Theatre fires up at coal mine
QUITE simply known as The Shed, the new home of the Wonthaggi Theatrical Group represents a whole lot more and is injecting new life and creativity into the State Coal Mine.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, this inspiring performing arts hub continues the “loving and friendly” connection the performing arts has always had with the local miners in Wonthaggi.
Passionate and long serving Wonthaggi theatre group members Tad Hendry and Gwen Derrick are very proud of their “Shed” and see it as a legacy for future generations.
They are both thrilled the group has built its new home at the coal mine and see the group’s story coming full circle with the devastating fire in 1980 destroying the original Miners Union Theatre built in 1924 and now a new hub has risen at the State Coal Mine.
The Star of the day reported the fire: “The Wonthaggi’s Miners Union Theatre in Graham Street was destroyed by fire early Friday morning.
“All that was left of the building was the brick facade at the front and along the side-the timber area was completely gutted.
“The alarm was raised just after midnight and three units from Wonthaggi, two from Inverloch, one Dalyston one from Kilcunda attended the blaze.
“It took nearly two hours for about 50 firemen to contain the fire and men were still mopping up at 10am Friday.
“The Wonthaggi Borough Council was in the process of buying the theatre from the Wonthaggi Theatrical Group.
“It is understood the council was buying it for $44,000 and the building was to be converted into a community arts centre.”
Talking to The Star at The Shed last Thursday, Gwen said she remembers the fire vividly as she lived close by and was awoken by the bright light of the fire through her bedroom window.
She saw the beloved theatre burn to the ground and with it a rich history that encompassed many happy events, including concerts, meetings, dancing, boxing bouts, garden and vegetable shows, and in 1969 the Wonthaggi theatre group held its first performance.
Gwen said, “We had nothing when we started and it all began after seeing one of Leongatha Lyric theatre’s productions, Naughty Marietta (in 1969).
“Bill Mitchell, our only constable and artist, and I both thought Wonthaggi could have something like this, and the seed was planted.”
As devastating as the fire was, Gwen and Tad believe it made the group even more determined to not just succeed, but thrive.
After some 50 years of struggle and hundreds of hours of hard work, they are proud to see the group flourishing and a new home that will serve the community for generations to come.
They both agreed The Shed would not be where it is today without the help of so many including coal mine manager Braxton Laine, Parks Victoria, former local MP Ken Smith, current MP Ryan Smith and group member Wayne Moloney.
And taking pride of place over the entrance to the performance area is the original Union Theatre clock, salvaged from the ashes.
After many homes and much research, the clock has finally found its home at The Shed, “where it belongs”, maintains Gwen and Tad.
Very much the quiet achiever, Tad wouldn’t admit to it but every inch of The Shed has his mark on it from the industrial design of the shed, in keeping with the period style buildings at the coal mine to the stunning art deco interior, beautiful foyer and bar and even the toilets, are impressive.
Then there is the spacious performing and rehearsal space, office, meeting room and construction area, upstairs a costume sewing room, costume storage space and on the third level a large props storage area.
Looking around the construction room where Tad has devoted many hundreds of hours over the years creating award winning sets for productions, many times directed by his talented wife Karen Milkins-Hendry, an amused Tad said group members always like having fun and over the years, unbeknown to most, he always makes sure there is a little Gwen Derrick sign in every production, very much akin Alfred Hitchcock, who made some 39 cameo appearances in 52 of his films.
So next show be sure to try and spot where’s Gwen Derrick!
Gwen said, “Tad has tried to give people a whole theatrical experience from the moment they walk through the front doors of The Shed.”
As for the doors, Tad described said he has made replicas of the doors from photos taken of the original union theatre.
It doesn’t stop there either improvements will continue and while Tad and Gwen did reflect for a moment on the “crying room” at the old union theatre that allowed mothers to nurse their children and not miss the entertainment, they suggested with a little humour this is wasn’t a bad idea.
The crying room will be left on the drawing board at this stage as Tad said, “The next step will be heating and air-conditioning and we hope to have this installed by Christmas.
“We still need lighting bars, a bio-box and tiered seating for 200 but this will all be a lot of money, at least $200,000 for the seating alone.”
Tad said they will be looking at getting some funding and grants to assist.
The Shed is already in full use with the theatre group rehearsing or working on Monday, Thursday and Sunday, the Bass Coast Ballet School there weekly Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings and the local USA group regularly meeting there.
The group’s first production, Little Shop of Horrors in 1962 at the Wonthaggi Union Arts Centre, was a huge success, clearing some $23,000.
The group has since gone from strength to strength staging some brilliant plays and musicals, including the award winning Les Miserables musical that Tad said received a standing ovation on opening night from the 400 strong audience.
Then there was Cabaret, Jesus Christ Superstar and Pippin, to name a few.
The company decided it was apt to stage its first show again, Little Shop to mark the opening of The Shed on September 22.
And no surprise, it proved another winner for the group and the stage is now set for a bright future with production already underway for the next two big shows for 2017 being Miss Saigon in May/June and Chicago in August.
Shows for 2018 are still being reviewed but for the group’s 50th milestone year in 2019 Les Miserables will be making a return.
The Wonthaggi group is always welcoming new members, both for acting and the all important back stage work, so if you are interested there will be an information session for Miss Saigon on Sunday, November 6 at 4.30pm.
Nuts and bolts: Tad Hendry in the construction space at The Shed where he spends hundreds of hours creating award winning sets for the Wonthaggi Theatrical Group’s productions.
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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Oct 18 2016. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
