Hall of Fame Members

Our 2008 Hall of Fame Inductees!

(L to R - Charles “Bud” Tingwell, Bob Peet, Robert Broadley, Barry Springett
and Dorothy “Bonnie” Bryant , seated front)

BOB PEET
Strathfield Musical Society

Bob Peet, set designer and director extraordinaire, whose professional career began as a puppeteer with Tintookies, saw him open several regional venues across Australia, finally ran away with the circus at age 60, managing the Big Top tours of “Cats”, “Grease” and “Shout”.

Throughout that career, and since his ‘retirement,’ Bob has directed and / or designed innumerable productions, with his sets and props subsequently re-used around the country. UP

ROBERT BROADLEY
Strathfield Musical Society

By sheer coincidence, Bob and fellow recipient Robert Broadley were students just one year apart at Canterbury Boys High School, and are long-term friends. In 1968, after involvement with several other companies, Robert founded Strathfield Light Opera Company, the predecessor of the current Strathfield Musical Society, a company which staged as many as ten shows a year. Robert was director and producer of the company, one of Sydney’s finest at the time, until his retirement. UP

DOROTHY “BONNIE” BRYANT
Wyong Drama Group

Dorothy “Bonnie” Bryant has been a member of Wyong Drama Group for 50 years, her first role that year, the front end of a cow.

During those 50 years, Bonnie has directed 36 shows for the company.

A long-term committee member, Bonnie has served as vice-president and secretary, while she always set the example volunteering for less glamorous behind the scenes tasks.

No task was too menial: suppers, prompt, general coffee-maker for set builders right up until infirmity held her too often at home. UP
 

BARRY SPRINGETT
Willoughby Theatre Company

Barry Springett’s involvement with Willoughby Theatre Company (formerly Willoughby Musical Society) dates back to Rio Rita in 1961, and he hasn’t missed a show since, in numerous capacities including cast member, stage management, crew and construction, and serving on the committee for most of that time, in more roles and more capacities than anyone else. UP

Hall of Fame Members

MARLEEN NANDI
Woodstock Players

Marleen Nandi has been the artistic Director of the Woodstock Players since she founded it in 1984. Thanks to her efforts the theatre is the oldest and most active group in her area. The Players mostly perform in the Ballroom of the historic Woodstock mansion in Burwood. This is  intimate theatre to the max.

Working in the ballroom presents many challenges not the least is the close proximity to the audience.

Marleen once told a cast member to blow her nose - because the audience is so close they can see right up your nostril. She also once told a young actor not to wear her favourite perfume because she would not have had access to the eau de cologne in those days and she would smell wrong to the audience. This is another indication of how passionate Marleen is about both her craft and her audiences. Marleen has nearly 80 productions to her credit - as artistic director and sometimes as performer she shows absolute passion and meticulous attention to detail . She also brings a total new meaning to the phrase " Quality theatre on a show string budget."

In her years she has established and nurtured a pool of experienced actors and directors - a number of whom have gone on to professional theatrical careers. In particular Marleen  is well known for her dedicated grooming of young performers - crafting them into skilled and confident actors in their own right. As well she has attracted a dedicated back stage team whose energy and creativity have transformed the skinny ballroom into a luxury cruise liner, a restoration dining room, an English country House, a rocky Irish coastline, a busy newspaper office to name just a few.

Woodstock players have given great enjoyment to both its performing members and audience for 22 years. None of this would have been possible without the commitment of Marleen. It is fair to say Marleen is the Woodstock Players. UP

ELAINE GOW
Eastwood Uniting Church Musical Society

Over the 43 years of the Eastwood Uniting Church Musical Society Elaine Gow has been involved in every production except two when she was overseas.  In 1963 she became a foundation member and has been active every year since. On the Production side Elaine  has left no craft untouched. She has directed 14 shows, production manager for five, three as wardrobe mistress, acted as rehearsal pianist and co-wrote scripts for our 25th and 30th anniversary shows.

She has been choreographer, a member of the make-up team, house manager and of late performed the role of 'continuity'. She has taken the role of continuity to new extremes in EUCMS current production of The Whitehorse Inn - filling in for the Director when she fell down the stairs and broke her ribs, filling in for the musical director one night and substituting for any lead who does not turn up.

On the stage Elaine has been cast in 23 principal roles including Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music, Tevye's wife in Fiddle on the Roof, the Countess in Song of Norway and the Reporter in Free as Air. She has been in the chorus also seven times. Elaine has served on the executive for 30 years - including two terms as President, seven as secretary, and many more on publicity and audition duties. A special part of the life of EUCMS is their commitment to worship together for special occasions. Elaine has organised many of their annual church services and plays for the Christmas season. In 2003 she co-ordinated many of EUCMS 40th anniversary concert parties and performances in retirement villages.

Her long commitment means that there are very few members whom she does not know well and this knowledge has been used for PR in sending cards and arranging gifts when society members recognise a special event. EUCMS acknowledge Elaine's broad and deep contribution to her society. UP
 

LYN HARNWELL
Nowra Players

The Nowra Players has been serving the south coast community since 1951. For much of that Lyn Harnwell has been working behind the scenes. She joined the committee in 1979 serving as President, Vice President,
Secretary and member.

Lyn still maintains the theatre's wardrobe. She has acted in over 30 plays and directed 20 productions. Lyn has long been a supporter of encouraging young people within the field of drama. While she has been co-ordinating children's drama classes - they've grown from 2-3 groups to 12 classes.
 

She initiated the Shoalhaven's annual youth drama award, advised HSC students on their projects, ran drama in primary schools, adjudicated at the Shoal haven Eisteddfod and public speaking and dance competitions.

Over the years she has made props and costumes, written the newsletter, organised wardrobe, ran publicity and theatre parties. As well Lyn co-wote the Nowra Players 50th anniversary publication - painstakingly sifting through records to create a wonderful  tribute to the group. Lyn is a highly valued member of the Nowra Players and its committee says she thoroughly deserves recognition for her achievements. UP
 

Inaugural Hall of Fame inductees

(L to R - Paulene Paull, Joel Beskin, Mary Bentley)
 

MARY BENTLEY
Nominated by Willoughby Musical Society. Tribute by Andrew Davis

What is it that drives those people who work behind the scenes? Why do they stay up all night sewing costumes or stitching little light globes into curtains, or rechanging a leg.. or repainting a back cloth which is pink - but the artistic director wanted puce. They are rarely seen, except we know they exist because their work is there for all to see. They sometimes get a mention in the program but are mostly forgotten when all the thanks are dished by the President at the end of the show. Some would die of fright if they were made to actually get up on stage in front of an audience, yet they continue to turn up, time after time.

There is one person I know. Her name is Mary Bentley. Her theatrical life goes right back to the Old Vic Theatre and the Drama Department at the University in Bristol England.

In the early seventies through to the early eighties Mary could be found with the Hornsby Musical Society. In the early eighties she joined  the Hornsby Gang Show. Since 1983 Mary has been involved in Stage management, construction, special effects, backstage hand props, lighting and is the best scrounger I have ever met.

At the recent Australian Jamboree in 2000/2001 Mary and I were part of the Australiana village, a working model of a pioneer model. We did two shows 9 days a week complete with mock floggings and the requisite escaped convict shot by redcoats.

I first came to know Mary with the Normanhurst Uniting Church Musical Society where she worked on lighting and Directing.

In 1991 she moved to the Willoughby Musical Society working as a meticulous properties manager, back stage continuity, cast calling, front of house.

Her legacy is a vast array of props, beautifully crafted, scrounged and saved from destruction - which now provide income for the Society and are loaned by amateur and professional theatres.

I thank God for people like Mary because it is through her efforts and people like her that I and other performers get to do the things we love. UP
 

JOEL BESKIN
Gold Coast

In 2004 Joel Beskin is celebrating 62 years on the stage.

His first leading role as Sir Walter Scott's " Young Lochinvar " appropriately in community theatre was at the age of nine while an evacuee from Nazi bombing during WW2. he went on to take countless roles in plays, musicals, advertising, film stints, TV and radio.

For the past 44 years in Australia he has devoted considerable time and service to community theatre and has been a tireless worker in encouraging and cementing co-operation between theatres.

He was closely involved in planning and building three theatres in south-east Queensland - Brisbane Arts, Twelfth Night and Spotlight.

He is the founding member and Chairman of the Gold Coast theatre Alliance and has also served the Broader Arts Community by organising many conferences, summits and forums.

Joel is quite simply a lifetime man of Community Theatre. UP
 

PAULENE PAULL
Bankstown Musical Society, Nomination by Di Crease

If ever someone has the right to this award it is Paulene. She came from Wollongong to begin her teaching career in Bankstown in 1950. During that year the Bankstown Repertory Company decided to become a Theatrical Society and perform musicals as well as plays.
Paulene attended the first meeting and at that very same night she saw in her words a gorgeous bloke across a crowded room and asked her friend who he was. Her friend said that is Paul but don't bother about him he's a bit stand offish. Three years later they married.

Paulene did quite a few shows in the fifties - but took time off until she was enticed back in 1975 to make costumes for My Fair Lady. Since then she has made costumes for nearly every production - being single handedly responsible for keeping the society afloat by hiring out to other groups. Bankstown now has one of the largest wardrobes in NSW.

Paulene has played numerous roles in our productions and has been a member of our committee for at least 20 years.

When I first met her I was petrified of her - she tells me she was petrified of me - but what a wrong impression. She is one of the softest most generous people that one could ever hope to meet.

Her line whenever you ask her "How are the costumes going  is " We'll get there" and they always do and I hope she continues to be part of our group for a very long time because Bankstown Theatrical Society wouldn't be the same without her. UP
 

The Association of Community Theatre
has inaugurated a special award for exceptional service to community theatre.

To enter the Hall of Fame you need to be nominated by an ACT member and have completed at least 20 years of service.

The Association is especially keen to honour those who toil behind the scenes.

Send your future nominations to ACT now.

The first recipients were announced at the ACT Conference dinner in September 2004. UP