Filtering by: Theatre Shows
Millies War
Apr
12
to Apr 28

Millies War

Millies War by Dorian Mode

By arrangement with Origin Theatrical

Directed by Emma Newport
Performed by Gemco Players Community Theatre

Based on historical events, Millie's War is set in the 1980s when a number of women attempted to join official ANZAC Day marches across Canberra to commemorate women raped in war. 

When the sleepy local branch of the local RSL meet with the women in order to dissuade them from upsetting their sacred parade of remembrance, the crotchety president of the RSL Club is appalled to find his own granddaughter is one of the feminists attempting to spoil their day

Tempers soon reach boiling point as each side argues the case for the importance of commemorating victims of war. 

MA15+ - War themes, sexual assult & dosmetic violence warnings.

Performances
Friday the 12th April at 7.30pm
Saturday 13th April at 7.30pm
Sunday 14th April Matinee at 2pm
Friday 19th April at 7.30pm
Saturday 20th Aprilat 7.30pm
Sunday 21st April Matinee at 2pm
Friday 26th April at 7.30pm
Saturday 27th April at 7.30pm
Sunday 28th April Matinee at 2pm

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!

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Night Watch - Auditions
Mar
25
4:30 PM16:30

Night Watch - Auditions

Audition Information

NIGHT WATCH
by TERRY PRATCHETT

Directed by Ben Zagami

Performed by Gemco Players Community Theatre

Night Watch, set in the city of Ankh-Morpork on the Discworld, follows grizzled commander and career copper Sam Vimes. Vimes is flung back in time 30 years in a magical accident while pursuing the murderous Carcer, and now has to apprehend the bad guy, teach his younger self how to be a Good Copper, and find his way back home to be a father to his newborn son. Of course, all of this would likely be easier if Ankh-Morpork weren’t in the middle of a full-on revolution.

Performances

Friday July 12th – Sunday July 28th

The Gem Theatre

19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald VIC 3782

 

Rehearsal commitment

One weeknight, and one weekend afternoon, per week, beginning May 4th

Will be discussed around cast availability

The Gem Theatre

19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald VIC 3782

 

Auditions

April 13 - 12:00pm - 4:00pm

April 16 - 7:45pm - 9:45pm

The Gem Theatre

19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald VIC 3782

 

For your audition please prepare a short monologue of your choice. There will also be a group audition portion using sections of the Night Watch script. If you register for an audition, we will provide you with some of this material before the audition date. This will give you the chance to consider how you might perform characters, but you should not feel the need to memorise these scenes.

 

Character Brief

Sam Vimes

Commander of the City Watch in the present, and the protagonist of the story. A grizzled and cynical, but ultimately honest and upright copper, Vimes is dedicated to justice and has a general dislike for inegalitarian ideas like “authority”.

Young Sam Vimes

An impressionable youth just joined the watch and taking guidance from his fellow coppers. What kind of man he will become will depend on the kind of mentors he has in the days to come.

Sergeant Fred Colon/Young Colon

A sixty-something/thirty-something year old career copper who, whilst not really approaching anything like true competence, has a lifetime of experience in the watch and a knack knowing which way the wind is blowing and can even occasionally read the writing on the wall.

Carcer

A murderous psychopath who thoroughly enjoys his work. Carcer always wears a smile and laughs as if he’s privy to a joke you simply haven’t gotten yet. Viciously cunning, and willing to lie, cheat and gods-know what else if it means he gets the chance to indulge his love of violence.

Reg Shoe

A zombie and member of the City Watch in the present. In the past he is a fervent revolutionary who believes in the Common Good, and hates The Fascist Oppressors. He  still occasionally plays protest songs on his guitar.

Billy Wiglet

A member of the City Watch in the past. He joined for a regular salary and the relaxed working conditions of the day. He has no plan to actually protect and serve though.

Cecil 'Snouty' Clapman

The jailor at the Treacle Mine Road Watch House in the past. His nickname comes from the fact that his nose was once broken and never set properly, leaving it half the length and twice the width of a normal nose. He has a tendency to interject a nasal inhalation ("hnah!") during his speech.

Rosie Palm

A seamstress in Ank-Morpork, she lives is a big house with a lot of younger ladies, whose occupations are generally understood. She and her ‘seamstresses’ are also at the centre of the rebellion to oust the tyrannical Lord Winder.

Young Nobby

At this stage of his life, Nobby is an odd-looking little street urchin. He has a near-compulsive urge to steal anything that isn’t nailed down, a knack for sneaking around unnoticed, and an undeniable talent for snooping.

Lady Meserole

A noblewoman who at least claims to be from Genua. She is currently conspiring to have Lord Winder ‘removed.’ Very clever and supremely confident, she is a mysterious character who prefers to pull strings in the background.

Sergeant Knock

A crooked watchman in the past, Knock is a nasty little man who despises anyone better than him (which is most people) and has a vindictive streak a mile wide.

Lu-Tze/Lord Winder

●       Lu-Tze is one of the History Monks, an order of mystics who make sure History proceeds as it is meant to. He is the play’s narrator and helps Vimes make his way back to the future.

●       Lord Winder is Patrician of Ankh Morpork in the past. The very model of the paranoid tyrant, he has his own ‘secret police force’ to root out malcontents and thinks nothing of torturing and ‘disappearing’ those he perceives as his enemies.

Ned Coates/CMOT Dibbler/Mr Rutherford

●       Ned is a watchman, who moved to Ankh-Morpork for the better pay. He’s also secretly a revolutionary, plotting to remove Lord Winder from power.

●       CMOT Dibbler is an entrepreneur, willing to try and sell people anything. And truly, his pies and sausages might just contain anything.

●       Mr Rutherford is a middle-aged middle-class man. Certainly not one of the proletariat, thank you very much.

Young Vetinari/Leggie/Henry the Hamster

●       Vetinari in the past is an assassin-in-training who has recently failed his Stealth class due to inattendance: after all, nobody ever saw turn up. He lives with his aunt Lady Roberta Meserole, who has given him the task of assassinating Lord Winder.

●       Leggie (short for Legitimate) works at the Ankh-Morpork cemetery in the present day. Fancies himself as the Comic Gravedigger ala Hamlet, though it’s rare anyone lets him do it.

●       Henry the Hamster is one of the Cable Street Particulars, Winder’s secret policemen. Almost certainly not his real name.

Doctor Lawn/Lord Snapcase

●       Doctor Lawn is quiet, if a little sarcastic, and quite possibly the only doctor in Ankh-Morpork actually capable of healing people. He has lots of funny ideas  like “washing your hands” and “keeping patients alive even after they’ve had the chance to pay you.”

●       Lord Snapcase is considered by those trying to depose Lord Winder as ‘a man of the people’ and his ideal replacement. In actual fact, he’s every bit the tyrant that Winder ever was.

Vetinari/Captain Swing

●       Vetinari is Patrician of Ankh Morpork in the present. Heard of Machiavelli? A Moron. Vetinari genuinely cares for the city and wants it to function at its best. He rules Ankh-Morpork using a sharp mind and even sharper cunning.

●       Captain Swing leads the Cable Street Particulars, Winder’s secret police. He has a strangely modulating pace to his walk and his speech, and believes strongly in craniometrics, where a person's character traits and propensity for law-breaking can be ascertained by the measuring of the features of their head.

Willikins/Joss Gappy/Sergeant Dickins

●       Willikins is Sam Vimes’ dutiful butler in the present day.

●       Joss Gappy is a drunk Aknh-Morporkian who is out to cause trouble with the watchmen of Treacle Mine Road.

●       Dickins is every pop-culture drill-sergeant. A member of the city watch and second-in-command once the Glorious Revolution begins, he whips the watchmen into shape, and even teaches them their marching song “All the little angels.”

Young Dibbler/Captain Rust/Doctor Follet

●       Dibbler in the past has all the lofty entrepreneurial ambitions of his later life, he just hasn’t quite sorted out his sales pitch yet. He’s also secretly a revolutionary trying to depose Lord Winder.

●       Captain Rust is a supercilious snob, utterly assured of his own superiority and competence, and also utterly stupid. At least his moustache is very curly.

●       Doctor Follet is head of the Assassin’s Guild in the past, and a conspirator in the plot to remove Winder.

Young Sybil/Waddy/Lady Selachii/Mrs Soupson

●       Young Sybil is a forthright noble girl of sixteen.

●       Waddy is a member of the City Watch.

●       Lady Selachii is a noble lady of Ankh-Morpork, involved in the plot to kill Lord Winder. She despises Lady Venturi.

●       Mrs Soupson is a citizen of Ankh-Morpork, who finds herself in the right wool shop at the wrong time.

Sadie/Heppelwhite/Captain Wrangle/Mr. Slant

●       Sadie is one of the Agony Aunts, who protect the Seamstresses of Ankh-Morpork when nobody else will. Despite her ‘kindly-little-old-lady’ façade, she is deadly with her parrot-topped umbrella.

●       Heppelwhite is a Trooper in one of Ankh-Morpork’s many armies.

●       Captain Wrangle is an officer in one of Ankh-Morpork’s many armies, and is helping lead the effort to suppress the Glorious Revolution

●       Mr. Slant is a lawyer who just happens to be a zombie. He know Ankh-Morpork’s laws front-to-back and was likely involved in setting much of the judiciary precedent of the city’s legal system.

Drumknott/Dotsie/Mrs Rutherford/Lady Venturi/Corporal Quirke

●       Drumknott is Vetinari’s personal secretary, and is loyal, efficient and studious.

●       Dotsie is the other Agony Aunt, who protect the Seamstresses of Ankh-Morpork when nobody else will. While she might appear as sweet as sugar, in reality she’s mastered every way to hurt a man with a weighted handbag.

●       Mrs Rutherford is a middle-aged middle-class woman. A proud member of the Bourgeoisie if you don’t mind.

●       Lady Venturi is a noble lady of Ankh-Morpork, involved in the plot to kill Lord Winder. She despises Lady Selachii.

●       Corporal Quirke is a crooked watchman at Treacle Mine Road. A typical bullying copper of the sort that makes small businesses pay him protection to make sure that they don't have any trouble, and who never pays for meals at city restaurants because otherwise he would make trouble for them.

Nobby Nobbs/Captain Tilden/Gabbitass/Major Mountjoy-Standfast/Carrot

●       Nobby is a member of the Watch and… umm… human, I think? It’s hard to tell. Nobby is a street wise copper who has a habit of petty theft.

●       Captain Tilden is spending his autumn years as head of the Night Watch in the past. An ex-soldier, he puts a lot of stock in shiny breastplates and well-fitted uniforms but is ultimately a pretty rubbish copper.

●       Gabbitass is a Trooper in one of Ankh-Morpork’s many armies.

●       Major Mountjoy-Standfast is an officer in one of Ankh-Morpork’s many armies, and is helping lead the effort to suppress the Glorious Revolution

●       Carrot is a member of the City Watch. Decent, honourable, good-natured, and honest to a fault, Carrot is an exemplary copper and an eternal optimist.

Assorted Citizenry of Ankh-Morpork, including malcontents, soldiery, seamstresses and sundries

To book an audition, please complete this form — https://forms.gle/cC2HXmKt7PYHMDuo8

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Jan
1
to Jan 14

Submit your Ten Minute Play

Calling all Seasoned and Budding writers.

Gemco Players are now gearing up for 2024. Whether you have written many plays or this is your first script ever, being part of Gemco’s Take Ten Play Fest is a great way to get some exposure for your writing and a great excuse to pick up the pen.

You could also be in the running to win a People Choice Award of AU$200

The closing date for submissions is

Your script/s will need to be emailed separately to gemcoplayers@gmail.com

The Selection of Plays

All the plays received will be shortlisted by a selection group made up of experienced writers/performers.  This shortlist of plays will then be read aloud, by a group of our actors, in front of a panel of judges and ten plays will be chosen for performance and publication.  At this point you will be advised of the results.

Auditioning for Directors and Actors and rehearsals

Auditioning will start in February 2024 You might like to attend the you never know you might get a part or even direct your own play. Please contact Joy McLeary by email (link above) if you wish to come along.

Directors and actor will then begin their rehearsals.

Publication

The book can now be formatted into an A5 book and printed with a colour soft-cover.

The Festival

Tickets will go on sale once the plays are chosen and announced.

The Take Ten Play Festival will be in March 22nd to 24th at The Gem Community Arts Centre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald, Victoria.

A little bit extra

Our audience, during the Festival will be invited to vote for their favourite plays.  The author of the play that has the most votes will receive the Peoples' Choice Award of AU$200.

Entry Guidelines

1. Plays can be of any length up to 10 minutes. Any play longer than 10 minutes, in the view of Gemco Players selection group, will be automatically rejected.

2. The play must utilise no more than four actors (more than four characters is permissible if the play allows actors to double up).

3. The play(s) submitted must not have been previously performed or published any where in the world. Note: This point is very important

4. Monologues accepted.

5. No more than three entries per Author

6. Entries must be submitted with the entry form and payment of AUD $10 per script (there is a 50c booking fee with Trybooking).

6. Successful writers will have their chosen play published by Gemco Players Community Theatre and performed on condition that they permit their work to be published and performed, at the current festival, without fees or royalties asked for.

7. Authors retain ownership of the copyright.

8. Gemco will publish the winning plays after selection.  Authors agree that they will not receive royalties from the sale of this book.  A copy of the book will be sent to winning authors.  This publication does not prevent authors from publishing the play elsewhere after the Gemco Players Take Ten Festival.

Format for submissions

1. All plays should have a cover page with the name of the play, author's name, email and postal address.  Please do not put your name on any page other than the cover page.

2. The file you send us must be a .doc file or similar to be opened in Word (or equivalent). Please don’t send us a pdf as it takes extra time to format it for the book

3. In order to assist us with the formatting of our book, please format your document as follows:

  • double line spaced;

  • ranged left;

  • the name of character to be in upper and lower case followed by a colon;

  • a ‘tab’ is used between the character name and the dialogue.

If you need assistance with any of this please email us via gemcoplayers@gmail.com or call 03 5968 2844 (please leave us a message).

So ....

Please fill in the Take Ten Submission form (at the top of the page), pay your fee (payment can be made by Trybooking online payment; direct deposit or cheque - see submission form for details) and we look forward to reading your plays.

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Dec
9
to Dec 10

Gemco Youth End of Year Shows 2023

Youth Showcase!

December 9th

1pm Matinee SOLD OUT! and 6pm Evening ALMOST SOLD OUT!

December 10th

1pm Matinee SOLD OUT!

The Theatre, The Gem Community Arts Centre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald VIC

There will be an interval of 15 mins

We invite you to stay on after the show for our Christmas Party, bring a plate to share.

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Find Me by Olwen Wymark
Nov
3
to Nov 18

Find Me by Olwen Wymark

Director: Andrew Tomazos

Find Me

A Drama by Olwen Wymark

Show Dates November 3-12

Olwen Wymark’s drama ‘Find Me’ based on a true story, follows the protagonist Verity Taylor as she is dealing with increasingly damaging mental health issues. Verity’s family becomes fractured in their search for answers from a health system, at the time, that does not have answers for Verity’s particular case and so doctors and other medical health practitioners find themselves unable to advise Verity’s family. Wymark has employed a technique known as ‘multi-characterisation’ wherein actors swap the main roles and work as an ensemble to ‘find the real Verity’ in this gripping, and emotional drama. The ensemble of 8 cast will rotate roles and play a myriad of characters.

Friday 3rd November Performance: 7:30pm

Saturday 4th November Performance: 2:00pm

Saturday 4th November Performance: 7:30pm

Sunday 5th November Performance: 2:00pm

Friday 10th November Performance: 7:30pm

Saturday 11th November Performance: 2:00pm

Saturday 11th November Performance: 7:30pm

Sunday 12th November Performance: 2:00pm

Please be advised 'Find Me' contains adult themes, portrayals of mental illness, depictions of self-harm, domestic violence and references to sexual abuse.

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Sep
8
to Sep 23

Stepping Out by Richard Harris

  • The Gem Community Arts Centre (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Director: Annette O’Shea

Choreographer: Jasmine O’Shea
Production Manager: Natalie Froud

Details of the Play

This is a warm & very funny play which enjoyed a hugely successful West End run in 1984 and won the Evening Standard Best Comedy Award. 
Set in London, the story follows the lives of the members of an amateur tap class. Each attending for their own reasons, Harris’ play is a wonderfully endearing tale of how determination, friendship and camaraderie can shape even the most bashful into proud performers. 
Mavis, a professional dancer who didn’t quite make it past the chorus line, now runs her own class in the local village hall for anyone in the area. A mixed, and otherwise incompatible, group of seven women and one man meet weekly for their tap-dancing class in a dingy London church hall. Each struggling to conquer either their inhibitions or dance technique, or both!
Then the day comes when Mavis breaks the news to the group that they have been invited to perform in front of an audience for a big charity concert. 
With varying degrees of talent and determination we see how each class member copes with the challenge…but with only a few weeks to learn an impressive tap routine, will they do it in time? Can they make it? Or will they all, literally, fall flat on their faces?

Performances

The Theatre, The Gem Community Arts Centrre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald

Friday, 8 September – 8:00pm (Opening night)
Saturday, 9 September – 2:00pm Matinee
Saturday, 9 September – 8:00pm
Friday, 15 September – 8:00pm
Saturday, 16 September - 8:00pm
Sunday, 17 September – 2:00pm Matinee
Friday, 22 September – 8:00pm
Saturday, 23 September - 8:00pm

CHARACTERS

Mavis - Susan Collier 

Lynne - Jasmine O’Shea 

Dorothy - Laura Giampiccolo 

Maxine - Libby Rogers 

Andy - Melanie Bouette 

Geoffrey - Mathew Greenaway 

Sylvia - Ruth Gilmour 

Rose - Carol McCoy 

Vera - Diane Jenkins 

Mrs. Fraser - Margie Gemmell

Woman/Fairy - Jasmine Robson 

Nigel/Narelle - Graeme Taylor 

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Aug
13
to Aug 14

Auditions - Find Me by Olwen Wymark

Director: Andrew Tomazos

Show Dates November 3-18

Audition Notice: Find Me by Olwen Wymark.
Venue: Gemco Community Theatre, Emerald
Dates: Sunday 13th August 3pm and  - Monday 14th August 7:30pm


Information:

Olwen Wymark’s drama ‘Find Me’ based on a true story, follows the protagonist Verity Taylor as she is dealing with increasingly damaging mental health issues. Verity’s family becomes fractured in their search for answers from a health system, at the time, that does not have answers for Verity’s particular case and so doctors and other medical health practitioners find themselves unable to advise Verity’s family. Wymark has employed a technique known as ‘multi-characterisation’ wherein actors swap the main roles and work as an ensemble to ‘find the real Verity’ in this gripping, and emotional drama. The ensemble of 8 cast will rotate roles and play a myriad of characters.

Gemco Player’s production directed by Andrew Tomazos will follow the author’s original intent by casting an ensemble of 8 actors (5 female, and 3 male). Auditions will be group auditions held on Sunday 13th August, and Monday 14th August @ 7:30pm consisting of a brief improv inspired workshop and cold reads of excerpts from the play.

Book an audition:

You can book your audition by emailing the director at ajtomazos@gmail.com and a follow up confirmation email will follow with your time and what to prepare.

Casting 

Andrew would be looking to cast according to the Author's original intention with a total cast of 8 - 5 Women, and 3 Men. The play Find Me is intended for the primary characters to have their parts shared by the cast using the device of multi-characterisation to try and find the real Verity - hence the relevance of the title Find Me. A quest to find the truth of Verity Taylor.
The cast would work as an ensemble and share the multitude of characters around. 

Set/Prop/Costume 

The play is written with the intent of using a bare stage and minimal props with characters passed between cast members sharing a singular motif in costuming. Andrew would change this by using cubes and box as a motif to represent the trappings Verity Taylor finds herself and her 'sitting outside the box' metaphor. His main idea is to have a rotating cube on stage that would maneuver each side representing a different place, while one scene is on stage the other side would face the wings and could be dressed accordingly preparing for the next scene.

Crew 

Director Andrew Tomazos
Production Coordinator / Manager Jessica Horwell
Set Designer TBC
Lighting Designer TBC
Sound/ Music TBC

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Jul
7
to Jul 22

The Truth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs

The Truth

‘A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on…’*

There's been a murder. Allegedly. William de Worde is the accidental editor of the Discworld’s first newspaper. He must cope with the traditional perils of a journalist’s life – people who want him dead, a recovering vampire with a suicidal fascination for flash photography, some more people who want him dead in a different way and, worst of all, the man who keeps begging him to publish pictures of his humorously shaped vegetables. 

Meanwhile, as William fills his pages with reports, dark forces high up in Ankh-Morpork's society are plotting to overthrow the city's ruler, Lord Vetinari.

Tickets: $27; $24 Conc.
Group of 4 @ $22 each; Group of 10 @ $20 each.

Gemco members opening weekend special of 2 for 1

Genre: Humour / Comedy

Director: Evie Housham

Performance Dates

Friday, 7 July – 7.30pm (Opening night)
Saturday, 8 July – 7.30pm
Sunday, 9 July – 2:00pm Matinee
Friday, 14 July – 7.30pm
Saturday, 15 July – 7.30pm
Sunday, 16 July – 2:00pm Matinee
Friday, 21 July – 7.30pm
Saturday, 22 July – 7.30pm

CHARACTERS (Actors in alpha order)

Caine Aylen - Gaspode; Wuffles

Mac Barrot - Mr Slant

Tilli Barrot - Boddony; Nobby

Lachy Case - Voice of Disorganiser

Ang Cuy - Hughnon; Lady Selachii; Duck Man; Mackleduff; 3rd Crowd; Vimes

Luca Froelich - Gunilla

Avery Gladman - Mr Pin

Gerard Lewis-Fitzgerald - Lord Vetinari; Charlie

Joy McLeary - Colon; Lord Rust; Andrews; Mrs Arcanum; Cpt Littlebottom; Arblaster

Trevor Mills - Mr Tulip

Max Neville - Otto

Carmela Pezzimenti - Lady Venturii; Coffin Henry; Cartwright; Sgt Angua; Florrie; Mr Carney; Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler

John Piggott - Foul Old Ron; Lorde de Worde; Mr Wintler

Brydee Ray-Smith - Sacharissa

Graeme Taylor - Sgt Detritus; Arthur Crank; Priest; News Vendor

Teri Williams - Mrs Crank; Lost Watch Man; Drumknott

Ben Zagami - William de Worde

Crew

Lachy Case - Props creator

Ross Housham - Set designer; Set builder

Stephen Nichols: Lighting designer

Ian Innes-Wardell: Light operator

Carmela Pezzimenti - Stage Manager

Steve Piggott - Set builder/painter

Marc Williams - Sound design and operation

Teri Williams - Costume




*attributed to Mark Twain with no evidence - The Truth at work. https://professorbuzzkill.com/twain-lie-travels/

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Jun
17
2:00 PM14:00

Gemco Youth Mid-year Performance

We welcome you to watch our mid-year performances. It is a time to show parents and others, what the young people have been doing and to give them an opportunity to be in front of an audience. It’s a very exciting time for them and a wonderful opportunity to see how they have grown in confidence.

Sometimes a short play or a showcase of skills, or a preview of our Youth submissions to the One Act Play Festival.

Program TBC

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Mar
3
to Mar 19

Much Ado About Nothing

  • The Gem Community Arts Centre (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

by William Shakespeare

Directed by Sharon Maine

Formerly A Gemco in the Park production

will now be held at the

The Gem, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald VIC 3782

due to unforseen circumstances

March 2023

Friday 3, Saturday 4, Sunday 5.
Saturday 11, Sunday 12,
Friday 17, Saturday 18, Sunday 19

Starting at 7.30pm

All Sundays will be Matinee starting at 3pm

All those folk currently with tickets with other locations and times will be notified of the change

Characters and their actors

Beatrice - Nina Harris

Benedick - Hayden Splitt

Hero - Ruth Gilmour

Claudio - Amit Desai

Don Pedro - Ashe Davenport

Don John and Sexton - Maxine Neville

Leonato - Carol McCoy

Borachio - Thilan Ahangama

Margaret and Sexton - Elise D’Amico

Dogberry - Kate McManus

Conrade and Friar Francis - Joel Beling

Conrade, Margaret and Friar Francis - Lucy Butler

Verges - Lily Calder

Antonia - Joy McLeary

Balthasar and George Seacoal (Second Watchman) - Georgia Stergiadis

Ursula - Cat Tregillis

Messenger and Hugo Oatcake (First Watchman) - Evanna Murphy-Donovan

Backstage and more

Stage Manager: Janet Francis

Costume: Evie Housham, Teri Williams, Helen Piccolo

Play Summary

Evie Housham

William Shakespeare probably wrote ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ in the middle of his career in 1598 or 1599. It is one of Shakespeare’s most widely performed plays, and certainly one of his most popular. The themes of love, mistaken identity, sexual jealousy, honour, betrayal and friendship all play out against the background of the Sicilian countryside.

The war is over. Everyone is out for fun; drinking, dancing, flirting and singing are the order of the day as Don Pedro and his entourage come to the estate of Leonato, Governor of Messina. We meet Beatrice, a clever, quick witted woman, who is engaged in an endless battle of wits with the noble Benedick. We also meet the young and inexperienced Hero and Claudio. Hero is Leonato’s daughter. Claudio and Benedick are courtiers in the service of Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, a powerful nobleman.

Don Pedro has a half-brother, the illegitimate Don John. In Don John’s service are the drunken Borachio and the clever Conrade. Don John has recently rebelled against his half-brother, but has been defeated and forgiven. Everyone thinks Don John has been put back in his place, but Don John has different ideas. If he can’t openly rebel then he will cause trouble by other, less obvious means. He and his men set out to disturb the happiness of Don Pedro and his entourage.

The play examines the character arcs of Benedick and Beatrice, as they move from apparently detesting one another and disdaining love, to finally admitting their feelings for one another with the help of their friends. Both are tricked into admitting their feelings by the end of the play. The play also deals with Hero and Claudio as they fall in love, only to be nearly thwarted by the villainous Don John.

We also meet the Watch, Messina’s police force, headed up by the self-important but comically idiotic Dogberry. He is assisted by Verges, and they head up a fine (well, sort of …) body of constables who save the day, in spite of themselves.

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Jan
29
2:00 PM14:00

Gemco Players Gathering

Sunday 29 January 2023, 2-6pm

January Gathering of Players …

The end of 2020 became too busy and so it was decided to have a beginning of year gathering.

Please come along to Pepi’s Land (behind the new Netball Courts, Emerald) to enjoy a catch up with people you may not have seen since you were involved with a play. No matter how far back that was … all are welcome.

BYO. Bring a plate to share. Bring seats and blankets.

We’ll set up sun shelters and perhaps a Gemco flag and if the weather is bad we’ll meet at The Gem.

If any of these details change we will update, either by our newsletter or on Facebook.



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Nov
6
2:00 PM14:00

Much Ado About Nothing - AUDITIONS

by William Shakespeare

Directed by Sharon Maine

A Gemco in the Park production

Details about the Auditions will be posted soon

Play Summary

William Shakespeare probably wrote ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ in the middle of his career in 1598 or 1599. It is one of Shakespeare’s most widely performed plays, and certainly one of his most popular. The themes of love, mistaken identity, sexual jealousy, honour, betrayal and friendship all play out against the background of the Sicilian countryside.

The war is over. Everyone is out for fun; drinking, dancing, flirting and singing are the order of the day as Don Pedro and his entourage come to the estate of Leonato, Governor of Messina. We meet Beatrice, a clever, quick witted woman, who is engaged in an endless battle of wits with the noble Benedick. We also meet the young and inexperienced Hero and Claudio. Hero is Leonato’s daughter. Claudio and Benedick are courtiers in the service of Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, a powerful nobleman.

Don Pedro has a half-brother, the illegitimate Don John. In Don John’s service are the drunken Borachio and the clever Conrade. Don John has recently rebelled against his half-brother, but has been defeated and forgiven. Everyone thinks Don John has been put back in his place, but Don John has different ideas. If he can’t openly rebel then he will cause trouble by other, less obvious means. He and his men set out to disturb the happiness of Don Pedro and his entourage.

The play examines the character arcs of Benedick and Beatrice, as they move from apparently detesting one another and disdaining love, to finally admitting their feelings for one another with the help of their friends. Both are tricked into admitting their feelings by the end of the play. The play also deals with Hero and Claudio as they fall in love, only to be nearly thwarted by the villainous Don John.

We also meet the Watch, Messina’s police force, headed up by the self-important but comically idiotic Dogberry. He is assisted by Verges, and they head up a fine (well, sort of …) body of constables who save the day, in spite of themselves.

Rehearsals:

November-March [break over Christmas period until mid-late January

Production dates:

March 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 2023

Roles to be cast/Audition requirements:

We will be performing an abridged version of the script. We are actively committed to casting an inclusive show that reflects the community - all roles are open to all ethnicities, genders and abilities. The cast will be comprised of a minimum of 12 actors. We aim to produce this classic work with a buzz. Most actors will play multiple roles. All roles are available.

Requirements:

Please prepare a Shakespeare monologue of your choice (does not have to be from Much Ado.) This allows every auditionee the opportunity to prepare a piece of Shakespeare that they can practice beforehand as we acknowledge that cold reading Shakespeare can be a challenge. All auditionees will be able to cold read from a short scene from Much Ado About Nothing during the audition.

Audition Dates:

Sunday 6th November between 2pm and 6pm; Thursday 10th November between 7pm and 10pm.

Information Session

Thursday 13th October 7.30-8.30pm:

Come along and meet the director and learn more about the play, the characters and the ideas for this production.

Audition Location:

The Gem Community Arts Centre, 19 Kilvington Road, Emerald, VIC

To Book an Audition time or to get more information: Please send an email to the director Sharon at sharonjmaine@gmail.com

Roles to be cast

We invite people to express interest in ANY role they would like to be considered for, regardless of the gender/ethnic/age identity that is historically associated with that character

Beatrice: Proud, witty, independent, with a deep sense of integrity. Possibly has been burned by love in the past.

Benedick: An aristocratic soldier who has recently been fighting under Don Pedro, and a friend of Don Pedro and Claudio. Proud, witty, independent, with a deep sense of integrity. Possibly has been burned by love in the past.

Hero: The daughter of Leonato and the cousin of Beatrice; a lovely, kind soul, she falls in love with Claudio when he falls for her, but when Don John slanders her and Claudio; rashly takes revenge, she suffers terribly. Smart and with a confidence beyond her years.

Claudio: A soldier who has won great acclaim fighting under Don Pedro during the recent wars; he falls in love with Hero upon his return, but his suspicious nature makes him quick to believe evil rumours and hasty to despair and take revenge.

Don Pedro: An important nobleman from Aragon, long-time friend of Leonato, Hero’s father, and friend to his soldiers, Benedick and Claudio; Don Pedro is wealthy, gracious, generous, courteous, intelligent, and loving to his friends and, also, really enjoys a good practical joke, but he is also quick to believe evil of others and hasty to take revenge; he is the most politically and socially powerful character in the play.

Don John: Illegitimate and therefore overlooked younger sibling to Don Pedro, and sometimes called “the Bastard”; Don John is melancholy and sullen by nature, and he creates a dark scheme to ruin the happiness of Hero and Claudio; his evil actions are motivated by his envy of his brother’s social authority.

Leonato: Parent to Hero, also delights in a good practical joke.  Has a strong sense of right and wrong and does not hold back when that is challenged. A respected, well-to-do, noble at whose home, in Messina, Italy, the action is set; As governor of Messina, he is second in social power only to Don Pedro.

Borachio: Don John's associate and Margaret's lover; conspires with Don John to trick Claudio and Don Pedro into thinking that Hero is unfaithful to Claudio; name means “drunkard” in Italian.

Margaret: Works in Hero’s household, witty and fun, has a fling with Borachio. She unwittingly helps Borachio, and Don John deceive Claudio into thinking that Hero is unfaithful; Margaret loves to break decorum, especially with bawdy jokes and teases.

Dogberry: The constable in charge of the Watch, of Messina; Dogberry is very sincere and takes his job seriously, but has a habit of using exactly the wrong word to convey his meaning; Dogberry is one of the few “middling sort,” or middle-class characters, in the play, though his desire to speak formally and elaborately like the noblemen becomes an occasion for parody.

Friar: Spiritual advisor, suggests a unique solution to the sabotaged wedding.

Conrad: One of Don John’s more intimate associates, entirely devoted to Don John.

Verges: The deputy to Dogberry, chief policeman of Messina.

Antonio: Leonato’s elderly brother and Hero's uncle; he is Beatrice’s father.

Balthasar: A waiting man in Leonato’s household and a musician; Balthasar flirts with Margaret at the masked party and helps Leonato, Claudio, and Don Pedro trick Benedick into falling in love with Beatrice.

Ursula: One of Hero’s waiting women.

Sexton: A judge and an important official, the Sexton examines Borachio and Conrade when they are captured by the Watch, and has to endure Dogberry’s attempts to question the two scoundrels.

Hugo Oatcake – First Watchman

-and George Seacoal – Second Watchman Long-suffering Watch officers. Completely confused by Dogberry, but they try to do their duty as best they can. Overhear Borachio and Conrade reveal details of their role in Hero’s downfall, and arrest them.

Messenger Arrives at the beginning of the play – kicks things off and helps to establish Beatrice’s character. May also double up as the Lord in a later scene in front of Hero’s tomb.

Extras – other Watch members, Lords and Ladies, Attendants

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Oct
7
to Oct 23

Season 1 - Come Back for Light Refreshments After the Service

Writer: Julie Day

Director: Mandy McGarrigle

There will be two casts for this production:

Red Cast:

Dates and Times
7th, 14th 22nd @ 8pm; 8th, 16th, 22nd @ 3pm.

Beth - Megan Connelly

Rev James Healey - Graeme Taylor

Enid - Margie Gemmell

Pat - Annette O’Shea

Vanessa - Jasmine O’Shea

Singers - Carol McCoy and Jak Soprano

Blue Cast:

Dates and Times
8th, 15th 21st @ 8pm; 9th, 23rd @ 3pm.

Beth - Chelsea Dynam

Rev James Healey - Graeme Taylor

Enid - Kate Deavin

Pat - Annette O’Shea

Vanessa - Jasmine O’Shea

Singers - Carol McCoy and Jak Soprano


Supper and a Show

Humorous, poignant and delicious

Play Summary

Come Back For Light Refreshments after the Service is written by local Hills writer and performer, Julie Day.  It is a touching, humorous, charming and very real observed study of the attitudes, expectations and aspirations of four generations of women.  Beth, who nursed her Alzheimer-stricken father for five years, plans to sell the house and go backpacking. Her plans are met with a variety of opinions from disapproval to delight.  As in reality, the theatre of life unfolds, problems are shared, truth is told and laughter unites as these four women work together and chat in the kitchen preparing food for the wake of Beth’s Father. Real sandwiches, cakes, scones and tea are served to the audience as they become the mourners visiting after the funeral. 

 This play about relationships and understanding, the role and value of the carers in our society and the comradery of women garnered rave reviews and a Fringe Award for excellence at the Edinburgh Festival.

Backstage:

Stage Manager: Natalie Froud

Set Design: Mandy McGarrigle

Costumes: Mandy McGarrigle and Evie Housham

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Dec
7
to Dec 8

Gemco Junior & Inters End of Year Shows 2019

from 2017

from 2017

December
Saturday 7 at 3pm
and Sunday 8 at 3pm

Tickets are $5 per seat - There is no seat allocation.
If your young child can sit on your lap there is no charge for them.

If you don’t want to book online, tickets will be available at the door.

The Theatre, The Gem Community Arts Centre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald VIC

Handsome & Griddle - Juniors

Aladdin - Intermediates

Are you new here? - Juniors

Performance time approximately 1 hour and there is no interval

We invite you to stay on after the show for our Christmas Party, bring a plate to share.

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Dec
1
to Dec 3

Auditions - Women of Troy by Euripides

Audition Sunday 1 December from 7pm or Tuesday 3 December from 7pm

Email Sharon to book your space - see below for audition details

Performance dates: 6- 21 March 2020

Adapted by Don Taylor

The-Women-of-Troy-Theatro-Technis.jpg

Directed by Sharon Maine

Synopsis

An industrial port of a war-torn city. Women survivors wait to be shipped abroad. Officials come and go. A grandmother, once Queen, watches as her remaining family are taken from her one by one. The city burns around them.

The Women of Troy, Euripides’ timeless indictment of the cruelties of war as seen through the eyes of the women and children who are its innocent victims and is frighteningly relevant in our modern world

Auditions:

When:

Sunday 1st December from 7pm and Tuesday 3rd December from 7pm

What to prepare:

A 1-minute monologue for those auditioning for lead roles (Classical is preferred not mandatory);

All auditionees to be prepared for cold reads.

For chorus roles, please prepare a short acapella singing piece.

Where:

The Gem Community Theatre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald

Director:

Sharon Maine (sharonjmaine@gmail.com)

About the Show:

The Trojan Women follows the fates of Hecuba, Andromache, Cassandra and the other women of Troy after their city has been sacked, their husbands killed, and their remaining families about to be taken away as slaves. It is often considered one of Euripides’ greatest works, and among the best anti-war plays ever written.

Run of the show is 6 March – 21 March 2020

Characters:

Athena:

Goddess of War and Wisdom – Female, age range 18 – 60.

Poseidon (Lead):

The Greek god of the ocean, earthquakes, and horses. Poseidon built the city of Troy together with the god Apollo and therefore remained on the Trojans’ side in their fight against the Greeks.

Hecuba (Lead):

Female, 50-60, The former Queen of Troy. She is arguably the play’s protagonist. Widow to Priam, King of Troy. Mother to 14 children, including Cassandra, Hector, and Polyxena. Very few of her children remain after the Trojan War. Leader to the remaining women of Troy.

Andromache (Lead):

Female, age range late 20’s to late 30’s: A Trojan woman, the widowed wife of Hector, mother of Astyanax, and daughter-in-law of Hecuba.

Cassandra (Lead):

A Trojan woman, the daughter of Hecuba and Priam.

Helen of Troy (Lead):

Female, age range early to late 20’s: Formerly of Sparta and wife of the warrior King Menelaus. Helen was stolen from Sparta by the prince of Troy.

Talthybius (Lead):

A Greek soldier, who acts as a herald and a messenger. He is one of only two mortal men in the play.

Menelaus (Lead):

The King of Sparta and the former husband of Helen, who he has fought the Trojan War for.

Astyanax:

The young son of Andromache and Hector. He is murdered by the Greeks for fear that he could grow up to become their enemy.

Odune:

leader of the Chorus – Female, age range late 30’s to early 60’s

Female Chorus (11 roles) – all age ranges (over 18)

For an audition booking please email Sharon at sharonjmaine@gmail.com

If you are interested in crew, primarily stage management & set and costume design and construction, please come to the play reading or email the director, Sharon Maine.

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Dec
15
to Dec 16

A Mutiny of Pirates - Gemco Youth End of Year Shows

Mutiny of Pirates.jpg

December 15
and Sunday 16 at 2pm

Tickets are $5 per seat - There is no seat allocation.
If your young child can sit on your lap there is no charge for them.

If you don’t want to book online, please text Evie with the number of seats you would like on what day: 0400 327 970. Don’t forget to tell me your name :)

The Theatre, The Gem Community Arts Centre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald VIC

A Mutiny of Pirates

Intermediate Youth

The King of Spain's Treasure by Geoff Bamber

Jim Hawkins, now in possession of the tattered map of a distant tropical island, sees a life of adventure and great riches beckoning but, as the story unfolds, he realises that he is not the only one with an interest in the treasure.

Running time: approx 40 mins

Junior Youth

The Pint Sized Pirates adapted by Joy McLeary

This is a pirate play for youngsters which has been adapted from the original, Peggy the Pint Size Pirate by DM Larson, which is a morality tale which illustrates that the size of our bodies matters less than the size of our hearts. As exemplified by the actions of our three protagonists who, prompted by a sense of adventure, loyalty and compassion take on a seemingly impossible task.

Running time: approx 30 mins

Senior Youth

All at Sea by Peter Ayre

Sinbad the Sailor sets out to thwart the designs of Blackbeard the pirate and win the hand of the lovely Charlotte. (All this and a fairy too.)

Running time: approx 35 mins

There will be an interval of 15 mins

We invite you to stay on after the show for our Christmas Party, bring a plate to share.

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Dec
9
4:00 PM16:00

Audition (1) - Extinction by Hannie Rayson

Director: Sharon Maine

At The Theatre, The Gem,
19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald VIC 3782

Auditions

extinction book cover.jpg

Sunday 9 December 4-7pm and
Monday 10 December 7.30-10.30pm

Booking essential with the director Sharon Maine at sharonjmaine@gmail.com.

Characters

Dr Piper Ross (30), she is a conservation biologist on secondment from the San Diego Zoo

Harry Jewell (45), CEO of Powerhouse

Professor Heather Dixon-Brown (50), director of the CAPE Institute

Andy Dixon (35), a vet, brother of Heather

Synopsis

Extinction is set on the windswept coast of southern Australia, where the dense temperate rainforest sweeps down to the blue wilderness of the Great Southern Ocean. One wild winter night, Harry Jewell is driving along the Great Ocean Road, when he hits an animal. He stops and discovers that the creature is still alive. He picks it up and drives through the storm to a wildlife shelter, where an American zoologist, Dr Piper Ross, is on duty as a volunteer. Harry Jewell recognizes that the animal is a tiger quoll, once common in these parts, but now on the verge of extinction. The quoll dies, but the two of them are bonded by their attempt to save its life. A week after the quoll incident, Harry Jewell shows up at the CAPE Institute, where he meets with the director, Heather Dixon-Brown. He slaps two million dollars on the table and says that he wants to fund a research project to save the tiger quoll. However, there is a complication. Harry is the Managing Director of Powerhouse Mining. He has a license to explore the Otways for brown coal. Meanwhile Heather Dixon-Brown’s brother, Andy is facing his own crisis of mortality. Getting into bed with Big Coal and letting Powerhouse mine the forest, will happen over his dead body. This is a play about passion, ethics and what it means to live with the shadow of death (our own and other species). Does it matter if the tiger quoll’s days are numbered? Perhaps extinction is just part of the cycle of life or is human intervention necessary? No one in this play is wicked. No one is entirely virtuous. What unites them all is the one urgent question, in the age of global warming, how are we to live?

Presented by Gemco Players

Performance rights for EXTINCTION exclusivley licensed by HLA Management Pty Ltd, PO Box 1536, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 (hla@hlamgt.com.au)

 

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Oct
5
to Oct 20

Season 2 - Love and Information by Caryl Churchill

Opening Night fundraiser

Gemco Players will donate profits from the opening night to disaster relief for the people of Sulawesi through Lions Club International. Throughout the run there will be a donations box on the bar for additional contributions.

32266315_2191756507517944_5173521127187677184_n.jpg

Director: David Lawson-Smith

Synopsis

A child cannot feel pain. A man has a secret. A woman wants an affair.
A scientist dissects a brain. Someone tells the police. Another puts an elephant on the stairs. In a series of tantalising vignettes, over 100 vibrant characters search for meaning in their lives. Through sex, death, feeling, thinking, they discover each other. Within their intimate whispers, philosophical exchanges and life-changing revelations, we see ourselves and the people we love.

Show dates:

Friday 5 at 8pm
Saturday 6 at 8pm
Sunday 7 at 6pm (twilight)
Friday 12 at 8pm
Saturday 13 at 8pm
Sunday 14 at 2pm (matinee)
Friday 19 at 8pm
Saturday 20 at 8pm

Ticket prices:

$25; $22 (Children of 15 and under, Students, and concession card holders.); groups of 4 $80 (this ticket has a plus 1 option)

At The Gem Theatre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald VIC 3782

Presented by Gemco Players

An Amateur Production by Arrangement with ORiGiN (TM) Theatrical,
on behalf of Samuel French, Ltd.

 

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Jun
15
to Jun 17

One Act Play Season - Launch of Gemco Little Theatre

One Act Play Season

To launch our new concept of our Little Theatre we present a One Act Play Season of two short plays written by Kylie Rackham.

Director Sharon Maine

australian-brush-fire web.jpg

Ravaged

Ravaged combines three stories – based on the real events of Black Saturday. The characters are confronted with a force which changes everything and results in them needing to re-evaluate their lives and consider what is really important.

Aftermath

Four strangers come together In  the most challenging of circumstances. Responders to a car accident, they must not only deal with the immediate situation, but the aftermath of the crisis. The play examines the notions of responsibility, and explores what we are capable of when we are put to the test.

Tickets: $10 - only limited seats

16+


Gemco Little Theatre - our new Blackbox

The idea behind developing our Hall into an alternative performance space from the main theatre was to encourage new and more experimental works (with less cost to the directors and actors). It could be a teenager wanting to try out their new script; it may be a director who wants to experiment with a collection of short scenes; perhaps our actors want to get in amongst the audience ... but whatever it is we look forward to seeing what appears.

An article from TDF Theatre Dictionary

Black Box Theatre

It’s essentially a magic box.

What do David Mamet, the Wooster Group, and The Vagina Monologues have in common? Not a lot, actually. But they did all get their start in black box theatres.

A black box is a bare room with a movable seating area, a movable stage, and a flexible lighting system. It became popular during the explosion of experimental theatre in the 1960s, when storefronts, church basements, and even old trolley barns suddenly became intimate performance venues. This was an enormous break from the traditionally elaborate proscenium theatres, which still make up the majority of Broadway houses.

The concept of the black box has its roots in the European avant-garde of the early 20th century, through such pioneers as director/playwright Harley Granville Barker and designer Adolphe Appia. Barker’s ideal was, actually, “a great white box,” a vision that Peter Brook brought to life with his landmark 1970 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

As per the name, however, black boxes are often painted black and are square or rectangular in shape, with the idea that this is the most neutral setting in which to give productions a wide array of design and staging choices.

Today, there are scores of black box theatres in the United States alone, including Soho Rep in New York and Steppenwolf’s Garage Theatre in Chicago. They are also prominent at colleges and universities—for example, the Walt Disney Modular Theater at the California Institute of the Arts—where students are encouraged to immerse themselves in a variety of theatre styles and interpretations.

These future artists can tell you that there are five basic ways to stage a play: with the audience on one side (proscenium style), two sides (center stage), three sides (thrust), four sides (theatre in the round), or environmental staging, in which the audience and actors intermingle. The beauty of a black box theatre is that you can have any of those possibilities within one theatre space, sometimes within the same show.

–Andy Buck

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Apr
7
to Apr 8

Theatre for Children - The Owl and the Pussycat

Gemco Players present Theatre for Children

Show Days:
April - Saturday 7 at 10am and 2pm
and Sunday 8 at 10am and 2pm

Illustrations by Raquel Carter

Illustrations by Raquel Carter

The Owl and the Pussycat

A classic tale adapted from the poem by Edward Lear by Tim Bray
Lyrics by Christine White
Music by Margie Gemmell

The owl and the pussycat went to sea
In a beautiful pea green boat
They took some honey
And plenty of money
Wrapped up in a five pound note.

The wonderfully quirky and nonsense poem comes to life on stage with all the fun of the turkey who lives on the hill and the piggy-wig with the ring at the end of his nose, his nose, his nose ...

A short story of approx 45 mins, with songs. For children up to 10 years, however, everyone is welcome.

At The Theatre, The Gem Community Arts Centre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald Vic

Director: Evie Housham
with assistance of Ash Herring

Music and sounds - Margie Gemmell

Cast for 2018:

Owl - Lachy Castricum
Pussycat - Ash Herring
Parrot - Sonia Morison
Piggy-wig - Candace Peterton
Turkey - Joy McLeary

Chorus - Trevor Mills and Evie Housham

Lights - Ross Housham

Please note:

We looked forward to bringing you another play but unfortunately couldn't organise the Rights with the publisher. We hope to bring you another tale in the future. Please sign up for our newsletter to receive more information about our theatre.

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