Issue 3 2025

“What a strange business this acting is, …The closer you play to yourself the better. Paradox of paradoxes: to be someone else successfully you must be yourself!”

— from THE BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA, by Hanif Kureishi

From the President

Hello members and past members

I am delighted to open by offering congratulations to all our team on the marvellous success of Agatha Christie’s Spider's Web. Following on from our outstanding Zenith debut production of It's Only a Play, directed by Joy Sweeney, Pymble Players has gone from strength to strength in our new home with this run of Spider's Web, directed by Georgia Drewe. 

I think sometimes the range of skills and efforts that bring these productions to the stage can be overlooked. So, applause to all our Pymble Players team who bring their talents to these productions and to all our volunteers who continually create high-quality and affordable community theatre:

• The PP management committee, who produce and resource our plays and who continually work hard on operations and development behind the scenes. 

• The season selection sub-committee, who source the plays, performance rights and the director. 

• Our directors, whose passion for the work drives the creative vision.

• The first-class actors who perform at a top level to produce consistently professional and engaging performances.  We are very proud of you.

• The set con and set dressing teams who create the sense of time and place for the production. 

• The costumes that complement the sets and set dressing perfectly.

• The production team, for creating lights and sound magic, managing the logistics for bump-in, tech operations, and super-efficient bump-outs just in time for the parties.

• The marketing team, who go to extraordinary efforts to attract audiences - and do!

• Our front-of-house team, who make every audience member feel welcome. Special thanks to Nathan Heinrich and Rob White, who had the hardest task of all in both shows, which was to help car parkers get out of the place – we are working with the Zenith Theatre management on that issue.

I would like to make special mention of the valued co-operation we receive from the Zenith Theatre staff. We work as one team.

As one gauge of success, our aspirational attendance target for the PP transition to the Zenith Theatre was 1200 patrons per play. This was based on 15 full houses in the Pymble theatre, our previous home of 50 years. Our debut production at the Zenith, It’s Only a Play, attracted almost 100% of that target. We were delighted. We had retained many of our loyal supporters and attracted many new patrons.  Spider’s Web attracted 116% of that aspirational target with 1402 patrons. All of which bodes well for the future. 

Please keep your eyes out for your invitation to the 2026 Season Launch, which will be held at the Zenith Theatre on 12 October 2025. Or look at our Pymble Players website for details. Put a place marker in your diaries now.

On a sad note, please see elsewhere in this newsletter tributes to PP members, Maurice Pepper and Reg Lunn (Life member), who recently passed on. Our condolences are extended to their families and friends.

Rehearsals are underway for our next PP production: The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race by Melanie Tait, directed by Alexandra Pelvin. A big welcome to Alexandra, who comes to us from Canberra with a comprehensive theatrical background. This is her first Sydney gig, and we are delighted to have her on board. Bookings open 12 September for this affectionate and big-hearted Aussie comedy. 

We hope to see you all at the Launch and at the Potato Race!

Warm regards

Warren Blood
President

AND THAT’S A WRAP! – AGATHA CHRISTIE’S SPIDER’S WEB

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

“The show was an enormous undertaking and would not have gone on without the help of so many people. A huge and very special thank you goes out to Rob and Leah White; they came and helped with the set build, the painting day, and hauled all that furniture on and off the truck, set up and took down the garden set, and helped bump-out run smoothly.

Special thanks as well to Geoff Jones, who put the music selection together; Wayne Chee who designed the lights; George Trippis our wonderful tech operator who was manning the controls night after night; and all the other people who worked so tirelessly to bring the show to life.

The Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Web team deserves so much recognition – our set designer Patrick Gallagher who worked hard getting that gorgeous set together, Dean Bennett who assembled the many artefacts to make the set look fascinating and genuine, and stage manager Luke McGilvray who had it all running like clockwork. Thanks as well to the FOH team, the Pymble Players management committee, and assistant director Tom Sweeney for everything.

I was incredibly lucky to have the best cast who gave such passionate and energetic performances – not only are they all exceptionally talented, but they were all such a delight to work with.

I'm so proud of what we've achieved together. It's always been my dream to direct an Agatha Christie, and I'll cherish this opportunity always.

A massive thank you to everyone who came and saw the show!”

Georgia Drewe, Director

By Arrangement with LMCM on behalf of Melanie Tait

24 October – 1 November 2025
By Melanie Tait
Directed by Alexandra Pelvin

When Penny returns to the small country town of her childhood just in time for the Appleton Show and its famous potato race, she discovers the winning man’s prize is $1000 and the winning woman’s prize is a measly $200. When Penny decides to take steps to restore gender parity and coax Appleton into the 21st century, little could she have anticipated the spiralling, hilarious culture war that would follow.

Inspired by true events, Melanie Tait’s affectionate Australian comedy is an effervescent and big-hearted tale about women taking action and showing the world there’s more than one way to win a race.

Cast

A Note from our Director

“Rehearsals are going wonderfully – full of energy, laughter, and plenty of creative discovery. The cast and I are busy bouncing ideas around the rehearsal room, testing moments, and uncovering new layers in the text. It’s enormous fun to see these characters, in the hands of such a talented cast, take shape and grow every time we run a scene. Audiences are in for a heartwarming night of theatre, guaranteed to leave with both smiles and something to think about.”

Alexandra Pelvin, Director

Bookings open 12 September 2025.

VALE Maurice Pepper

(13 March 1934 – 21 June 2025)

Maurice Pepper was a man of many parts. Born in Oxford, England, he developed a keen work ethic and out of necessity, developed a keen sense of family responsibility. He later demonstrated this with his family in Australia. He took on employment during school holidays. He studied economics at university and rose through the ranks of Wall’s, a global ice cream and desserts company owned by Unilever. He met Sylvia whilst visiting Edinburgh. Thus, beginning another life-changing adventure.

Maurice was an energetic, entrepreneurial character. When he and Sylvia arrived in Australia in 1967, he continued working for parent company Unilever, achieving further success and promotion. He sought real estate opportunities - becoming a licensed real estate agent - for another chapter of his professional life. Over a period of 60 years, he and Sylvia purchased and sold around 30 properties, mainly around St Ives and Berry. They were a good team with complementary creative skills.

His diligence, drive and talent saw his rapid ascent, and this success for his efforts characterised the remainder of his life. He gladly accepted challenges and rose up the ranks in every organisation he joined. He became general manager of Bentley Fragrances, and he and Sylvia enjoyed the travel component in cities such as Paris, New York and Acapulco.

He joined Pymble Players in 1981, and he and Sylvia immersed themselves in the social and creative aspects, and Maurice was onstage many times. A highlight for him was the play A Month of Sundays, playing Cooper, one of the main characters, remaining onstage for the entire production. I believe his last show at PP was An Inspector Calls.

An offshoot of Pymble Players, the Intrepid Travelling Troubadours, took their melodramatic shows to the Hunter Valley. For several years they performed at Sobels Winery, entertaining audiences with over-the-top characters and bawdy performances.

Steve and Jane, adult children of Maurice and Sylvia, describe how their parents flourished with these thespians, “with countless rehearsals held at our place and overnight parties at Phegan’s Bay - always filled with the sounds of laughter and hilarity. More friendships were made that endured a lifetime.”

Maurice and Sylvia relocated to Berry, seeking out the local amateur dramatic groups and being involved – initially with Berry Drama Group, then Nowra Players - once again making friends and having a wonderful time. A highlight for Maurice was directing A Month of Sundays – a return to this much-loved play.

Jane and Steve relate an occasion that exhibits Maurice’s determination and contempt for idleness;… ”not long after they moved to Berry, when Dad was in his late 70’s, Mum recalled receiving a phone call after Dad had a minor procedure. They were enquiring as to how Dad was getting on, if he needed any help at home – with meals, groceries, etc. When they asked Mum why she was laughing, she explained that Maurice was out in the back garden – jackhammering!”

Some years after Sylvia’s untimely death, Maurice re-joined Pymble Players and attended some performances where he was gladly received by long-standing friends.

He had a twinkle in his eye, and a ready quip. He was not afraid to voice his opinion in his quiet, assertive manner. He will be remembered for his wisdom, wit, class and charm.

Steve and Jane have the final word… ”Dad faced his death just as he faced life - head on. He reflected in his final days on how lucky he was to have such a terrific family and lovely friends.”

Rest in peace Maurice Pepper. We are the richer for having known you.

Geoff Jones, Life Member

VALE Reg Lunn (Life Member)

(11 September 1941 – 7 Aug 2025)

AKA Mr Grumpy, also widely known as Uncle Reg.

Some years ago, at a “significant” birthday celebration for Reg, I was asked to make a toast, so I began, “To my dearest brother, father, husband, uncle and cousin……”. Pymble Players members smirked whilst others were confused, they knew I had played all these roles with Reg but most especially as his sister in Gulls (1989). During the rehearsals and run of this play, we became very good friends because I had to assist him in dressing, eating and washing. It was ‘up close and personal’ and had to be realistic. From this experience we became great buddies, and I will miss him greatly.

In a bygone era at Pymble Players, club nights were held monthly in the Hayward Hall where rehearsed readings, theatre sports, games, trivia and other activities took place. These events gave opportunities for all members to participate and are remembered fondly by the “old guard” as it gave a social side to PP. Reg would usually serve drinks at the old bar which had been used in a play where he was “Carman the Barman”.

Reg was a member of the Pymble Players committee for many years and held several positions, including one year as President. He didn’t like that much because he had to complain to himself!

Set construction was a major part of Reg’s life, and over the years there would have been very few sets where he wasn’t involved in some way. He and Charles Williams were an amazing team and, among other things, built the under-stage storage units. Reg would talk about “the old days” and that was understandable because they were “great times”, and the group was very social and supportive.

The move from the old church premises was very difficult for Reg and he lived for the halcyon times of old, so he would return to reminisce and do his duty as “groundsman”.

Reg was a PP Life Member and gave so much of his life to PP.

Jan McLachlan, Life Member

Karen Pattinson and Nathan Heinrich are performing in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, with Wayne Chee on Lighting Design at Hunters Hill Theatre 22 August – 14 September.

Mitch Doran is performing in I’ll Be Back Before Midnight for Castle Hill Players at the Pavilion Theatre / Castle Hill Players
19 September – 11 October.

Murray Fane is performing in My Fair Lady with the Normanhurst Uniting Church Musical Society, 13-27 September.

Chloe Callow is directing Samson for Luminar Theatre Company at the Hellenic Art Theatre, Marrickville, 2-11 October.

Chloe’s short film Philia is on the festival circuit receiving reviews from Magazine6000 and Cinema Australia.

Clive Hobson is performing in Rock of Ages at Holroyd Musical & Dramatic Society, 7-23 November.