By Bethan Farmer and Kelly-Maree Michael of Stanwell Park Arts Theatre
There’s a very good reason we refer to what we do as Community Theatre. It’s theatre by the community, for the community, where the overall goal is that everyone feels welcomed and included, and that, as a whole, a suburb or group can take ownership of a show, despite its cast and crew numbering only a few.
This is definitely our aim for the latest SPAT show, The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Murder Mystery Play (written by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jr).
At surface level, it’s a goofy comedy, spoofing classic stage murder mysteries like Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. All the tropes are faithfully honoured, from the trench coat-clad detective’s Big Final Speech (in which all is revealed) to a surprise will reading to a (spoiler alert) murderous butler.
Peel back a layer, though, and it’s a play-within-a-play, centred around a hapless community group who are beset by technical difficulty, disaster and sabotage as they struggle to put on a sleek production that is beyond their means and talent.
Keep peeling and you’ll discover the emotional core: the real beauty in this piece is its gentle and loving self-mockery, evoking the woes of every Am Dram production, when lofty ambitions collide with the limitations of cold, harsh reality. But it’s not just for your neighbourhood thespians: anybody who has been on a committee, in a book club, neighbourhood watch group or (let’s be honest) on Facebook, will recognise the zany local characters and the small-town politics that really make the show.
We want to extend that feeling of nostalgia and small-town pride to everyone; because we firmly believe that the Arts should be accessible to all, but that there’s something really special when they are close to home.
We invite the community to join us in laughing at ourselves, and to be a part of the show. On our “teen friendly” Saturday nights, we hand the reins over to our Teen Ambassadors, who will liven up the CWA Hall with a costume competition, Photo Booth and Q&A with directors and cast.
Sensible Sundays are 2pm matinees – but if you do fancy making it a little bit cheeky why not book our High Tea Option? Treat yourself to unlimited scones with jam and cream, cake, macarons and other baked delectables (courtesy of the CWA ladies), with complimentary bubbles on arrival. Half the proceeds from our High Teas go to the Stanwell Park CWA. Treat a mum for Mother’s Day (14 May) and make an afternoon of it!
Show dates are Friday 12 & 19 and Saturday 13 & 20 May at 7.30pm, Sunday 14 & 21 May at 2pm (optional High Tea from 12.30pm). The venue is our beloved CWA Hall, 10 The Drive, Stanwell Park.
Show-only: $20 Adult, $15 Concession (including young adults under 20).
High Tea & Show: $35 Adult, $30 Concession.
Companion tickets and accessible seating available by request, call 0477 784 079.
Tickets are available at spat.org.au