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an historic record of the Bellingen Playback Theatre Company
performances, events, and membership.
Chronology of Bellingen Playback Theatre
August 1989 - August 2009
Page 1: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
Page 2: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,
last updated: February 2009
1989
August 1989
Deborah Ryan, Susan McGowan, Gail Colley, Caroline Mueller and Lorraine
O’Brien begin rehearsals of Playback Theatre to perform as part of ‘Show-
Offs’ Azalea Week performance in Bellingen.
September 1989
First Playback Theatre performance in Bellingen at Show-Offs . Moments
only. Sue Grant happened to be in town and conducted the performance.
November 1989
Sue Grant conducts one-day workshop in Playback Theatre Skills and a group
is formed to rehearse Playback Theatre each week. Josie Robinson joins
and soon after Wendy Haynes comes along to rehearsal.
1990
March 1990 Playback Group performs at the Flying Fox Café. Josie Robinson and Wendy Haynes perform for the first time. Caroline Mueller conducts. Christine Rees sees performance and joins group then group recruits new members by putting up notices around town. Carole Kostanich joins.
June 1990 Group attends Playback Theatre workshop in Lismore conducted by Zandy Acton and attends performance of Lismore Playback Theatre.
June 1990 Performance at Steiner School Cabaret in Bellingen. Wendy Haynes conducts. Barbara Byng joins.
September 1990 Group chooses the name ‘Talking Mirror’ and holds first full-length performance of Playback Theatre in the Memorial Hall, Bellingen. Wendy Haynes conducts. Phil Young sees performance and applies to join.
October 1990 Performance in the Health & Fitness Centre, Bellingen. Wendy conducts.
November 1990 Performance in the Health & Fitness Centre. Wendy conducts.
TOTAL PERFORMANCES 1989 & 1990: 6 PUBLIC: 6 COMMISSIONED: NONE
1991
Membership: 11
Josie, Wendy, Deborah, Gail, Susan, Phil, Lorraine, Christine, Barbara,
Carole, Caroline
February 1991 Performance in the Health & Fitness Centre. Wendy conducts.
March 1991 Performance at the Cavanbah Hall, Coffs Harbour. Wendy conducts.
March 1991 Sue Grant conducts 2 day workshop for the Company.
March 1991 Performance in the Health & Fitness Centre. Wendy conducts.
March 1991 Performance for the School of Expressive Arts (Lynne Robertson) Coffs Harbour. Wendy conducts.
April 1991 Public performance in Dorrigo. Wendy conducts.
May 1991 Public performance in the Health & Fitness Centre. Phil Young conducts.
June 1991 Women’s Stories evening at CWA Rooms, Bellingen. Organised by Barbara Byng and conducted by Lorraine O’Brien. Performance videoed.
June 1991 Public performance at Steiner School, Coffs Harbour. Deborah Ryan conducts.
July 1991 Teambuilding weekend at Hungry Head Cabins. Each member given provocation to embody the energy of certain animals.
July 1991 Public performance at CWA, Bellingen. Lorraine conducts.
August 1991 Commissioned performance and workshop for Child Care Students at Macksville TAFE. Lorraine conducts.
August 1991 Public performance in Nambucca. Deborah conducts.
Aug/Sept 1991 Commissioned performance for two day Trauma Workers Conference, Coffs Harbour. Lorraine and Deborah conduct.
September 1991 Public performance, Bellingen. Deborah conducts.
October 1991 Commissioned performance for Mary Stansfield Gestalt Therapy Group. Lorraine conducts.
November 1991 Public performance in Dorrigo. Deborah conducts.
November 1991 Playback workshop in Bellingen run by group. Evening performance. Lorraine conducts.
TOTAL PERFORMANCES 1991: 17 PUBLIC: 12 COMMISSIONED: 5
1992
Membership: 11
Caroline Mueller, Deborah Ryan, Carole Kostanich, Wendy Haynes, Josie
Robinson, Barbara Byng, Gail Colley, Susan McGowan, Phil Young, Christine
Rees & Lorraine O’Brien
January 1992 Nine members of Talking Mirror Playback Theatre Company attend the Second International Playback Theatre Conference in Sydney. Catherine Campbell invited to join the Company.
Februay 1992 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘The Unknown’ Lorraine conducts.
March 1992 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Persephone’ Lorraine conducts.
March 1992 Performance at Dorin Hart’s 50th Birthday Party. Catherine’s first performance. Lorraine conducts.
May 1992 Public workshop led by Caroline, Christine and Carole.
May 1992 Public performance in Belingen. ‘Essensual Earth’ Carole conducts.
June 1992 Two day Conference on HIV/AIDS at Jordan Centre, Coffs Harbour Hospital. Lorraine conducts both shows.
July 1992 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Independence Day’ Caroline conducts.
September 1992 Spring Festival of Theatre, Coffs Harbour. Lorraine conducts.
September 1992 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Tales of Mystery and Imagination’ Caroline conducts.
November 1992 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Untold Stories’ Carole conducts.
December 1992 Conference for Carers working with people with HIV/AIDS, Boambee Bay Resort. Lorraine conducts.
December 1992 Regional Council for Social Development, AGM at Kempsey. Lorraine conducts.
TOTAL PERFORMANCES 1992: 12 PUBLIC: 7 COMMISSIONED: 5
1993
Membership: 12 Caroline Mueller, Deborah Ryan, Carole Kostanich, Catherine Campbell, Wendy Haynes, Josie Robinson, Barbara Byng, Gail Colley, Susan McGowan, Phil Young, Christine Rees & Lorraine O’Brien
January 1993 Bellingen Playback Theatre receives AAS Grant of $8,600 (formerly the Harpies Grant of $13,000) to deliver a series of 8 shows in Schools on the Theme of ‘Healthy Lifestyles’
February 1993 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘New Dreams’ Caroline conducts.
March 1993 ‘Youth Options’ performance at Yarahappinni Centre. Lorraine conducts.
March 1993 ‘Women’s Stories in the Park’ at the Old Butter Factory. Lorraine conducts. Christine leaves the Company.
March 1993 Youth Arts Forum in Bellingen. Lorraine conducts.
April 1993 Youth Project performance in Dorrigo. Lorraine conducts.
April 1993 Youth Project performance at Bellingen High. Lorraine conducts.
May 1993 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Parenting’ Caroline conducts.
May 1993 Regional Children’s Services Conference at Opal Cove Resort. Lorraine conducts.
May 1993 Education Resources Centre, Staff Development Day, Coffs Harbour. Lorraine conducts.
May 1993 Youth Project performance with Koori Youth in Bowrwaville. Lorraine conducts. Gail saves the day.
May 1993 Nambucca Skillshare performance. Lorraine conducts.
June 1993 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Sun Signs, Totems, Symbols’ Lorraine conducts. Martin Hogan joins the Company
August 1993 Youth Project performance at Toormina High School. Lorraine conducts.
August 1993 Public performance in Bellingen.‘Recycling/Repsychling’ Caroline conducts.
August 1993 Youth Project performance at South Grafton High. Lorraine conducts. Martin Hogan’s first performance.
September 1993 Coffs Harbour TAFE. Lorraine and Catherine co-conduct.
September 1993 Public performance in Bellingen.’Nature/Nurture’ Caroline conducts.
October 1993 Port Macquarie Community Options. Lorraine conducts. OVERNIGHT IN PORT MACQUARIE
October 1993 Youth Project performance at Port Macquarie High School . Lorraine and Catherine conduct.
ON 4TH NOVEMBER ALL 12 MEMBERS WERE PRESENT AT REHEARSAL . Carole Kostanich leaves the Company
November 1993 Youth Project performance at Woolgoolga High School. Lorraine & Catherine co-conduct.
November 1993 Public performance in Bellingen.’Galah Night’ There were 10 actors on stage. Lorraine conducts.
November 1993 Youth Project performance at Nambucca High. Catherine conducts.
December 1993 Bellingen Shire Skillshare performance.’What works’ Lorraine conducts.
December 1993 Regional Council for Social Development performance in Kempsey. Lorraine conducts.
TOTAL PERFORMANCES FOR 1993: 24 PUBLIC: 7 COMMISSIONED: 9 YOUTH PROJECT GRANT: 8
1994
Membership: 11 Caroline Mueller, Deborah Ryan, Martin Hogan, Wendy Haynes, Josie Robinson, Barbara Byng, Gail Colley, Catherine Campbell, Susan McGowan, Phil Young & Lorraine O’Brien
March 1994 International Women’s Night performance in the Memorial Hall. Caroline conducts.
June 1994 Public performance in Bellingen. “Solstice” Lorraine conducts.
August 1994 Public performance in Bellingen. “Feminine/Masculine: the Dance of Life” Wendy conducts.
August 1994 Raleigh Primary School. “Bullying” Wendy conducts.
September 1994 Phoenix performance for Disability Services in Bowraville. ”Laughter is the Best Medicine” Caroline conducts.
September 1994 Raleigh Primary School. Part2. Lorraine conducts.
October 1994 Coffs Harbour Women’s Health Centre. ‘Domestic Violence Forum’ Lorraine conducts.
November 1994 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Laughter is the Best Medicine’ Lorraine conducts.
November 1994 Regional Council for Social Development, Kempsey. Lorraine conducts.
TOTAL PERFORMANCES FOR 1994: 9 PUBLIC: 4 COMMISSIONED: 5
Membership Changes. At the end of 1994 Barbara Byng leaves the Company taking us back to 10 members. There is concern about shortage of members and auditions are held in December. Four new members are chosen. Ellen Miller, John Saunders, Lynne Robertson and Janine Gilmore. The membership is now 14.
1995
Membership: 14 Caroline Mueller, Deborah Ryan, Martin Hogan, Wendy Haynes, Josie Robinson, Gail Colley, Catherine Campbell, Susan McGowan, Phil Young, Lorraine O’Brien, Janine Gilmore, John Saunders, Ellen Miller & Lynne Robertson.
February 1995 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Family Times’ Caroline conducts.
March 1995 International Women’s Night performance in Bellingen. Lorraine conducts.
June 1995 Cultural Futures performance at Campus in Coffs Harbour. Lorraine conducts.
June 1995 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘The Gems in Your Life’ Wendy conducts.
July 1995 DOCS performance in Port Macquarie. ‘Stop the Violence’ Lorraine conducts.
September 1995 Public performance at Casuarina School, Coffs Harbour. Caroline conducts.
September1995 Showcase performance at Opal Cove. Caroline conducts.
September 1995 Coffs Harbour Head Injury Service. Wendy conducts.
Lynne Robertson leaves the Company.
October 1995 Global Carnival performance. Wendy conducts.
October 1995 Playback the Global Carnival performance at the Showground Pavilion. Lorraine conducts.
November 1995 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Kidz Bizness’ Lorraine conducts.
November 1995 Public performance in Coffs Harbour. ‘Open theme’ Deborah conducts.
December1995 Phil Baldwin Community consultation gig at Macksville. Gail Colley reveals all. Lorraine conducts.
TOTAL PERFORMANCES FOR 1995: 13 PUBLIC: 8 COMMISSIONED: 5 During 1995 Lorraine and Josie with input from Debbie Fisk put in for a substantial AAS Grant to Tour Bellingen Playback Theatre throughout Northern NSW with 12 commissioned performances.
1996
January 1996 AAS Grant of $13,990 was awarded to Bellingen Playback Theatre to do 12 performances throughout the North Coast Region on the theme of ‘Families under Stress’ (Later became a more positive “Families in the Nineties”)
John Saunders leaves the Company.
Caroline Mueller takes leave and doesn’t come back.
Membership: 11 Deborah Ryan, Martin Hogan, Wendy Haynes, Josie Robinson, Gail Colley, Catherine Campbell, Susan McGowan, Phil Young, Lorraine O’Brien, Janine Gilmore & Ellen Miller.
March 1996 International Women’s Night performance. ‘Circle of Women’ Deborah conducts. Phil Young leaves the Company.
May 1996 “Families” Grant performance at Urunga. Lorraine conducts.
May 1996 “Families” Grant performance at Coffs Harbour Education Campus. Lorraine conducts.
May 1996 “Families” Grant performance at Dorrigo. Wendy conducts.
June 1996 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Kidz Bizness’ Lorraine conducts.
June 1996 “Families” Grant performance in Macksville. Deborah conducts.
June 1996 “Families” Grant performance in Toormina/Bayldon. Wendy conducts.
June 1996 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Flight to Freedom’ series. Part One ‘Cracking the Egg’ Deborah conducts. Janine Gilmore leaves the Company
June 1996 “Families” Grant performance in Maclean. Lorraine conducts.
Martin leaves Company.
August 1996 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Flight to Freedom’ series. Part Two ‘Finding your Feet’ Lorraine conducts.
August 1996 Bellingen Playback Theatre goes on Big Tour up North
August 1996 “Families” Grant performance at Suffolk Park. Wendy conducts.
August 1996 “Families” Grant performance at Murwillumbah. Lorraine conducts.
August 1996 “Families” Grant performance at Goonellabah. Deborah conducts.
September 1996 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Flight to Freedom’ series. Part 3 ‘Flight to Freedom’ Lorraine conducts.
Ellen Miller leaves the Company.
October 1996 “Families” Grant performance for Mental Health Week in Kempsey. Deborah conducts.
October 1996 Nimbin High School Performance. ‘Drug Awareness’ Lorraine conducts.
October 1996 Public performance in The Channon. Lorraine conducts.
October 1996 Stroke Recovery performance in Lismore. Lorraine conducts.
November 1996 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Flight to Freedom’ series. Part Four ‘The Eagles Nest’ Lorraine conducts.
November 1996 Tour Down South November 1996 “Families” Grant performance in Wauchope. Lorraine conducts
November 1996 “Families” Grant performance at Port Macquarie High School Lorraine conducts.
December 1996 Family Support Services Regional Conference performance at Yamba. Lorraine conducts.
TOTAL PERFORMANCES FOR 1996: 22 PUBLIC: 7 COMMISSIONED: 3 “FAMILIES” AAS GRANT: 12
1997
Membership: 7 Susan, Wendy, Gail, Deborah, Catherine, Josie & Lorraine. Lorraine began running regular training classes in Playback Theatre. Christel Wecker and Annie Bassey attend the classes.
March 1997 International Women’s Day performance. ‘Dishrags and Handbags’ Lorraine conducts.
April 1997 RTA and Bellingen Council performance. ‘Skateboards and Road Safety’ Lorraine conducts.
May 1997 Promotional Video performance at Sanctuary Cove Resort, Coffs Harbour. Mick Parker filmed and edited the video. Lorraine conducts.
June 1997 Two Day Planning and Development Process for the Company conducted by Annie Kennedy
August 1997 ‘Blue Stocking’ performance at Coffs Harbour Education Campus. Lorraine conducts.
September 1997 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Open Theme’ Lorraine conducts. Christel becomes a trainee member
November 1997 Rotary, Urban Peace and PCYC performance for opening of PCYC in Coffs Harbour. Lorraine conducts and Christel in the audience.
December 1997 Coffs Harbour TAFE Women in Work Course performance at the Coffs Harbour Education Campus. Lorraine conducts.
December 1997 Regional Council for Social Development performance in Kempsey. Christel’s first performance. Lorraine conducts.
TOTAL PERFORMANCES FOR 1997: 8 PUBLIC: 4 COMMISSIONED: 4
Wendy and Susan both leave the Company
1998
Membership: 6 Christel, Josie, Deborah, Catherine, Gail, Persia
February 1998 Coffs Harbour High School Peer Support Camp performance at Valla Beach. Deborah conducts.
February 1998 Port Macquarie PCYC Youth Consultation performance at PCYC in Port Macquarie. Persia conducts.
March 1998 International Women’s Night performance. ‘Creative Arts of Women’ Deborah conducts.
Christel is on leave overseas
June 1998 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Solstice’ Deborah conducts. Annie Bassey joins as trainee
June 1998 Two-day Cancer Council Palliative Care performance at Pacific Bay Resort. Persia conducts.
July 1998 Bronwen Bailey is employed by the Company to investigate the feasibility of marketing Bellingen Playback Theatre in the Corporate/Conference world at nearby Resorts.
October 1998 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Kidz Bizness’ Annie Bassey’s first gig. No audience.
October 1998 Student Representative Council performance at Coffs Harbour. Annie’s first performance. Persia conducts.
October 1998 Bronwen presents her report to the Company, confirming that there is a market for our work in the Resorts.
October 1998 Reclaim the Night performance at Coffs Harbour Community Village. Persia conducts.
November 1998 Bellingen Land Care performance at the Bellingen Market. Persia conducts.
November 1998 Regional Council for Social Development performance in Kempsey. Persia conducts.
December 1998 Kempsey DOCS performance at Valla. Persia conducts.
TOTAL PERFORMANCES FOR 1998: 11 PUBLIC: 3 COMMISSIONED: 8
1999
Membership: 7 Christel (on leave) Josie, Deborah, Catherine, Gail, Annie & Persia
February 1999 Persia undertakes to promote Bellingen Playback Theatre in the Conferences and other events at the Resorts. She prepares new publicity material. Bellingen Playback gets an email address.
February 1999 Coffs High Peer Support performance at Valla. Persia conducts.
March 1999 International Women’s Night performance. ‘Stories from a Thousand Years’ Persia conducts.
June 1999 Public performance in Bellingen. ‘Solstice’ Persia conducts. Christel is back.
June 1999 Brochure completed. Persia consults with Cate Cormack from Byron Company re marketing.
July 1999 DOCS Regional Conference performance at Port Macquarie. Persia conducts.
August 1999 Two performances at Toormina High on the theme of ‘Racism’. Persia conducts.
August 1999 Tour out West. Six performances for Young Driver Safety Expo in Tamworth. Persia conducts.
September 1999 Tour up North. National Homebirth Conference at Byron Bay. Persia conducts.
Catherine goes to India and Deborah goes on the Big Trip around OZ.
November 1999 Regional Student Representative Council performance in Kempsey. Total of 4 performers. Persia conducts.
December 1999 Arts Council ‘Artstart’ performance in Bellingen. Josie sick at the last minute. Total 4 performers. Persia conducts.
TOTAL PERFORMANCES FOR 1999: 15 PUBLIC: 2 COMMISSIONED: 13
