General News
17 July, 2023
Show to go on at Moonambel for first time since pandemic
In a small town to the west of Maryborough, theatre enthusiasts are bringing a unique version of a popular fairytale to stage with the group putting on a show for the first time since the pandemic. The Moonambel Community Theatre Company (MCTC) is...
In a small town to the west of Maryborough, theatre enthusiasts are bringing a unique version of a popular fairytale to stage with the group putting on a show for the first time since the pandemic.
The Moonambel Community Theatre Company (MCTC) is set to roll back the curtains next month and present a pantomime of Jack and the Beanstalk — featuring volunteer actors from the town, the play is a real community initiative.
“The original story only has three characters so when we wrote our pantomime we stuck in loads of other fairy-tale characters and because we’re a true community theatre company, we don’t audition anybody — if they want to be in it, they’re in it and we write in something for them,” MCTC co-founder Steve Lane said.
“In the past we’ve seen that locals are starved for things like the theatre and the Moonambel community is also very art-centric so people do really enjoy what we do and often want to be a part of it.”
Apart from the locals who are part of the production, Mr Lane said the benefit of putting on a pantomime — a form of lighthearted musical theatre which often includes audience interaction — is that it encourages the viewers to participate as well.
“Something like this brings the whole community together and it holds them together too,” he said.
“Everyone is involved in a way — on, off and behind the stage. We’ve got the school kids participating as well.”
Mr Lane, who is the writer and director for the upcoming play, founded MCTC along with Gwynn van der Bergen almost 15 years ago — with their first show in 2009, Ms Bergen said the support of the community since then has been remarkable.
“We get a lot of people coming from Avoca, Maryborough and even as far as Ballarat and Melbourne,” she said.
“Country communities are often isolated on their farms but this gets everybody together and connected.”
The MCTC’s Jack and the Beanstalk rendition will run for two days — August 5 at 8 pm and August 6 at 4.30 pm, at the Moonambel Hall located on 14 Woods Street — tickets costing $10 will be available to purchase at the door prior to entry.
