Illawarra Theatre Companies 2006/2008

• All Together Drama Group
• Arcadians (Mainly Musicals)
• The 'Ocracy
• DODO EXPRESS
• Illawarra Performance Writers' Group
• Merrigong Theatre Co.(Professional)
• Roo Theatre Company
• Stanwell Park Arts & Theatre (SPAT)
• So Popera
• Wollongong Workshop Theatre

So Popera first made a splash taking out four of five awards with A Grave Affair at the 2006 Unhinged Short Play Festival. These awards (Best Writer, Director, Audience Choice and Overall Winner) were judged by industry professionals Tommy Murphy (Australian Theatre for Young People) and David Berthold (Griffin Theatre Kings Cross). Since then, So Popera has been involved in Cabaret’s Dead at the Glen Street Theatre Belrose, North Sydney in a collaboration with the North Shore Actors.

Peter Copeland (left) has just completed a Diploma of Education and a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Sound, Composition, Music and Production. One of his most recent credits was as Musical Director for Roo Theatre’s production of Crazy for You in 2007, one of the most successful productions staged at that theatre to date. Peter has also had extensive involvement in the creative process for the annual Southern Stars performance spectacular at Win Entertainment Centre as orchestral arranger and keyboard accompanist.

Michaal Monk (centre) has a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Performance and is studying a Bachelor of Business. She is currently working in post production as production assistant on two new Australia films The Black Balloon (producer Tristram Miall) and Newcastle (producer Naomi Wenck). Her most recent credits include guest role as a Teacher on the ABC television program Blue Water High and the lead role as Leyla in Cabaret’s Dead.

Danny Condon (right) has a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Performance, a Certificate IV in Small Business Management and an AMEB 8th grade Clarinet. He has extensive experience in music, performance, composition and dance. His most recent credits include composer and musical director of Cabaret’s Dead for the North Shore Actors. His awards include Best Writer for A Grave Affair Unhinged Short Play Festival 2006.

The Merrigong Theatre Company is the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre's resident managing company.
It's mission is to offer the people of this region the finest productions the performing arts industry has to offer.
The word Merrigong was a name used for the escarpment in the 1800's. Just as the escarpment is the geographical backbone of the Illawarra, the Merrigong Theatre Company aspires to be the "cultural backbone" of the region, presenting the best of the performing arts, from production houses both locally and from around the country.

See also Illawarra Performing Arts Centre

The Arcadians are the main musical theatre society in Wollongong, and have been in existence for about 35 years. Their musicals are staged at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre and/or other suitable venues. They have have recently purchased the Corrimal Library and Community Hall which has now includes a functional performance space. This is known as "The Arcadians Miners Lamp Theatre". Though an amateur company they have on occasion produced very high quality productions. Les Miserables (in 1993) was outstanding and for the most part compared very well with the professional production staged in Sydney.

See also Arcadians Newsletter

The 'Ocracy is a partnership for theatre and performing arts productions founded by Aaron Kernaghan and David Morris. A sub-company of Digital Theatre Inc, The 'Ocracy began as the experimental theatre arm of Digital Theatre Inc - developing new works by local Illawarra and Wollongong artists.

The company was developed on the principle of fusion: the welding together of divergent skills, experience and artistic interests into a common theatrical producer. The 'Ocracy often includes the untried-in-the-theatre skills of digital artists in the local area. From digital photography and image manipulation, through to film and cinema production, the company has mixed the skills of the most recent of modern art mediums and facilities into the best of the centuries-old theatre traditions

Through a service called "Recreation Illawarra", (A sport and recreation service for people with disabilities), Altogether Drama has come into being. The group focuses on the integration of people with disabilities into mainstream activities via the medium of theatre. The group is going strong now with around 20 members and has has recently been taken over by a NIDA trained teacher.

Roo's permanent home, The Harbour Theatre in Addison Street, Shellharbour (formerly the Shellharbour Community Hall). seats 210 patrons. The flexible space accommodates for both concert seating and cabaret table seated productions.

Partipants include writers and readers from the university and various Wollongong companies as well as noted local playwrights PP Cranney and Wendy Richardson.

All are welcome (we do ask for a $10 contribution for a yearly membership: that pays for coffee, tea and various administrative costs associated with using the centre - it also means that the group enjoys associate membership to the Centre).

The South Coast Writers Council is in the Town Hall building above the tourist information centre on the corner of Kembla and Crown streets.

For more information

DODO EXPRESS was started up by Steen in 1997 to make use of the under utilised Bruce Gordon Theatre in the Ilawarra Performing Arts Centre. Since then DODO EXPRESS has developed a strong following with productions like WUTHERING HEIGHTS, and A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM.

There have been no full productions since 2000 though it does now appear that they are starting up again in October 2003

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