Continuing our celebration of the 70 years of Beaumaris Theatre Inc. of bringing theatre to the community, this month we will talk with our current treasurer and Committee Member, Robyn Morris.
We met with Robyn to discuss her 20-year journey in community theatre and her contribution to Beaumaris Theatre as a member, an actor, a director, and a Committee Member. We asked Robyn to reflect on her experiences and to give us some insight into how she came to be involved, the changes she has seen over the years, and her personal feelings about the benefits of belonging to a community organisation.
Robyn Morris tell us about your 20-year relationship with community theatre generally and then specifically your memories of your connecting to Beaumaris Theatre.
Robyn: I came from a performing background; my mother was my mentor and role model and was the instigator of numerous theatrical productions in the small country town where we lived. My mother was always helping everywhere, with costumes, make up etc. My dad was a Lion and was involved in minstrel shows. I started being involved at school. I feel the theatre is my second home.
While away at boarding school at Presbyterian Ladies College, I continued my interest in performing and particularly I fondly remember a play we did in collaboration with Scotch College.
Moving to Queensland after leaving school and marrying, I was instrumental in the formation of a local theatre group in the small town of Blackwater. We initially did one-act plays at the local kindergarten but later we were involved in bringing performances to a new community centre in the area, and I remember being in a big production of the play “Dimboola” in which I played the Mother of the Groom.
Once back in Melbourne, I performed in several one-act plays with Malvern Theatre Company - that was during the ’80s and then in the ’90s and early 2000s with Ace Theatre. I won a best supporting actress award at the Mordialloc Eisteddfod in 2002. In the ‘90s I also did some work with a local Revue group called KPR and was involved for around 10 years. I recall other companies that I worked with during those years included MLOC, Southern Cross Theatre Co, RATS and Waverley Theatre.
In 2002 my relationship with Beaumaris Theatre began after I had become friends with a few Beaumaris people while performing in MLOC’s production of “Dimboola”. My first actual contact with Beaumaris Theatre was when I auditioned for a role that I was unsuccessful in gaining. I went back for another audition for one of the former Beaumaris President’s shows, “Ladies Who Lunch”, and I was successful. Later that year I also was cast in “Secondary Causes of Death”.
Moving into the Committee role came when the Committee of that time was experiencing some administrative issues and they needed fresh blood. I was invited by the then President to join in 2002. Initially, I was a general Committee Member, but when in 2004, a new Treasurer was required, I stepped up to the role and have been in that role ever since.
The differences I see in our Committee framework and function in that 20-year transition are all positive. It is a very cohesive Committee in 2023. It is more streamlined and progressive in our administration and our systems now. Diversity is a priority; we honour and try to adhere to our “Theatre for All “ motto. Our community are made to feel included and heard. Everyone is welcome.
Covid was such a difficult time and my previous experience with monetary stresses that were present when I first took on the treasurer’s role in 2004, gave me knowledge of what could happen. It was very worrying, but we survived.
Upon reflection on the six shows that I have directed at Beaumaris, a memory that is particularly dear to me is directing “To Kill a Mockingbird “ in 2012. My most recent experience directing was in 2020 with “Farndale – They Came from Mars”. I performed in 15 shows over these 20-odd years, and I also was honoured to be awarded Life Membership to Beaumaris Theatre Inc. in 2013. It was totally unexpected, and luckily, I attended the Talbots when it was presented, as I had been very unwell and was thinking about not attending.
My last words: I feel as a Committee and a community group we are heading in a positive direction, but we always need to be mindful of the shows we produce, keeping open-mindedness at the forefront and allowing it to support our choices. Cast sizes and different genres are important for financial viability and appeal to our patrons.
My final words of wisdom: Just enjoy yourself, I tell this to all my cast - that is the main reason you are here, to have fun, so enjoy your time on stage.