Gemco Players Community Theatre

This page contains detailed information about the new theatre that is going to be built, thanks to local, state, federal and community funding and support. And don’t forget - you too can help support your local theatre with our ‘buy a seat’ campaign.

Mission
To develop and build a community-based and community-operated performing arts centre for the people of the ranges and beyond, accessible to all ages and backgrounds.

Objectives

* To develop the current plans for the final stage of the Community Performing Arts Centre in Emerald.
* To develop a business structure that is self-funding.
* To develop a community based management group that harnesses the energies and talents of the volunteers who will be the foundation of the centre.
* To make the finished centre accessible to all ages and backgrounds.
* To continue to work closely with the Shires of Cardinia and Yarra Ranges and State Government in developing activities in the centre that enhances the cultural heritage of the Dandenongs.
* To provide for young people a safe, recreational and social environment in which to develop skills and talents in order to become better citizens in the community and have greater employment opportunities.

Also:

* Improve access to the arts, either as participants or audience, for disabled or disadvantaged people by completing the stage 2 building which will have relevant toilet facility and ramps as well as a loop sound system for the hard of hearing.
* Address issues of health and safety by providing a foyer so that audiences do not have to gather in the rain. Improvement of lighting and creating more accessible surfaced pathways to the entrances and building dressing rooms with sufficient toilet facilities will add to the overall health and safety of participants.
* Increase range of potential user groups is achieved through increasing the stage area, seating and foyer areas to allow larger and more varied groups such as schools and local dance groups, orchestras, circus groups and rock bands to access the facility.
* To broaden community access and increase opportunities for participation in arts related activities by increasing the types of activities as shown in the accompanying table

Purpose
Creating Space and Place key aim (p3 of criteria) is to “integrate innovative cultural practice within the fabric of urban and regional activity centres to stimulate activity, community and life long learning.”
Gemco Players Community Theatre group has been doing just this for 23 years in the Dandenong Ranges.
Since 1996 with the opening of a home base on Council owned land, Gemco Players has stimulated its’ activities and community involvement, and increased its’ membership. Many of our young adults began in Gemco as young children and are now involved in leadership positions. Some have achieved places in careers or courses in performing and related arts.
Thus Gemco has shown its support for lifelong learning. However, in order to improve and expand its’ facilities for health and safety, stimulate its’ activities within the community even further and increase participation by audiences and performers alike, a new theatre to add to the existing rehearsal hall is an absolute necessity.

Expansion

It’s clear to see that a new Gemco theatre would benefit the whole community!

Stage 1 Gemco has:
Stage 1 comprises a commercial kitchen, a hall 10m by 8m, meeting area 5m by 8m at the front and work and costume storage in the rear( 8m by 6m) as well as a partially renovated Tait railway carriage (“Red Rattler”) which acts as current changing area and administration. In the future this will become a feature, which will allow light meals to be served before and after events in the completed project.

Since the relocation of Tecoma Uniting Church Hall to the current site in Emerald in 1996 and the further extensions front and back, completed with the official opening in 2002, we have been astounded by the increase in activity, particularly youth theatre work (15 per week attending one group to over 60 per week attending three sessions, all led by volunteers from the community.

This building, known as Stage 1, was built solely with local input from service clubs, local business, community volunteers of all ages and skills, within and outside Gemco Players (which is itself a community group).
This shows a commitment of the community to support the project.

Limitations of Stage 1
Gemco has always been enterprising and demonstrated ability to perform in the most restrictive environments but is now hampered in any further expansion in numbers, provision of audience comfort and safety as well increasing creative activities, by the serious lack of space. No foyer. No sensible dressing room. It’s like playing football on a postage stamp oval, changing in the toilet with the supporters watching in the rain!

The next step: Stage 2
Stage 2 project is to complete this whole facility by adding to the just recently opened stage 1 of a community performing arts centre which services the Dandenongs and beyond, is managed by the local community, is built on government land and has a track record of enhancing the cultural life of the region with a great emphasis on accessibility and participation of young people, who are greatly disadvantaged for local recreational activities and entertainment due to lack of public transport and the geographical isolation of townships in this part of the Dandenongs.

The completed project will give the community a manageable theatre 10m by 8m (the size of the present Gemco Hall), that will have a fly-tower, dressing rooms, storage and work areas as well as orchestra pit, bar, foyer and improved toilet facilities. It will supply a need in the area for a flexible venue at which people from all ages and backgrounds can perform, be entertained and learn new skills. Furthermore this facility will provide local youth with encouragement to be involved in the performing arts not only as a recreation but also as a possible career.
The completion of stage 2, as described, will provide a multi-faceted, flexible and stimulating environment for the large number of activities proposed above.

Conclusion
The end result will be a performing arts theatre complex in the Hills, suitable for small intimate groups, professional or amateur to reach larger audiences (150 maximum) and usable by any commercial or community group including many of the local primary and secondary schools.

A local venue for “The Arts” enabling disadvantaged, the elderly, families and local youth to entertain and be entertained and as well as providing a place for lifelong learning and an opportunity to gain skills and qualifications for a career in the performing arts.

Remember: You and you family or friends can make a difference! Join the dozens of others helping Gemco and the local community realise their dream by sponsoring a seat. Read all the juicy details here.