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Hunters Hill Theatre – a look back and the view forwards Two years ago, among all the chaos of Covid, Hunters Hill Theatre celebrated 90 years as a cherished community group. Now at home in a new venue and with a slate of fabulous performances in the wings, the group takes a look back and gazes to a bright future ahead.
Our Town, November 2019
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Rehearsals in full swing for Female of the Species which opened on Friday 17 June 2022
any Village Observer readers may not be familiar Sadly in 1993 the Church Hall was destroyed by fire and with Hunters Hill Theatre which, despite its many costumes, equipment and Club records were totally name, has now moved to a new permanent destroyed. home – an intimate auditorium at Club Ryde on Victoria The Club then was allowed to move into the adjoining Road. Formed in 1930, the Theatre has the proud deconsecrated Church which was fully converted distinction of being the longest running into an intimate theatre seating 98 patrons and community theatre on mainland Australia included raked seating, air-conditioning and Presenting and continued to deliver entertainment to theatrical lighting. By this time, the Club enthusiastic audiences throughout WWII. four plays per year is presenting four plays a year, each for a The Theatre Company began as a three-week season. and delighting play reading “circle” in September 1930 However, in 2016 the Anglican Church approximately with group members meeting monthly to sold the premises and the Theatre Group 4000 patrons read selected plays which then grew into moved to the Hunters Hill Town Hall holding “staged” readings at Hunters Hill – moving again in mid-2021 to a more each year Town Hall – usually two per year. permanent home at Club Ryde. This was the established practice up Like all businesses and places of until 1945. The Theatre then began staging full entertainment, the Theatre was in lockdown for productions and the emphasis was on finding “popular” many months during 2021 – 84 Charing Cross Road had plays that would attract audiences. its opening night on Friday 18 June only to be shut down Through the 1950s and 1960s the Hunters Hill the following Friday. However, regular patrons were happy Theatrical Club (as it was now called) would stage two to hold onto their tickets and the play was revived in March major productions a year whilst holding “workshops” and this year. readings as well. Presenting four plays per year and delighting In 1978 the Club secured exclusive use of the St John’s approximately 4000 patrons each year, Hunters Hill Theatre Parish Hall in Woolwich and converted it into a small is run by a number of dedicated and passionate volunteers, theatre and began producing three or four plays a year. many of whom are long term members and contribute as 18 TVO
