Melbourne Fringe Festival comes to Emerald

Friday September 17th

Michael Connell, our well known comedian, is bringing his friends who have created a programme of comedy for the International Fringe Festival in Melbourne during October

Many of you will remember his performances at the opening of the Theatre last year and the Pave performances at the local footy club

Tickets can be purchased on line

TO BOOK TICKETS CLICK HERE 

http://www.webticketing.com.au/SelectEvent.aspx?orgid=14      

See you on the 17th!!

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30th Birthday

The 30^th anniversary for the Gemco Theatre was celebrated last Saturday night being the 7^th of August.  It started off with a wonderful show hosted by Cat Gemmell andBel [Smullen]Douglas. It was brilliant with lots of laughing and wonderful performances throughout the show and again I was reminded of how lucky Gemco is to have such a wonderful collection of talent in it’s hands. 

We then moved into the dining area where  around 110 people sat and sampled some of the finest food with presentation to match, all done by Dougie and  some wonderful help in the kitchen. Well done to you all. 

The tables were beautifully decorated  by Bel and Cat  with helium balloons anchored to novels of theatre plays and I am sure that some have been performed at Gemco over the past years. The bar was looked after by a fantastic group of volunteers and they were Kieran, Lisa and Rachel ,I again thank you all so much, you all did a fantastic job, xxx.There were a lot of long term members and some catching up to do with friends of the theatre, some  that have moved away   and  it was just great to look around and watch  and know that this night ,with all the hard work that was put in by all was well worth the effort. So here is to he next 30 years 

Jan, xx  FOH  Manager 

This is just one example of the fantastic photo’s taken by Darren Calder – Professional Photographer… for more photo’s of the 30th Birthday and  “Little Gems” go to the link below. You can view,download, share and even upload your own photos! 

MORE PHOTO’S

As part of the celebration long time member Daniel Jackson who couldn’t be there at “The Show” made a fantastic video which was aired as part of the concert. It’s hilarious!

CHECK IT OUT BELOW

A book is available commemorating the 30 years of Gemco’s existence.

It’s a “must have”…. Only $15!

Email: gemcoplayers@gmail.com to secure your copy  

“Little Gems”

The Gemco Players original short play festival Little Gems is an annual writers’ festival of short scripts intended to provide a forum to promote and encourage experienced writers, new writers and young writers to practice and further their craft of writing for the stage. The inaugural   Little Gems Festival was a great success with an audience of 100. A brilliant team effort done by all, Special Thanks to Marg Bowes  & Ken Purdam, Evie and  Ross and every-one else that made it a great success Can’t wait till next year! 

MORE INFORMATION

A Book of Little Gems 2010 is now available 

from GEMCO Players    for $15. 

New Tricks for an Old Dog by Colin Donald 

Hand Me downs by Kylie Storer  

Mark Anthony’s Women by Robert Callaghan 

Memories by Marjorie Bowes 

No Strings Attached by Ken Purdham 

Who’s Killing the Barbers of Bagdad by Kylie Seeberg 

Pandora’s Box by Cameron Bennetts 

Shelter by Dolores Bellemo 

LÁmour Pour La Mere by Jacqui Walker 

The Blue Lady by Julee Anne Van Kerkwijk 

Entries and submissions are being called for next year’s festival. 

MORE INFORMATION

Email for more information Ken Purdham at: ken@kenpurdham.com or kpurdham@bigpond.net.au or call him on 0412140157 

NEXT PRODUCTIONS

Speaking in Tongues

Performances :Nov 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20 2010

The basic theme of the piece is sexual jealousy and also how our baggage can cause people to ‘project’ and to be judgemental. The title of the film, which was based on this play, conjured a far more apt metaphor:

‘Lantana’ is a deceptively attractive plant which can also be a dense, malignant weed which grows out of control, strangling everything in its path.

Leon and Pete are unhappy husbands and Sonja and Jane are unhappy wives who have cheated on their husbands with each other’s other spouse in Act 1.

Some of the characters mentioned in the first act become the centre of focus in the second act. Leon the police detective is the only character brought over from act one. The second act involves the strange disappearance of a psychological therapist Valerie with a patient named Sarah. Nick, who is talked about as Jane’s neighbour in the first act, becomes the centre of attention in the mystery. We get more information about each of them through a series of confessionals and interrogations. 

Playwright Bovell expresses it best when he says about his play, “It is an emotional labyrinth, it’s like a tightly woven piece of fabric: take any two strands and follow them and you will end up in quite different places.”

Here’s a fantastic review from some-ones blog:

John Godbar first wrote Bouncers in 1977 as a stylised look into the seedy world of British Nightclubs and those whose job it is to keep them safe. Using just four actors to portray a myriad of differing characters – both male and female – the quirky and hilarious play proved so successful, that in 1985 he wrote Shakers; a similarly styled play but instead from the perspective of four female cocktail waitresses.

Gemco Players and Director Tanya Barnes made the interesting decision to put these plays back-to-back and give us the event Bouncers & Shakers. Now I’ll preface the following by stating that I – as a general rule – HATE long nights at the theatre. Anything that is well over the two hour mark really tests my patience (I’m looking at you, Les Mis) and often has me looking at my watch and moving around restlessly in my seat. These two shows combined ran at almost three and half hours with an interval; well over my tolerance limit. However, not once did I check my watch. Not once did I drift off and start checking out the lighting rig. Not once did I think ‘I wish this would bloody finish,’ and this is real credit to all involved with this production. The running time simply presents outstanding value for your dollar, delivering an audience member two very entertaining shows for the price of one.

The way the show is written – with short sharp jumps from one series of characters to the next – pace and timing become a real issue, especially when you are running at three and a half hours. It was a pleasure to see a show like this where the the director has worked very hard on these key issues and it showed. Some of the comic timing and delivery on that stage was pure a-grade material . When this show hit the funny mark, it hit it hard; and I spent much of the night trying to actually contain my laughter. Tanya should also be congratulated on adapting the play for an Australian audience including many hilarious in-jokes that really made the audience feel part of it all. A very impressive directing effort indeed.

The outstanding ensemble cast clearly had their work cut out for them with this show. With so many lines, so many characters and so many transitions, I shudder to think how this show would have turned out with lesser performers. It would be unfair to single out anybody in the ensemble cast, but special mention must go to Tim O’Leary and Kym Davies for both executing some of the most brilliant comic timing the Ranga has seen for a long time. However, Kate McManus, Jen Bush, Kylie Storer, Ed Paulsen, Matty P and Daniel Jackson all deserve to be mentioned as well, each and every one of them having some superb moments on stage.

The overall experience – turning the venue into a nightclub and having to get past the Bouncers on entry (Just pray you never cop me in an ad-lib situation like that Mr Jackson!) just added to the overall vibe of the show. The soundtrack was outstanding, the lighting created great transitions and the FOH staff were (aghast) friendly!

I could do the usual Reviewer thing here, where I try to counter balance my praise by picking some minute and mundane detail that I didn’t like and spend a paragraph on it but I’m not going to – I’d just be clutching at straws. Instead, I’m going to recommend this show to anybody who likes a good laugh, finds taking the piss out of popular culture entertaining and isn’t offended by the word F&#k.

- The Ranga

The weekend showcases many plays of many genres and styles, a highlight of the weekend being the many youth entries for which there are separate awards.

Download a submission form to enter your play.

Festival runs 16th – 18th July, ‘10.

AUDITIONS:

“Speaking in Tongues”

Author: Andrew Bovell

Director: Sharon Maine

Enquiries & Audition Bookings: 0419118917 or

maine_sharon@hotmail.com

Auditions:

16-Aug-2010 at 7:30PM

17-Aug-2010 at 7:30PM

22-Aug-2010 at 7:30PM for call backs

MURDER ON THE

PUFFING BILLY EXPRESS

These shows are our major fundraisers for Gemco which each show generating $900+  in funds. In 2010 there are a number of shows scheduled – There have already been 2 this year with great response from the audience. Kieran Dennis is directing. These mainly improvised shows are performed on the Puffing Billy night train and in the historical “Nobelius Packing Shed” in Emerald where a 3 course meal is served.  This fun show has been a sell-out success in 2009 with a number of shows already sold-out in 2010!.   There are great parts available with singing and dancing.

This is a fun show with not too many rehearsals.

Ideal for those who can’t commit to a long season.

No Experience necessary-

Loads of enthusiasm essential!

Ph Kieran on 0422225434

Honk! Is the multi-award winning comic musical based on Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale, “The Ugly Duckling”. Spring has come to the duck pond and  all seems right until, just after his perfect, handsome siblings hatch, Ugly comes
honking into the world. He is big, shambling, short sighted and branded as ‘different’ from the word go. Lured away by the treacherous cat, Ugly embarks on a series of adventures and by the time his mother catches up with him, he is ready for the biggest adventure of his life, and to embrace being different. Great Family Entertainment!

Director: Sarah Milway

Musical Director: Tony ToppiChoreographer: Briony Doddrel

October 23nd -November 7th   TICKETS: $24   Conc. $18  Children $12 Family $60

BOOKINGS THROUGH  GEMCO HOTLINE: 0411723530  or

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE  ONLINE!!! CLICK HERE

At the end of May, Gempro will present a weekend of ‘long form’ and ’short form’ improvisation.

Formally known as ‘WotsDaNayMovit?’, your story titles will inspire the stories that get formed before your eyes.

When: Friday 29th of May & Saturday 30th of May, 2009.

Where: Gemco Hall, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald 127 E5

Time: 8pm start

Cost: $12 A, $10 C

Platters: $10 each

Bookings: 0411 723 530

Come with a friend or book a table for a high energy night of improvised entertainment!

Click here to download the poster

When:
Wednesday 15th April 8pm: Program One
Thursday 16th April 8pm: Program Two
Saturday 18th April 2pm: Program One
Saturday 18th April 8pm: Program Two

Wednesday 22nd April 8pm: Program Two
Thursday 23rd April 8pm: Program One
Friday 24th April 8pm: Program Two
Saturday 25th April 8pm: Program One

Program One
Come and Go
Endgame
Play
Not I

Program Two
Come and Go
Happy Days
All that Fall

Where: Gemco Hall, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald 127 E5 (next to the police station)

Cost: $15 A, $12 C. Groups of 10 at concession prices.

Bookings: 0411 723 530

To download poster, click here.

Train departs Belgrave
Friday 3rd April @ 7.15pm
Adults $95  |  Child under 12 $50

Come as your favourite Agatha Christie character. Prizes offered for best dressed.

This evening’s event is supported and acted by the Gemco Players Community Theatre

Bookings Essential
Phone (03) 9757 0700
during office hours.

www.puffingbilly.com.au

~

The action starts to happen at departure time from Belgrave, as the Puffing Billy Dinner Train travels to Menzies Creek where Lord Selby loses his trousers, not his life.

The plot thickens at the packing shed in Emerald where Mike Shanks the butcher proposes to Rosemary Lamb and the coming together of Lamb and Shanks is given the holy blessing by the rather drunk reverend minister Larry Lamb, Rosemary’s Dad.

After suspicions about marijuana in the marigold patch at the Nursery and Lady Selby’s Tiara going missing with the famous, priceless Kooweerup diamond, Rosemary Lamb is finally attacked in a darkened railway carriage…

What happens next? Come along and find out!

Little Red, her Grandma and the Wolf of Nottingham catch wind of the powers the chalice bestows its owner and set off on a mission of their own. When good and evil collide, their worlds are turned up side down…

Written by local author Dennis Fuller, with music by John Piggott & Marg Gemmell, Little Red & Robin Hood is showing

March 29, 30, April 1, 3, 5   @ 11:45am and 2pm.

$10 each. Children under 3, free.

Venue: Emerald Lake Park, Emerald.

We are also lucky enough to have Amcal on board as a sponsor, who we thank for donating 1000 sunscreen samples for the patrons of our show.

Download the Little Red & Robin Hood e-poster