Theatrical tales

Little compares with the thrill of working on a theatrical production.

The heat of the stage lights.  The expectant buzz of the audience.  The rush of adrenaline as you wait for just the right moment to call the curtain, change the scenery, or set the mood with a lighting cue.  The first intake of breath before you play your instrument.  That little dance you always do in the wings, just before you enter for the next scene.  Applause.  Laughter.  Slipping into the back of the audience to catch a glimpse of the costumes you helped bring into being from sketches and bits of fabric.

And little compares with the bonds formed between people who share these experiences together.

In November 1962, a group of young people at the Eastwood Methodist Church decided to devote their spare time to staging theatrical productions.  Their aims were simple: to present musical and dramatic works, to promote the church’s values, and to donate profits to charities.

Fifty years and nearly 100 productions later, the group – now Eastwood Uniting Church Musical Society, or EUCMS – is still staging often sold-out musical theatre productions twice a year.  What keeps us going?

am•a•teur     [am-uh-choo r, -cher, -ter, am-uh-tur]

noun

1. a person who engages in a study, sport, or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons.  From a French word meaning: "lover of".

For most of us, putting on great theatre isn’t our day job – it’s just what we love to do.  As a bonus, we know we’re doing good work!  We're providing entertainment and raising money for charity.

But why EUCMS, specifically?

Most of the people I have talked to give me the same answer: the community.  At EUCMS, the community is vital.  And our shared history, our experiences, are one of the things holding us together.

We asked people to tell us their stories.  From those who helped to found EUCMS, to those who grew up watching their parents (and grandparents!) perform and are now taking up the tradition, to those who experienced the community of EUCMS for the first time just recently, we wanted to hear all about it.  From the longest history to the funniest anecdote, we wanted to share what makes theatre – and EUCMS specifically – so great.

This blog is the precursor to a historical document scheduled for publication in November 2012.  If you would like to submit a post, please contact us.

Caroline