Bendigo's Synchronicity Performing Arts launches its 2019 season
EXPANDING PROGRAM: Director Wendy Collishaw with the cast of Australia Day, which Synchronicity presented this year. Picture: NONI HYETT
Synchronicity Performing Arts will present three productions this year from its new home in Crusoe College’s JB Osborne Theatre in Kangaroo Flat.
After establishing in 2014, Synchronicity has developed a reputation for producing quality comedy dramas.
In 2019 they will present popular British comedy The Vicar of Dibley arrives in May, ahead of the classic Pride and Prejudice in August and Secret Bridesmaid’s Business by Australian playwright Elizabeth Coleman in November.
“Comedy drama is what we do well,” Mrs Collishaw said. “The Vicar of Dibley is a favourite, I have a personal passion for the Pride and Prejudice era and Secret Bridesmaid’s Business has been on our backburner since It's My Party (in 2017).
“We were looking to do a musical and one drama and looked around for something that suited us and chose a couple (of potential shows) but on fact and figures we wanted to stick to what do well.”
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Partnering with Crusoe College to become the theatre company in residence at JB Osborne Theatre is a turning point for Synchronicity.
“We were limited in not having a stable base, so to (have a home) where we can set up sets and rehearse with a set that is unbelievably good for us,” Mrs Collishaw said.
“It puts us in a place of stability and enables us to do more. We are really positive about the partnership flowing on to attracting more hirees (for the venue) and some funding for it.”
The new base also allows the young theatre company to take on it’s biggest production – Pride and Prejudice – which features a cast of 15 females, 12 males and children.
“We have put it in the middle of the season after the well-known Vicar of Dibley,” she said.
“On the strength of the first production we will be able to promote the second, which is Pride and Prejudice.”
An information night for The Vicar of Dibley will be held on January 31 ahead of auditions on February 3.
Outside of its three productions, Synchronicity is running three “Theatre Readiness Workshops” in 2019.
They will help people new to theatre get a grasp on what to expect and give the opportunity for mentorships with experienced company members.
“People can be naive on what joining a theatre company means,” Mrs Collisahw said.
“They think you have to be gifted or talented but these workshops are designed to give a basic understanding and skills to people new to theatre.
“Our goal is to also team people up with leaders and do mentoring. If you want to learn about directing or set building we have people who are fabulous to learn from.”
For more information visit www.synchronicity.org.au
