What's On 2025
As Theatre Companies advise us of their productions for 2025, details will be added to this web site under the menu heading "What's On" (on the left of this page) . Each production will only appear there 30 days before the production opens.
Theatre Groups who are members of the Association can advise the Association of their productions for 2025 by using the online form under the menu heading "Submit What's On" or can submit their details by clicking on this following link What's On Update Form 2025. Details of how to use this manual form are on the form itself. Once this form is completed it can be posted or emailed to us.
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New Insurance Policy
The Association of Community Theatre has appointed a new insurance broker who is offering members improved coverage for Public Liability and Volunteer Accident cover at a significantly reduced premium. Details of the new policy are listed here.
ACT STAGECRAFT CONFERENCE & WORKSHOPS 2024
The 12th Stagecraft Conference will be held at the National Institute of Dramatic Art on Saturday September 21 and Sunday 22 2024.
The whole programme includes two lunches, a conference dinner, four electives and three open sessions for just $175 for members.
CLICK HERE FOR THE CONFERENCE PROGRAM BROCHURE.
CLICK HERE FOR CVs OF NIDA LECTURERS.
CLICK HERE FOR TRYBOOKING & BOOK YOUR PLACE AT THE CONFERENCE FOR WHOLE WEEKEND, SINGLE DAY OR JUST THE DINNER & PAY BY CREDIT CARD, PAYPAL OR GOOGLE PAY.
OR ALTERNATIVELY COMPLETE THE ASSOCIATION'S REGISTRATION FORM IF YOU WISH TO PAY BY CHEQUE OR ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER.
SATURDAY MORNING
Registration 8:30 - 9:30
Welcome 9:30-9:45
9:45 Keynote speaker is composer, lyricist and theatre writer Laura Murphy - who will describe what she loves about community theatre and why she set her production of Zombies the Musical in one.
10:30 Tim Cramsie will lead our Stage Safety Seminar highlighting what went wrong with recent film and stage disasters and what lessons can be learnt from them.
1130 Annual General Meeting of The Association of Community Theatre.
1230 Lunch and trade stalls.
Electives to choose from are Sat Afternoon 1:45
a. Musical Theatre Dance Workshop with Wayne-Scott Kermond.
b. Directing Actors for the Stage with NIDA Lecturer Jo Turner. (20 max)
c. Let's Put On A Show - hear from copyright agents MTIA, Origin, DSP and Laura Murphy.
d. Sound Advice. Sean Clark, Col Peet and Andrew Crawford on opportunities for employment in technical theatre plus the latest on audio.
Electives to choose from Saturday 4:15 - 6:15pm
a. Lighting Design Revolution - Brett Wheeler on how to light your show before you get into the theatre.
b. Clowning : Release Your Inner Silliness NIDA Lecturer Rudolf Hendrikx. (20 max)
c Directing and Choreographing a Musical : Wayne Scott Kermond and Katie Kermond.
d. Costume Design with NIDA Lecturer Leah Giblin. (20 max)
Explore the processes of the designer in their quest to visually convey character through costume design. This workshop takes the form of a presentation.
7:00 Sat Sept 21 - Conference Dinner and Hall of Fame Awards : Juniors Maroubra
Electives to choose from Sunday 10:00 - 12:00 pm
a. Make-Up Essentials with NIDA Lecturer Sandra Wograndl. (15 max)
Gain an insight into techniques used by professional make-up artists in the application of stage make-up. Learn some tricks of the trade and see the magic of make-up unfold! This workshop takes the form of a practical demonstration.
b. Social Media and Publicity with The Willoughby Theatre Company's Taz Bright and Journalist David Spicer.
c. Creating a character with NIDA Lecturer Bethany Simons.(20 max)
Explore how the Stanislavski acting technique and physical and vocal skills are employed in the creation of truthful characters.
d. Intimacy Coaching with Chloe Dallimore.
LUNCH AND TOURS OF NIDA
Electives to choose from Sunday 1:30 - 3:30
a. Music Theatre Audition Masterclass with Geraldine Turner.
b. Props Making and Effects with NIDA Lecturers Grace McCann & Caleb Jackson.(20 Max)
Discover the secrets of props making and special effects in the creation of NIDA’s production of Frankenstein. This workshop takes the form of a presentation
c. General American Accents with NIDA Lecturer Laura Farrell. (20 max)
Explore the fundamental skills required for creating a General American accent.
d. Stage Management with Col Peet and Andrew Davis.
Community theatre awards Forum. 4pm
The agenda for this forum will be a proposal for a community theatre awards in greater Sydney. Recommendations of a sub-committee of ACT for consideration are attached at this link.
Grants Program
The Association of Community Theatre has agreed to make $5,000 available in 2024 to long term member companies for use in capital purchases (total amount to be shared amongst all members). "The Guidelines" of the grant are detailed in the Main Menu listing under the heading 'Membership' and access to the 'Application Form' can be found at the end of the Guidelines.
Feedback from last year's grant.
"Glenbrook Players Inc. would like to share our heartfelt thanks to the people running our association and the grant money we received last year.
We put your grant to good use with the purchase of some lighting and sound equipment which helped us for the first time to put on a live radio play in our regular performance venue as an added show our members could be involved in. Usually we can only book our performance venue for two shows a year and now with the equipment the grant bought us it is easier to stage a one-off radio play or rehearsed reading which we hope to do annually.
With the portable lighting 4 channel dimmer we can set up lights on lighting trees in the auditorium with a lot less hassle (we don't have a permanent lighting rig so we have to set up our lighting bar and bump it out after each week of shows. The new yamaha speaker works well as a foldback during performance runs and has great quality sound for special effects played during our radio play."
2024 Message from Ros English
Christmas Message From Ros English
It’s Christmas eve and from your Committee, I pass on the very best wishes for the festive season. We are all looking forward to a fabulous 2024.
The Association Committee had our last meeting for 2023 last week and we discussed several issues:
First and foremost is our resolve to hold a conference this year. We are currently working with NIDA to find a time to suit, so watch this space for date and time for the conference.
The Grant scheme will operate again in 2024 with $5,000 to be available to applicants. We will publish the guidelines and criteria in the new year.
Membership fees remain the same for 2024. Invoices have been sent. If you are aware of any community group with changes to their committee or contact details, please get in touch and we will ensure that communications to that group continue. We cannot contact groups if we don’t have their details.
Insurance has been negotiated, and Marsh will have contacted all member groups by now. It is indeed encouraging that premiums have not increased this year. Our sincere thanks to Simon and his team at Marsh for ensuring we have ongoing insurance at a very competitive rate. Please make sure you avail yourselves of this valuable service.
We are looking towards holding a workshop to be open to all member groups – this will be to provide an opportunity to groups to express their concerns and raise issues they wish to discuss. One of the main topics for discussion will be an awards program. We are keen to develop this and we look forward to positive input from members.
We are undertaking a review and upgrade of our website, so again, watch this space for our new look. This will be after the new year.
We are also looking to organize a social gathering of some sort to take place later in the year. Date, time and venue will be communicated when they have been determined.
Thank you for your continued activity and for providing our communities with entertainment and the chance to enjoy your skills and share your love and passion for theatre.
I would like to wish everyone a very happy festive season with your families and friends. Take the opportunity to relax and enjoy your leisure time. I am looking forward to a very busy and fruitful new year and I hope you all enjoy your break ready for 2024.
With best wishes,
Roslyn English, OAM
Chief Executive Officer
Insurance Claims History
To assist companies keep their rehearsals and performances as safe as possible we publish a list of accidents that have taken place in recent years and the claims for compensation made arising from the accidents through ACT's public liability insurance policy managed by Marsh.
2020 1/04/2021 PA Costume rack fell over onto a person's right
shoulder sustaining strain injury. Rack
had several heavy costumes on at the
time
$700.00 was awarded in compensation.
2019 19/05/2019 PL Claimant leaned on an exit door and fell
out injuring her wrist
No compensation was awarded. Finalised
2018 12/02/2018 PL Set fell on the claimant injuring his
shoulder
$192.75 was awarded. Finalised
22/07/2018 PL A claimaint fell whilst dancing and injured her
ankle
No compensation was awarded.
9/9/2018 PL The claimant's parquet floor was
damaged by improperly seated screws
in a dancer's tap shoes
$2,640.70 was awarded. Finalised
7/10/2018 PL The claimant slipped over some poles
laid on the theatre floor and fractured
his elbow.
$780.70 was awarded. Finalised
24/10/2018 PL Art works at Gallery damaged by water.
Insured left a door open and storm
water penetrated the gallery
$355.32 was awarded. Finalised
2017 25/02/2017 PL Choir member fell onto an orchestra
member's trombone, damaging it.
$670.00 was awarded. Finalised
17/05/2017 PL A member of the insured theatre troupe
splashed fake blood on a white theatre
curtain during a rehearsal of the
performance 'Sweeney Todd'. Owner
demanded replacement and associated
costs.
$1,854.40 was awarded. Finalised
27/08/2017 PL 2 pieces of the set fell from the wall
onto the claimant's car $1,641.13 was awarded.Finalised
2016 20/08/2016 PL Claimant fell down the stairs at the
theatre.
$30,327.50 was awarded. Finalised
21/11/2016 PL Claimant slipped down some stairs. $29,540.12 was awarded. Finalised
2015 12/07/2015 PL Patron of the production fell on stairs
whilst moving to seating area. Venue
was a hired theatre belonging to the
XXXXX School.
$69,337.95 was awarded. Finalised
2014 17/11/2013 PL The claimant alleges that the Insured's
stage crew damaged a 'cyclorama'
stage curtain whilst moving furniture
during the Insured's performance a
musical at XXXXXX. $800.00 was awarded. Finalised
COVID-19
The Association of Community Theatre regrets to advise that all seasons of community theatre in New South Wales are suspended due to Government regulations arising out of the COVID-19 epidemic.
The latest advice from the NSW Department of Health is that “community singing groups meet virtually for now” because COVID-19 has been spread in choirs overseas. This means it is not yet safe for musical societies to meet for rehearsals.
We wish the entire theatre community and our audience members well over this difficult time and look forward to seeing you all in a crowded foyer when the pandemic is over.
The Association of Community Theatre AGM will be held in late September where we will announce details of relief for member companies.
Hall of Fame Awards 2018
The Association of Community Theatre was proud to inaugurate six new members into its
Patron Nancye Hayes AM presented the awards at ACT's Stagecraft 2018 conference dinner held at the Bonnie Doon Golf Club.
Pictured above are Coralie Wood, Nancye Hayes AM, Wendy Fahey, Roger McKenzie, Pat Slattery, Janette Holmes and Ros English.
To see more about each Member of the Hall of Fame go to the Main Menu and click on 'Hall of Fame'.