WELCOME TO THE THEATRE
Fun By Debra Mar Photos: Yanni
W
atching a small group of amateur thespians rehearsing on the set for an upcoming production titled It’s Now or Never, the characters exuded a sense of camaraderie harmonized with fun. That sums up the atmosphere at a Rosebud theatre group, the Southern Peninsula Players (SPP) and it continues off stage too. It’s the people behind the scenes who make this quirky, eclectic theatre group tick. This ‘no frills, but plenty of comical spills and thrills’ theatre group is run by wonderful, salt-of-the-earth individuals for the ‘love of it’. SPP was formed in 1952 and is one of the oldest, not-for-profit community theatre groups in Victoria. The Rosebud Memorial Hall is home to SPP and was built by the community post WWII. It was donated to the Mornington Peninsula Shire some years later. The building was earmarked for demolition to make way for the Southern Peninsula Aquatic Centre development but the project has been put on hold. “Humble beginnings with a makeshift stage of 44 gallon drums and trestle tabletops, ceiling lighting and ‘bedspread’ curtains draped over wire, the actors were ready and excited to perform their first play in 1952 called One Morning Very Early to a full house,” wrote John Purves, one of the founding members and Directors of SPP in a historical document. SPP has experienced a number of successes with brilliant comedies, heart wrenching dramas and many ‘who done its’. It has faced lean years recently trying to find people to cast, explained Secretary and custodian of the theatre’s records, Sally Montgomery. Sally moved from Melbourne to the Peninsula in 1997. She started her acting experience in High School plays then joined the Monash Drama Group and eventually taught drama. Asked why she joined SPP, she replied, “I answered an ad in the local paper looking for players for one act plays and I said, ‘I’ll be in that’.” These days she doesn’t do much production work or acting but is happy to be involved. “It’s a real joy,” she said. When it was suggested Shakespeare might be a good choice to introduce as a production option, Sally laughed, “I don’t think we’re quite ready for Shakespeare!”
E ssence
24 | PENINSULA
AUTUMN 2016