds, hard work and professionalism over the past year. Without them, none of this success story could have happened. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Kate Kelly, Linda Young, Tom Sweeney, Rob White, Leah White, Bronwyn Watkins, David Allsopp, Geoff Jones, Ian Ackland, Liz Lynch and Wendy Morton. I would also like to acknowledge Wayne Chee, Casey Moon-Watton, Marisa Newnes, Brendon Dart, Maddy Dart, Fran Etheridge, Daniel Ferris, Nathan Heinrich, Jill Klopfer, the front of house team, the Season Selection team and all those volunteers who love the performing arts and who make it all happen. Somehow!!!!

Thank you one and all.

Warm regards

Warren Blood
President

AND THAT’S A WRAP! – It’s Only a Play

It’s Only a Play is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)

14-22 March 2025
By Terrence McNally
Directed by Joy Sweeney

It’s Only a Play took its final bow on 22nd March after a season full of laughs, great houses and a successful transition into Pymble Players’ new home at the Zenith Theatre. On looking back, what seemed like a very scary and formidable task actually worked like clockwork. Of course, this only happens because there’s a fantastic team surrounding the production. So, a special thanks to Casey Moon-Watton for so much help with everything, Tom Sweeney for organizing a brilliant bump in and bump out, Helen Williams for having to re-learn everything as a SM in a new venue with Courtney Farrow, Sam Gorman and Brendan Dart on tech, Ian Ackland who shone on the scissor lift, our front of house volunteers and a brilliant cast who supported this production from day one with their passion and dedication. There are more to thank, and I could go on forever, but onwards and upwards with the next PP triumph – Spider’s Web.

Joy Sweeney, Direct

By Arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical On Behalf of Samuel French A Concord Theatricals Company.

4-12 July 2025
By Agatha Christie
Directed by Georgia Drewe

Clarissa, wife of diplomat Henry Hailsham-Brown, is adept at spinning tales of adventure but when a murder takes place in her drawing room, she finds live drama much harder to cope with. Desperate to dispose of the body before her husband arrives with an important politician, she enlists the help of her guests. Hilarity ensures when they are interrupted by the arrival of wry detective, Inspector Lord. Now Clarissa must keep the body hidden, convince the sceptical police inspector that there has been no murder, and, in the meantime, find out who has been murdered, why, and what the body is doing in her house…

What sets Spider’s Web apart from most specimens of its genre, is that its real motive is fun; all else – dropped clues, plot contrivances – is secondary.

Bookings open on 23 May 2025.

Cast

A Note from our Director

I hope you're all excited to come and see Spider’s Web, because I am beyond excited to be bringing it to you! 

I've had a lifelong love affair with all things Christie, and being able to direct one of my favourites among her works is a dream come true! 

We've got a truly incredible cast, and their chemistry is really exciting to watch. They've all been able to connect with their characters in most interesting ways, and bring a liveliness, humour and depth to this phenomenal script. My approach to theatre making is that creativity thrives when everyone is in a state of play, and everybody in the cast definitely came to play! It's been so much fun getting to watch them do their thing.

Georgia Drewe, Director

Cast in rehearsals

Tida Dhanommitrapap is appearing in Silent Sky, until 17 May, at The Theatre on Chester.

Tonia Davis is appearing in The Pot Boiler as part of Bittersweet Productions’ show ‘Mayhem & Madness’. 16 - 17 May, The Independent Theatre, North Sydney. 

Brett Joachim is appearing in Rehearsal for Murder at Pavilion Theatre, Castle Hill Players from 30 May – 21 June.

Kate Kelly and Anthea Brown are appearing in The Revlon Girl, with Lighting Design by Wayne Chee, and Set and Sound Design by Casey Moon-Watton. The show runs 30 May - 22 June at Hunters Hill Theatre. 

David Allsopp is appearing in Instructions for Correct Assembly at Flight Path Theatre from 25 June - 5 July.