Community Theatre

Opera is a very expensive art form, if it is to be done properly.

Most operas require authentic and often elaborate period costumes, which don’t come cheaply. They also have very specific orchestra requirements, such as harpsichord for a Mozart opera. Lastly, the sets need to reflect the era and can be difficult to acquire and probably one of the biggest expenses in an opera budget.

What do you get when you combine the creative talent and amazing imagination of Adelaide’s Matthew Briggs and Josh Heaysman? You get a musical that almost defies description and is a must-see, that’s what. Lesley Reed reports on the World Premiere of The Angel of Death.

The hooded and scythe-wielding herald of death known as the Grim Reaper is a mythical figure known to us all. The dark entity has surely never been depicted quite as Matthew Briggs and Josh Heaysman imagine him though, one with beginnings intertwined with Elizabeth 1 and the Spanish Armada!

The Gold Coast celebrated their Night of Nights with a glitzy presentation of their Theatre Awards, The Palmies, at Arts Centre, Gold Coast, on Tuesday December 15.

Roger McKenzie reports.

The Top Accolade –The Platinum Palm for outstanding service to the Theatrical Community was presented to Jock and Beverly McIlwain. These two “angels” have been strong advocates and supporters of the Arts on the Gold Coast for many years. We are indeed fortunate to have Jock and Beverley in our Theatre Family. The Awards were hosted by TV personality Val Lehman.

Young Jill Hawkins lives a quiet life by the sea, dreaming of the day she can escape to the world beyond.

The opportunity comes a little sooner than she anticipates when the dying pirate, Billy Bones gives her a map - the only clue to a forgotten island where the treasure of a hundred ships lies waiting.