Amateur Theatre Group

About Us 

During the 1990s a number of residents of Park Orchards pondered on the question of whether there were enough interested people in the area who would like to be involved in a stage production.

The Birth of Park Players

In 1997 a flyer was drawn up and delivered to letterboxes in Park Orchards calling for a meeting of those interested in staging a Gilbert & Sullivan musical. The Park Orchards Community House was hired for the meeting.

The meeting attracted 10 people.

It was therefore decided that there was enough interest to do “something” and the name Park Players was adopted.

Some weeks later, an ad appeared in the Manningham paper for a meeting at the Council offices regarding seeding grants from the Arts & Recreation Committee. The meeting was scheduled for that very evening so two Park Players made hasty arrangements to attend, coming home with a stack of application forms you couldn’t jump over.

The new group sought to align itself with the Park Orchards Community House in order to have insurance cover but this meant preparing a submission to show that they were worthy - especially as the Community House itself was seeking a similar grant!

A proposal was prepared with lots of assistance from the Community House coordinator. It was duly submitted to, and ratified by, the Community House committee who very kindly put their own project on hold. The submission was finally accepted by the Council.

The following information had to be provided:

· Estimates of hours involved from Day 1 through to the end (both voluntary & paid).
· Costings of the estimated hours.
· A mission statement with measurable outcomes.
· Details of community involvement (from both a volunteer and audience aspect).
· Facilities required.
· Expected revenue.
· Anticipated expenditure.
· The amount of grant we wanted (fully justified by figures).
· Etc. etc. etc.

No mean feat for a group of inexperienced albeit like-minded residents with a growing need for coffee!

$7000 was sought and $4000 was eventually granted.

The reality check came when it was realised that the new Park Players had indeed to do something with its grant!

A Committee was formed by the original conspirators and a number of other vocal locals were co-opted.
Over the next few weeks, the Committee moved into overdrive.
They had to find:

· a director,
· a musical director,
· a theatre,
· a rehearsal venue,
· an audition venue, and
· an accompanist.

These tasks were successfully completed by networking with people who recommended friends, or friends of friends, etc.

A lot of talking…and a lot of coffee!

In June 1998, Park Players presented its first ever musical theatre production at the Warrandyte High School Theatre. The Pirates of Penzance was an overwhelming success - and the “monster” was created!

It now had a life of its own!

Eleven more shows have since been produced - and you can find details of them by clicking on “Past Productions".

The list of shows on this website cannot even begin to provide an insight into the emotional highs and lows of amateur theatre or indeed of the extraordinary achievements of so many previously undiscovered yet highly talented people. Only those involved can understand that.

Park Players was born out of a community spirit. It was intended to provide an outlet for people who may never have had the chance to “tread the boards”. It has enabled us to enhance each other’s lives in so many ways and to have some fun at the same time.

We may be a little more sophisticated, we may have taken a few more risks and raised the bar a little….all things that growth brings… but we are still about community. Some of the Melways’ numbers have changed but everyone who has been involved in the Park Players experience remains part of a very special community. For this reason, we are proud to say that we are able to repay the community that nurtured us. In our first year we instituted a policy of annual scholarships and some of the recipients have been children at the Park Orchards Primary School, the Parkwood Dance Academy and St.Anne’s Primary School. We have also donated equipment to the Warrandyte High School theatre. There have also been instances of donations to children known to be in disadvantaged circumstances.

That gives you a little bit of information “About Us”.

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New Website!!

Park Players is pleased to launch its new website.  We hope you like the new clean look.  Please check back soon as we will be constantly updating the content.