Newsletter - Nov 2023
WE ARE OFFICIAL with our new website: 6mangroveproductions.com.au
Thanks to Hari Kotrotsios for the creation of the page and to Hazel for providing all the information Hari needed to get the job done.
Please take the opportunity to visit the website at your earliest convenience. You might even be able to find this newsletter on there.
What a spectacularly full and varied year we have had…
April
First performance of 2023
In April we explored the lives of two young people growing to adulthood in AR Gurney’s Love Letters. The play centred on two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, as they sit side by side at tables and read the notes, letters and cards – in which over nearly 50 years, they discuss their hopes and ambitions, dreams and disappointments, victories and defeats – that have passed between them throughout their separated lives. Hazel and Bob created a wonderful performance that held the audience enthralled to the final moments.
July
Dinner theatre
Our now annual dinner theatre took the form of Christmas in July. John created, and he and his helpers served up delicious Christmas fare to compliment the theme of A Christmas Carol performed by the ladies of the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate, Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society - and Gordon.
The play was a roaring success with only one or two audience members not quite understanding that the far from smooth running of the show was all part of the Farndale fun.
Look out for our 2024 dinner theatre.
August
6MP: On the move
This year we took our love for all things theatrical to Noosa Arts once more, this time to their wonderful production of The Pirates Of Penzance.
Our bus trip to this ambitious production of the Gilbert and Sullivan Operetta was a great deal of fun. The talent on display was wonderful and we all came home with the understanding that there isn’t much you can’t do if you have a bunch of talented and dedicated people at your disposal.
Anywhere Fest
Between all this, our fearless leader, Afra (as well as tackling the lead role of Thelma/Scrooge in A Christmas Carol) was leading another arm of our 6MP brief in producing a new piece of theatre Turning Point at the Anywhere Fest. This festival celebrates the concept that art and performances can exist and be performed anywhere.
The performance garnered well-deserved praise, and an award.
We are looking forward to participating in Anywhere Fest in some capacity in 2024.
We are not only proud of Afra’s participation in this production, but also that she has created a Community Theatre Company that looks for opportunities to support the arts in many, varied and meaningful ways.
October
Production workshops
We finally managed to bring our long anticipated workshops to fruition.
With a generous grant from the City of Moreton Bay we were able to secure the services of two excellent professionals to facilitate our writing and performance workshops on Saturday 17 October.
The writing workshop was led by Angela Witcher from HartSpace Brisbane where participants were guided through the process of writing for the stage with the aim of creating a one minute script formatted for performance.
The performance through improvisation workshop was led by Lyndsey Drummond from Improv Hub who put performers, both experienced and new, though a series of exercises and techniques aimed at creating through trust - trust of self, others and the power of performance.
It was a wonderful day that culminated in performances and dramatic readings.
On the Sunday some of our mature performers, along with some very young new performers, were put through their clowning and physical theatre paces. It was a lot of fun, but everyone was pleased to fall into bed at the end of a big weekend.
Look out for more workshops in 2024. We are especially looking for people interested in learning how to operate the sound and lighting equipment for our future shows.
December
The success of last year’s Christmas Crackers: A night of fun and trivia has encouraged us to do it all again this year. With new sketches, performances and, of course, new questions, this will be another fun filled night. If you were there last year, you’ll know what to expect, and if you weren’t, here’s your chance to grab some friends and make up a table of six to form a trivia team.
Don’t be afraid to book on your own, there is always a place at a table for someone keen to have some Christmas fun. And of course, there will be yummy finger food provided with the cost of your ticket. Beverages will be available for a gold coin donation or feel free to BYO.
You can buy tickets via this link: https://www.trybooking.com/CMVON
Membership
For current members your renewed membership is due by 30 November (see Hazel).
If you would like to become a member and access all the benefits it entails, please follow this link or see Hazel at a show.
AGM
DATE: Sat 18 November
TIME: 2 pm
PLACE: Woorim Community Hall, Arcadia Ave, Woorim
Followed by a small celebration for our volunteers and members.
Stay tuned for more fun and fabulous theatrical experiences in 2024