Newsletter - Feb 2023
We would like to thank you all for your wonderful support and friendship last year. We trust you had a safe, peaceful and rejuvenating holiday season and are ready to jump back into to it. We are.
Before doing anything else, we would like to acknowledge and thank members Janis Barrett and Kathleen Petty for a most unexpected and thoroughly amazing personal donation to our company funds at the end of 2022. We will certainly put the money to good use. Thank you.
Thank you also to our amazing community sponsors from 2022 – we couldn’t do this without you. Sharon Henderson of Eco Village Hair did a wonderful job with our Cemetery Club ladies while the Bribie RSL and Busy Fingers Inc continue to provide incredible support with rehearsal space and production items. Sponsorship for our fundraiser was gratefully accepted from a number of small businesses in our community.
And thanks to our fundraising sponsors:
Kinnaree Thai
Sway on Bribie
Scoopy’s Family Café
Bribie Garden Centre
Avondale Meats
Coastal Inspirations
Annie Lane
Leading Appliances
2022 was a tremendous inaugural year for 6 Mangrove Productions – our first Dinner Theatre, our first bus trip, our first Annual General Meeting and our first community fundraiser: Christmas Crackers. What a great year it was! Thanks for sharing that important foundational work with us.
Throughout last year’s events we sought feedback from our production members, company members and audiences to see just what we are doing right, what we might improve on and what everyone wants to see more of. We used this feedback to establish this year’s program of events and some projects for the future. More details later in this newsletter.
We look forward to more theatre, more community and more firsts in 2023 and we hope you’ll come along too.
Membership details for 2023 can be found at the end of the newsletter.
Welcome back
Well, here we go again! Another exciting year ahead for our fledgling theatre company. In 2023 we aim to build on the amazing start we made last year and add a whole host of experiences to suit the tastes and needs of our growing company.
If you know anyone with even the slightest interest in any aspect of the theatre; production, performance, promotion and social media, workshops or audience, please encourage them to get involved. We are always looking for people of all ages to join in the fun.
To find out more you can reply by email or message us through our Facebook page.
Program of events
Workshops
A long-term goal for our group is to provide opportunities for our members and friends to explore and develop their skills in the performance arts. We are so excited to bring you TWO beginners workshops this year:
Acting Basics: Saturday 18 March, 1pm - 5pm (venue tba)
This beginner’s workshop will allow everyone to dip their toes in the performance waters. The half day workshop will cover some basic performance aspects such as warm ups, improvisation, stage work and the essential etiquette of script reading, rehearsals and performance.
If you are at all interested in being on the stage or would just like a fun afternoon, consider coming along … and bring a friend. Ages 16 and up would get the most out of the workshop. Seasoned performers are absolutely welcome to join in the fun to brush up on some skills and provide a further knowledge base for the day.
For further information, email us at 6mangroveproductions@gmail.com
The Writers’ Workshop: 9 September, 9am - 5pm (venue tba)
This workshop is for those interested in crafting stories for stage (screen and general writing courses will be developed in the future) and will offer information and advice by highly experienced and award winning local playwrights.
Again, newcomers and those with experience are all invited to get involved. Specific details will be announced via the newsletter and Facebook page closer to the date.
First production: Love Letters
With performances on 14 and 15 April, our first production of 2023 is Love Letters: A funny and emotional journey through the lives of two friends as they employ the increasingly outdated communication method of letter writing.
Auditions will be held on Saturday 4 March, 2pm - 4pm, Anzac Room, Bribie RSL.
Characters:
Andrew Makepeace Ladd III (as stuck up as his name suggests, aged 55-60 ish)
Melissa Gardener (Andrew’s opposite in almost every way, similar age)
Please note that this play is mostly reading letters so learning lines is minimal.
Production crew also required. Let us know if you’re interested (or know someone else who is interested) in helping front of house, backstage, lights/sound, managing props or costume or publicity. Email us at 6mangroveproductions@gmail.com.
Mamma Mia in May
We have The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift: tickets to a themed viewing of Mamma Mia. Our first Movie Night Fundraiser is on Wednesday 10 May at 7pm, doors open at 6.30pm.
Come along dressed in your best Greek island holiday or wedding gear, and join in the fun singing along to the great ABBA songs in Mama Mia. Raffles and Best Dressed Prize.
Christmas in July Dinner Theatre
Scheduled for production on Friday 14 July (evening) and Saturday 15 July (matinee and evening).
This year’s dinner theatre experience will be the delightful The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s production of A Christmas Carol.
As the title may suggest, these women just don’t quite understand theatre but they are going to give it a red hot go anyway. Their production of A Christmas Carol is a joy to behold.
This production will be accompanied by a yummy Christmas dinner for the evening performances and Christmas leftovers ( not really) for the matinee.
We are still searching for a man to play Gordon, the long suffering but stalwart Stage Manager, so if you are, or know of any male who would like to get up on stage in a very funny and physical play, then contact the company on any of the numbers below or email us at 6mangroveproductions@gmail.com.
Pirates of Penzance Bus Trip
Sunday 6 August - matinee performance
Our 2023 community bus trip will be our second trip to Noosa Arts for their production of Pirates of Penzance. Ticket price includes return bus travel, fabulous company and this classic production. Specific details (including ticket price) still to come.
Auditions
Auditions for our annual fundraising evening Christmas Crackers will be held on 14 October – time and venue to be announced.
Finally, after some glowing feedback and shouts of ‘Éncore!’ to our ambitious end of year venture, Christmas Crackers: An evening of trivia and entertainment, we have decided to give the punters what they want and mount another night of sketches and rounds of random bits of knowledge.
Again, we will provide the entertainment and snacks, you will just need to provide a team, some alcohol, a brain full of miscellaneous knowledge about the world, Christmas, music and entertainment, and the willingness to be a little silly and have some Christmas cheer. Oh, and small change for the raffles.
So, start getting your friends together in a table of 6-8, do some intensive study of useless information, and prepare for a crazy night of fun.
Administrative information
The AGM for 2022 was held on Tuesday 22 November at Bribie RSL (ANZAC Room).
The 2023 committee was formed and we welcomed new and existing members. All committee positions were filled (without any twisting of arms).
There was unanimous agreement that our first full year was an overall success, with just a few stumbling blocks that were either surmounted by being flexible, or analysed for future improvement and planning started for a wonderful 2023.
If you would like to be a member of 6 Mangrove Productions Inc in 2023, in any capacity, please make sure to pay your membership as soon as possible. Supporting our local group through membership is just one way of making sure we can keep entertaining you.
Membership fees are $20 per year.
Payments to 6 Mangrove Productions
BSB: 034 119
Account: 341457
Reference: YOUR NAME fees
Application for membership (which must be ratified by a committee member) and membership renewal forms are also attached to this letter.
Contacts
For general enquiries or further information on any of our 2023 program, you can contact us via Facebook, email 6mangroveproductions@gmail.com rr contact our Secretary (Hazel Mepham) by phone: 0400 225 023