“THE STAR”, Tuesday, August 11, 2015 - PAGE 19
Rent to skyrocket with Gardiner By Lucy Johnson LOCAL theatre veteran Josh Gardiner is on the path to stardom as he takes to the Sydney stage in Rent this October.
He is the son of Kevin and Faye Gardiner of Leongatha and was educated at Leongatha Primary School and Leongatha Secondary College. Gardiner studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Musical Theatre) at the Victorian College of the Arts before jetting off to Sydney to pursue his career at the start of this year. “When I moved to Sydney I decided to dive head first into the industry and emailed a bunch of production companies. I have probably auditioned for more than 20 roles since I moved. It is important to be seen by casting directors,” Gardiner said. “I chose to move to Sydney this year because there are a lot more opportunities here for me. The city here is more commercial, it is a breath of fresh air.” Gardiner recently landed one of three male ensemble roles in Highway Run Productions upcoming run of Rent and said he cannot wait until rehearsals commence in a couple of weeks. “It is going to feel like a normal job I guess. We are rehearsing nine to six, five days a week for three weeks. It is a short rehearsal period prior to performances in October,” he said. Gardiner has recently also starred in a KFC commercial where he had the opportunity to combine a passion for eating burgers and acting. Prior to that Gardiner appeared in an adult puppet show about the political system. “I have had the opportunity to do some things I never thought I would. Puppetry was a phenomenal experience because it was different to the singing and dancing I did at university. It was something really new and I had great fun doing it,” he said. “They say the first year out of university is like
another year of study. You learn so much about who you are as an actor and how you want to define yourself.” Gardiner performed in local theatre companies Lyric Theatre Group and Wonthaggi Theatrical Group, citing both as major contributors to helping him pursue his dream. “I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to act throughout my high school years. I got the chance to sink my teeth into musical theatre and it was a great starting off point for me,” he said. Gardener cited the seminal classic The Wizard of Oz as a major source of inspiration during his childhood. “I would watch it every single day and perform it to my family. I think that moulded my way for a career in acting. It was very extravagant for a young child,” he said. Being in the ensemble for Rent, Gardiner has the opportunity to play various roles throughout the show, granting a chance to showcase his acting versatility. “There are only two male ensemble roles. Because Rent usually has such a large cast and is a very ensemble-driven show, I am doing a lot more than I expected. It is great because I get to wear a lot of different hats and show different sides of my acting,” he said. When asked whether there is a dream role he wishes to play at some point in his career, Gardiner wisely considers, “I don’t think that role has been written yet. I will try anything and everything though!” Gardiner offered more words of wisdom to those wishing to pursue a career in the arts. “What reads in an audition is somebody who is comfortable. Casting directors want to see passion, drive and somebody they can work well with. They need to see somebody who is willing to work extremely hard. That goes for all kinds of work,” he said.
Local actor takes Sydney: Josh Gardiner is set to shine in Highway Run Productions’ staging of Rent in Sydney this October. Image by Pier Carthew courtesy of Highway Run Productions.
Doctor’s childhood dream realised VERONICA Foote almost did not achieve her childhood dream to become a doctor.
The thirty fourth in a series of columns marking 50 years of Leongatha Lyric Theatre in 2015
2000: Wombat Stew, Wind in the Willows, Cinderella and Millennium Boggs THE first Lyric performances for 2000 were Wombat Stew directed by Karen Lawson at Coal Creek and Churchill Island, and Wind in the Willows directed by Murray McLean at Coal Creek and Mossvale Park.
Right at home: Dr Veronica Foote enjoys working in her office at Leongatha Healthcare. months old. “I could never have done it without Michael’s support,” Dr Foote admitted. “And I could not continue working now without it.” He is a livestock agent and the family lives a 100 acre farm at Poowong. “I was lucky as my children are all good sleepers and have a good routine at bedtime,” Dr Foote said. “I would study after they went to sleep and of a weekend.” In her first year of medicine, she travelled to Churchill each day. Her second year was based in Warragul, her third year in South Gippsland and her fourth year at Monash Medical Centre and Peninsula Hospital (Frankston), as well as West Gippsland (Warragul) and Latrobe Regional (Traralgon) hospitals. Following graduation, Dr Foote undertook an internship at Peninsula Hospital followed by a second postgraduate year at Leongatha Hospital. “My goal was always to do general practice,” Dr Foote said. “This means building experience
over five areas of medicine including paediatrics, emergency and women’s health.” Dr Foote is in no doubt that if she was not able to study medicine in a rural location, she would never have achieved her dreams. “I have lived in Gippsland for most of my life and I am happy here,” she said. “The other benefits of studying medicine rurally are the unique learning opportunities. You work more closely with the consultants and you are exposed to a variety of experiences. “I understand what it’s like to live in a rural community and feel I can relate to people on that level.” Dr Foote will spend the next three years undergoing her GP training. She is currently based at Leongatha Healthcare and will soon move to Korumburra for six months. After that she hopes to return to Leongatha. “It has been a long windy road but I am happy to have had the opportunity,” Dr Foote said.
Coal Creek was considered a perfect backdrop for the final season of Wind in the Willows, with good audiences turning out for both performances at the venue. Wombat Stew also drew in excellent crowds, and the members of the audiences enjoyed audience participation at the event. Later in January, Glenda Smith reported a musical director could not be found for High Society. The committee sent out feelers for someone to direct High Society in August but by February it was decided the show could not be performed in 2000. The script of the stage version was much different to the film adaptation upon which most of the committee members had based their opinions. The music score was far more complex than envisaged and it created serious doubt as to whether the musicians could be found for the orchestra. In light of the difficulty experienced in finding a director and musical director, Lyric decided not to have a major
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Years working in laboratories, a brief stint in a supermarket, marriage and three children all came before Dr Foote returned to her dream. Dr Foote studied a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) with Monash University largely through the School of Rural Health. Now living on a farm at Poowong with her husband Michael and three children aged 12, 10 and eight, Mrs Foote grew up in Inverloch and completed her VCE at Wonthaggi High School. Dr Foote now works at Leongatha Healthcare. Her story is one of remarkable determination and resilience that reinforces the quote “never give up”. Disappointed at not achieving the Year 12 marks to get into medicine, Dr Foote started a degree in medical science. She left in her first year and worked in a laboratory, testing food and cosmetics. But Dr Foote missed South and West Gippsland, so returned to Inverloch where she grew up and found a job in the local supermarket. For the next 11 years, she worked in the laboratory for Murray Goulburn at Leongatha, along the way marrying Michael and having three children. “I made up my mind to do a science degree by distance education at the same time as working and had my first baby six months before I graduated,” Dr Foote said. After her third child, she decided to change careers. By coincidence, she read an article in a Monash magazine about a new medical school opening at the then Monash University Churchill campus as part of the Monash School of Rural Health. The dreams of being a doctor had never gone away. Monash School of Rural Health operates multiple sites across rural and regional Victoria, including Gippsland. It provides an extensive rural base for the MBBS with a footprint extending from Mildura to Orbost. Dr Foote missed first year intake but was accepted into the second intake. Her youngest was just 18
Returned season: audiences were pleased to enjoy another season of Lyric's Wind in the Willows at Coal Creek and Mossvale Park in January, 2000. musical in 2000 and chose a pantomime instead. David Baggallay notified the committee he would direct the pantomime inAugust. By mid April plans were well underway to finalising the pantomime, which was confirmed to be Cinderella. Cinderella ran for eight performances, opening on August 18 and including matinees on August 19, 20 and 26. It was a delightful, uncomplicated production, which resulted in a profit of $3340. The performance included the musical talents of local musician Michael Warner, who wrote a number of pieces for the show in his role as musical director. November saw the much anticipated season of Millennium
Boggs devised and directed by Ron Eagger. Performances opened at the Leongatha Masonic Hall on November 17 and closed on December 2 at the Leongatha Golf Club – a seven night season at seven different venues in the area. The skits, jokes and songs provided audiences with a fun night, which resulted in a profit of $4800. At the AGM held on November 15, Don Perrett presented Helen Andrews with the Geoff Perrett Rising Star Award. The year had not been an easy one for Lyric but by the end Glenda Smith was happy to announce Colin Mitchell had offered to direct a production of Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat in 2001.