It’s Showtime at Noosa Arts Theatre
The 2022 Noosa Arts Theatre program offers something for everyone, as Deb Caruso discovers.
The history of Noosa Arts Theatre reads like one of the productions that have graced the stage some 50 years after the first production.
Plans for Noosa’s very own community theatre were hatched in 1970 at the Barefoot Gallery in Peregian Beach with 10 people who floated the idea of a local cultural centre over a monthly dinner.
Less than a year later, the first performance was arranged by the Rotary Club, and the Noosa Arts Constitution was adopted. By 1972, three one-act plays were staged at the Tewantin RSL Hall with adults paying 75c, pensioners and children 25c; and the proceeds from the show totalling $47.
In 1974, Council approved the relocation of a shed purchased for a small fee by Noosa Arts to be relocated to leased land adjacent to the Noosa District Football Club – and the iconic red curtain was raised on new opportunities for Noosa’s budding thespians, directors, costume designers and more.
There is nothing quite like the experience of live theatre; it’s a captivating tightrope of entertainment-filled adrenaline.
You are transported into another world as courageous characters take the stage balancing costume changes, set designs and perfectly-timed cues to deliver perfectly-timed and memorised lines!
For a community theatre, Noosa Arts Theatre delivers some heavy-hitters straight off Broadway. In the past few decades, productions including Mamma Mia!, The Sound of Music, Chicago and Oklahoma have provided talented locals the chance to shine – and the community with the opportunity to experience world-class performances in an intimate venue.
But it’s not just the big production numbers. Pantomimes offer audiences the chance to engage with the magic of live theatre for younger audiences and the young at heart; satirical comedies and suspenseful dramas hold a special place in the minds of audiences; and One-Act Plays and Shorts on Stage have become regular features on the annual program, as has a premiere of the latest work by Noosa Arts Theatre Patron and award-winning playwright David Williamson AO.
The venue itself is intimate with comfortable raked seating in an air-conditioned, wheelchair-accessible auditorium that also includes an audio induction loop for the hearing-impaired. It’s also available for private hire which makes my imagination go wild!
The bar is open 30 minutes before each show with enough on offer to enjoy a sneaky drink or two and some snacks before the show and at intermission (you can also take your drink inside).
The Noosa Arts Theatre vision is to be the best community theatre in Australia with an ever-growing audience and family of volunteers.
To keep the spotlight shining on this local gem, why not book a ticket to the next production, become a member or purchase a 12-month subscription for the best seats at the best price? Bravo!
2022 PROGRAM
Broadway hits, Aussie humour and short bites! The 2022 program has something for everyone!
AUSTRALIA DAY, 7-16 April
Directed by Jane Rivers, this satirical and intimate look at the often-thankless work of volunteers of the Australia Day Committee in a fictitious regional town. Playwright, political satirist and former Australian of the Year Jonathan Biggins uses sharp wit and observations of everyday Australians and Committee dynamics to provide a comedy filled with laughs.
ONE-ACT PLAY FESTIVAL, 19-28 May
Three one-act plays – all very different and very compelling. A Wilde Night by Robin Hawdon chronicles the night that led to Oscar Wilde’s destruction; Morning Tea by Kerry Fair explores the dependence of humans on their phones – and vice versa; and Three Wives and a Funeral by Rob Selzer explores what happens when three women meet each other at their ex-husband’s funeral and jockey to prove they were his true soulmate – but the truth might be completely unexpected!
MONEY & FRIENDS, 21 July- 13 August
A classic David Williamson comedy about the true cost of priceless friendships. Directed by Rory Williamson and featuring Felix Williamson – the trifecta for bringing a classic and sharp-witted comedy to life as four highly-strung couples come together and explore how much friendships are truly worth.
SHORTS ON STAGE, 27-28 August
This is the sixth year of this very popular event, showcasing ten short plays running for up to
ten minutes each, with a mix of drama and comedy offer something for everyone. Adult themes are likely and the stakes are high with cash prizes decided by votes from the audience. Tickets always sell fast!
THE BOY FROM OZ, 27 October – 19 November
Ian Mackellar will direct this toe-tapping, vibrant musical that chronicles the dazzling, funny and moving story of the life of legendary Australian entertainer and songwriter, Peter Allen.
Book Online: noosaartstheatre.org.au; phone 5449 9343 or visit the Box Office, Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 2pm at 163 Weyba Road, Noosaville.
