WYONG DRAMA GROUP
2000 - 2009
The noble 'noughties', the first decade of the new millennium, is the sixth decade of the Wyong Drama group. The list below contains all of the Group's productions from 2000 - 2009.
​
The table may take a moment to load.
Encore Theatre Festival
2004
Performed 7th & 8th August 2004
On 7th and 8th August 2004 we held our Encore Theatre Festival, attracting a large number of entries from around the state. It was in lieu of an August production.
​
Wyong Drama Group presented three plays, Day Trippers by Jean McConnell, directed by Millie Sampson; Home Fires Burning written by Peter Kocan, directed by Bonnie Bryant; and Shades of Gray by Jane Tara, directed by Ron Baker.
The Cast and Crew of Theatre Fest 2004.
Carl Caulfield
ADJUDICATOR:
Awards:
BEST ACTOR: WDG: Laszlo Weidlich - Home Fires Burning
BEST ACTRESS: N'cle Repertory Theatre: Carolyn Lind - Once Upon a Park Bench
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: WDG: Marc Calwell - Shades of Gray
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: WDG: Ruth Jordon - Shades of Gray
BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: WDG: Home Fires Burning
BEST DIRECTION: WDG: Bonnie Bryant - Home Fires Burning
BEST DRAMA: WDG: Shades of Gray
BEST COMEDY: Woy Woy Little Theatre: A Talk in the Park
BEST COMEDY RUNNER UP: WDG: Day Trippers
BEST UNPUBLISHED PLAY: WDG: Peter Kocan - Home Fires Burning
BEST SET: WDG: Home Fires Burning
BEST COSTUMES: (not awarded)
ADJUDICATOR'S SPECIAL AWARD: N'cle Repertory Theatre: Phillip Ross - Once Upon a Park Bench
JOHN AXFORD MEMORIAL AWARD: Reamus Youth Theatre: Two Women and a Chair
There was a preview for the theatre festival. The programme for this preview, and for judging night, are accessible below:
Encore Theatre Festival 2004
HOME FIRES BURNING (2004)
By Peter Kocan
Directed by Bonnie Bryant
Performed 7th & 8th August 2004
This was one of the last plays to be directed by Bonnie Bryant, and it was brilliant. It won no less than five awards: Best Actor (for Laszlo Weidlich); Best Direction (for Bonnie); Best Ensemble Performance; Best Set and Best Unpublished Play.
Bonnie had presented the play before in April 1983, July 1990, and August 1993.
Nikki De Vries and Julie Bailey.
Laszlo Weidlich, Duncan Mitchell, Kath Izzard, Nikki De Vries and Julie Bailey
Duncan Mitchell, Nikki De Vries and Julie Bailey
Nikki De Vries and Julie Bailey.
The action of Home Fires Burning (2004 Production). Use the arrows to browse through the photos . Click the images to view them full-size.
Bonnie Bryant
DIRECTED BY:
CAST:
MARGE HARRIS - Nikki De Vries
TOSSA GRIMES - Laszlo Weidlich
BILL HARRIS - Duncan Mitchell
BERYL HARRIS - Julie Bailey
AUNTIE LIL - Kath Izzard
NORM SMITH - John Czerniecki
NANCY MUGGLETON - Ros Ellis
MAKEUP:
Helen Schumann
STAGE MANAGER:
Sharon Deane
Encore Theatre Festival 2004
SHADES OF GRAY
By Jane Tara
Directed by Ron Baker
Performed 7th & 8th August 2004
This was directed by Ron Baker, and stage-managed by Darlene Cole. Ruth Jordon appeared as Estella, Marc Calwell as Larry and Graham Vale as Gray.
The cast of Shades of Gray.
Ron Baker
DIRECTED BY:
CAST:
ESTELLA - Ruth Jordon
LARRY - Marc Calwell
GRAY - Graham Vale
Encore Theatre Festival 2004
DAY TRIPPERS (August 2004)
By Jean McConnell
Directed by Millie Sampson
Performed 7th & 8th August 2004
The Action of Day Trippers, featuring Pam Campbell and Denise Pastor.
This was part of the Deckchairs series of One-Act plays about English people visiting the beach. It was directed by Millie Sampson, and was a two-hander with Denise Pastor and Pam Campbell. Helen Schumann, Wendy Potter and Barry Sampson were the backstage crew.
ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
By Joseph Kesselring
Directed by Millie Sampson
Performed November 2004
The cast of Arsenic And Old Lace. Use the arrows to browse through the photos . Click the images to view them full-size.
If you would like to access press releases for this production, please contact us.
DIRECTED BY:
Millie Sampson
CAST:
ABBY BREWSTER- Karen Ractliffe
MARTHA BREWSTER - Pam Campbell & Jeanette McCurry
OFFICER KLEIN - Damien Van der Meulen
ELAINE - Jenny Sharrock & Lianne Rijff
REVEREND HARPER & MR. WITHERSPOON - Barry Sampson
TEDDY - Peter Deane
OFFICER BROPHY - Stuart Mortimer
MORTIMER - Duncan Mitchell
MR. SCHMIDT - Mark Gerlach
JONATHON - John Czerniecki
DR. EINSTEIN - Hagen Heinrich
OFFICER O'HARA - Paul Ractliffe
LIEUTENANT ROONEY - Jamie Pierce
SUMMER OF THE SEVENTEENTH DOLL
By Ray Lawler
Directed by Peter Deane
Performed April 2005
"The Doll" was produced in April 2005. It was directed by Peter Deane, and played for three weeks. We ran a complex series of dates, trying a 2pm Sunday Matinee twice, only one Saturday Matinee, and only one Thursday night.
Bubba shows off her new threads before going to the dance.
"Pinchin' an old woman's food while her back's turned."
Bubba shows off her new threads before going to the dance.
The cast and action of The Summer of the Seventeenth Doll. Use the arrows to browse through the photos . Click the images to view them full-size.
Note: We have many more photos of this production. Please contact us if you would like to see them.
From the director, Peter Deane:
​
I know I'm biased, but to date (2008) it is the best show I ever have directed. The standard of acting was second to none, and the show just seemed to produce itself. I was lucky in that I had already directed the pre-quels to The Doll; directing 'Kid Stakes' in 1989 and 'Other Times' in 1996. Uncannily, when I did The Doll it was the seventeenth year after first producing Kid Stakes!
Having known these characters intimately for sixteen years (I even played Barney myself in Other Times) seemed to make the task of producing Australia's greatest ever play that little bit easier.
​
The cast were so keen to excel themselves, I think I was privileged to benefit from their efforts. They were mad keen to come to every rehearsal, and even came in to the extra Sundays completely ungrudgingly. We all put a lot of effort into this show, and it certainly paid off.
We have detailed resources in our archives to help future directors of this production (such as set designs, rehearsal schedules, and Goldmine in the Sky sheet music), as well as more information for historians and others interested (including a trivia quiz). For access to these resources, please contact us.
DIRECTED BY:
Peter Deane
CAST:
PEARL CUNNINGHAM - Darlene Cole
BUBBA RYAN - Elysha Hickey
OLIVE LEECH - Angie Bain
BARNEY IBBOT - Robert Hickey
EMMA LEECH - Pam Campbell
ROO WEBBER - Steve Cummings
JOHNNIE DOWD - Michael Strappazzon
TheatreFest
2005
Performed 25th & 26th June 2005
On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th June our TheatreFest attracted 16 entries from all over the state. The adjudicator this year was Carl Caulfield who had also been the adjudicator in 2004. There were four sessions, three on the Saturday and one on the Sunday Morning - in all a very full programme indeed.
​
The play attracted entries from Reamus Youth Theatre (Maitland), Newcastle Repertory Club, Woy Woy Little Theatre, Henry Lawson Theatre (Penrith), Wild Oats (Oberon Amateur Theatrical Society), Elanora Players and Maitland Repertory Society.
​
Wyong Drama Group's entries were Hewers of Coal by Joe Corrie (directed by Millie Sampson) and The Fat Lady Sings in Little Grimley by David Tristram (directed by Bernie O'Brien).
Carl Caulfield
ADJUDICATOR:
Awards:
BEST ACTOR: Rick Plummer - Wild Oats: Snow Angel
BEST ACTRESS: Meg Low - Wild Oats: Snow Angel
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Unknown
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Brenda Logan - WWLT: Lilly & May
BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: WDG: Hewers of Coal
BEST DIRECTION: Di Manson - Wild Oats (2 entries)
BEST DRAMA: Wild Oats: After Midnight, Before Dawn
BEST COMEDY: WWLT: Time Flies
BEST COSTUMES: WWLT: Time Flies
BEST UNPUBLISHED PLAY: Ben Martin - The Bus Stop
BEST SET: WDG: Hewers of Coal
ADJUDICATOR'S SPECIAL AWARD: Ben Martin (author) - Maitland Rep: The Bus Stop
JOHN AXFORD MEMORIAL AWARD: WWLT: Beyond
TheatreFest 2005
HEWERS OF COAL (2005)
By Joe Corrie
Directed by Millie Sampson
Performed 25th & 26th June 2005
Millie Sampson
DIRECTED BY:
CAST:
YOUNG BILLY - Kyle Carson
DICK - Duncan Mitchell
PETER - John Czerniecki
BOB THE GAFFER - Stuart Mortimer
JOE - Barry Sampson
TheatreFest 2005
THE FAT LADY SINGS IN LITTLE GRIMLEY
By David Tristram
Directed by Bernie O’Brien
Performed 25th & 26th June 2005
Bernie O’Brien
DIRECTED BY:
CAST:
GORDON - Howard Oxley
MARGARET - Pam Campbell
JOYCE - Karen Ractliffe
BERNARD - Paul Ractliffe
HEAVEN CAN WAIT
By David Cosgrove
Directed by Ron Baker
Performed August 2005
Wednesday 3rd February 1959 was the day the music died. A plane carrying The Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly took off in Iowa, and crashed in a woeful blizzard. The pilot and the three musicians did not directly go to heaven, however! They were taken there via The Celestial Bar where they were looked after by waitress Stella Brown who also was fated to inhabit this no-mans'-land between the two celestial planes of heaven and earth.
Ben Ross, Nick McDougall Christine Vale, Myles Feist, Adam Young
Ben Ross, Nick McDougall Christine Vale, Myles Feist, Adam Young
The cast of Heaven Can Wait. Use the arrows to browse through the photos . Click the images to view them full-size.
This is a "play with music" (not a musical) outlining the journey they all must take before finally getting to heaven. It features over twenty fabulous fifties sounds such as Peggy Sue, La Bamba, C’mon Everybody, Your Cheating Heart, That’ll Be The Day, Chantilly Lace and Oh Boy.
​
The play was presented by WDG in April 2005, directed by Ron Baker, assisted by Julie Bailey and with Musical Director, Graham Vale.
DIRECTED BY:
Ron Baker
CAST:
STELLA - Christine Vale
BUDDY HOLLY - Nick McDougall
RITCHIE VALENS - Myles Feist
J.P. RICHARDSON (THE BIG BOPPER) - Adam Young
ROGER PETERSON (THE PILOT) - Ben Ross
TOMMY ALLSUP - Robert Donohoe
'ALLO 'ALLO (2005)
By Jeremy Lloyd & David Croft
Directed by Pollyanna Forshaw & Bonnie Bryant
Performed November 2005
'Allo, 'Allo, that ever-popular play based on the TV series by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft was always going to be a popular show. It certainly proved the case with this production, directed by Pollyanna Forshaw with the substantial input of Bonnie Bryant as consultant director.
​
There was a cast of twenty for the show, which always proves a logistical nightmare, but normally results in good houses. Behind the scenes were more than that. Merely co-ordinating all these people to get all those costumes together, all the moves co-ordinated and design a set with a large number of areas is a real triumph for Pollyanna. Just fitting them on stage for the curtain calls proved difficult enough!
The show was, however, a runaway success and extremely well patronised. It was presented in November 2005.
The cast of 'Allo, 'Allo. Click on the thumbnails to browse through the photos . Click the images to view them full-size.
DIRECTED BY:
Pollyanna Forshaw & Bonnie Bryant
CAST:
HERR FLICK - Laszlo Weidlich
GENERAL - Adam Young
CABARET - Renée Chanovre
EDITH - Julie Bailey
LIEUTENANT GRUBER - Marc Calwell
YVETTE - Darlene Cole
CRABTREE - Steve Cummings
CAPITANO ALBERTO BERTORELLI - John Czerniecki
NICOLE - Nikki De Vries
THE AIRMEN - Steve De Vries, Stuart Mortimer & Ron Baker
COLONEL - John Humphries
PEASANT - Jeanette McCurry & Millie Sampson
RENÉ ARTOIS - Bernie O’Brien
MIMI LA BONQUE - Susan Reynolds
LECLERC - Barry Sampson
HELGA - Helen Schumann
MICHELLE - Jenny Sharrock
FAWLTY TOWERS (2006)
The Psychiatrist, The Waldorf Salad & The Anniversary
By John Cleese & Connie Booth
Directed by Pam Campbell
Performed April 2006
Laszlo Weidlich, Kelly Humphries, Cheryl Wells, Steve Cummings, Jeanne Gerlach, Jeanette McCurry, Cathy DeVries, Howard Oxley and John Czerniecki
The curtain call from the entire cast
The cast of the 2006 production of Fawlty Towers. Use the arrows to browse through the photos . Click the images to view them full-size.
Fawlty Towers has been previously done by WDG. Back in 1982 it was directed by Bob McKettrick and in 1984 directed by Steve McNeil. Most recently it was reprised again in 2009 by Pam Campbell.
NB: Three more episodes of Fawlty Towers were also produced in April 2012.
​
This 2006 Production was directed by Pam Campbell and was one of the most popular shows WDG has ever staged, with massive audiences for every session. It ran for eight performances on April 20 (8pm), 21 (8pm), 22 (2pm & 8pm) and 27 (8pm), 28 (8pm) and 29 (2pm & 8pm).
​
Another massive thing about it was the set, which involved using not only the entire stage area, which served as the reception, dining area and kitchen, but an area on platforms downstage left for the Fawltys' own bedroom, and a huge area stage right (well in the hall, stage right) on platforms which represented three guest rooms and a cupboard. The set took weeks to build and was a triumph for Barry Sampson (who was assisted by Laci Weidlich, Hagen Heinrich, Marc Calwell, Mark Gerlach and others).
​
Three episodes were presented: The Psychiatrist, The Waldorf Salad and The Anniversary. There were seventeen cast members, and the whole production was a logistical triumph, as everything was BIG!
DIRECTED BY:
Pam Campbell
CAST:
BASIL FAWLTY - Howard Oxley
SYBIL FAWLTY - Kelly Humphries
MANUEL - Paul Ractliffe
POLLY - Cathy DeVries
DR. ABBOT, MR. HAMILTON & ARTHUR - Laszlo Weidlich
MR JOHNSON, MR JOHNSTONE & ROGER - Marc Calwell
RAYLENE MILES, MRS ARRAD & ALICE - Darlene Cole
MRS JOHNSTONE & VIRGINIA - Karen Ractliffe
MAJOR GOWEN, MR ARRAD & REG - Steve Cummings
THE GIRLFRIEND, MRS HAMILTON & KITTY - Karen Edwards
MRS ABBOTT, MRS LIBSON & AUDREY - Cheryl Wells
TERRY - John Czerniecki
MISS GATSBY - Jeanette McCurry
MISS TIBBS - Jeanne Gerlach
MAJOR GOWEN - Robert Donohoe
MRS JOHNSON - Millie Sampson
HOTEL GUEST - Mark Gerlach
TheatreFest
2006
Performed 23rd-25th June 2006
After the success of the Encore 2004 Festival and the 2005 Festival we again presented a TheatreFest in 2006. It was becoming quite a habit and it attracted nine plays in this year.
​
Wyong Drama Group entered four plays - Hewers of Coal by Joe Corrie, directed by Millie Sampson; Fawlty Towers: The Waldorf Salad by John Cleese & Connie Booth, directed by Pam Campbell; and Darlene Cole directed two, Mother & Son: The Last Straw by Geoffery Atherden and The Donoghue Sisters by Geraldine Aron. These plays (except Fawlty) were also sent to the Canberra Festival in late September/early October as well.
The winners and cast of the shows featuring in TheatreFest 2006. Click the images to view them full-size.
Judith Boyd
ADJUDICATOR:
Awards:
BEST ACTOR: Hagen Heinrich (WDG: The Last Straw)
BEST ACTRESS: Pam Campbell (WDG: The Last Straw)
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Alf Taylor (WWLT: The Lucky Locket)
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Aninka Means (NTC: Mystery at Twickenham Village)
BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: Newcastle Theatre Co (Mystery at Twickenham Village)
BEST DIRECTION: Darlene Cole (WDG)
BEST DRAMA: WDG: The Donoghue Sisters
BEST COMEDY: WDG: The Last Straw
BEST UNPUBLISHED PLAY: WWLT: The Lucky Locket
BEST SET: WDG: The Last Straw
BEST COSTUMES: WWLT: The Lucky Locket
ADJUDICATOR'S SPECIAL AWARD: Peter King (NTC: Mystery at Twickenham Village)
JOHN AXFORD MEMORIAL AWARD: Newcastle Theatre Co (Mystery at Twickenham Village)
TheatreFest 2006
HEWERS OF COAL (June 2006)
By Joe Corrie
Directed by Millie Sampson
Performed 23rd-25th June 2006
DIRECTED BY:
Millie Sampson
CAST:
Unknown
Note: The cast is likely to be the same as the September 2006 production of this play for the Canberra Theatre Festival, however this couldn't be verified with certainty.
TheatreFest 2006
FAWLTY TOWERS: THE WALDORF SALAD
By John Cleese & Connie Booth
Directed by Pam Campbell
Performed 23rd-25th June 2006
DIRECTED BY:
Pam Campbell
CAST:
BASIL FAWLTY - Howard Oxley
SYBIL FAWLTY - Kelly Humphries
MANUEL - Paul Ractliffe
POLLY - Cathy De Vries
MR. HAMILTON - Laszlo Weidlich
MRS. HAMILTON - Karen Edwards
MR. JOHNSTONE - Marc Calwell
MRS. JOHNSTONE - Karen Ractliffe
MR. ARRAND - Steve Cummings
MRS. ARRAND - Darlene Cole
TERRY - John Czerniecki
MRS. LIBSON - Cheryl Wells
MISS GATSBY - Jeanette McCurry
MISS TIBBS - Jeanne Gerlach
MAJOR GOWEN - Robert Donohoe
TheatreFest 2006
MOTHER & SON: THE LAST STRAW (June 2006)
By Geoffery Atherden
Directed by Darlene Cole
Performed 23rd-25th June 2006
DIRECTED BY:
Darlene Cole
CAST:
MAGGIE - Pam Campbell
ARTHUR - Hagan Heinrich
ROBERT - Laci Weidlich
AGENT (ERIC) - Marc Calwell
NURSING HOME RESIDENT - Julie Bailey
TheatreFest 2006
THE DONOGHUE SISTERS (June 2006)
By Geraldine Aron
Directed by Darlene Cole
Performed 23rd-25th June 2006
The Donoghue Sisters: Pollyanna Forshaw, Ruth Jordon and Christine Vale.
Darlene Cole
DIRECTED BY:
CAST:
ANNIE - Ruth Jordon
DUNYA - Christine Vale
ROSIE - Pollyanna Forshaw
CHILDREN'S CHOIR - Alana Calwell, Felicity Calwell & Vivienne Calwell
THE ODD COUPLE (2006)
Female Version
By Neil Simon
Directed by Pat Trott
Performed August 2006
With a fantastically popular movie with Jack Lemmon and Walter Mattheau, and a spin-off long-running television series with Tony Randell and Jack Klugman, The Odd Couple is one of Neil Simon's most popular plays, and so he decided to write a female version, ostensibly for amateur groups to perform.
WDG had done the Female Version previously in August 1995, and it has also been presented locally by Woy Woy Little Theatre, so it was time for this chestnut to run again in August 2006, directed by a new director to Wyong, Pat Trott. Pat also directed this show for Kempsey Players some years ago.
Back Row, standing: Millie Sampson, Barry Sampson, Susie Reynolds, Jeanette McCurry, Nikki De Vries, Wendy Potter, Helen Schumann, Robyn Weidich. Front Row, seated: Damien Van Der Meulen, Pam Campbell, Angie Bain and Duncan Mitchell (not his own hair).
Back Row, standing: Millie Sampson, Barry Sampson, Susie Reynolds, Jeanette McCurry, Nikki De Vries, Wendy Potter, Helen Schumann, Robyn Weidich. Front Row, seated: Damien Van Der Meulen, Pam Campbell, Angie Bain and Duncan Mitchell (not his own hair).