The Hills Act Theatre Company crew have been busy lately practising for their second production.
The Yarra Ranges-based theatre company was founded in September last year to provide play opportunities to younger people in the region.
After presenting Breathless, a story about four veterans that explores the unchanging, cyclical horror of war around Anzac Day, the company is preparing to introduce a different genre of play A Butler Did It to the local community.
Hills Act Theatre Company founder and director of the next production Phillip Stephenson said he chose the comedy play because it is something completely different from Breathless.
“A Butler Did It is basically a murder mystery comedy that features the Butler family, who come to their aunt’s funeral,” he said.
“However, things begin to get very complicated.
“It’s a very funny play and the cast are doing very well.”
12 actors and actresses are cast for this play, and half of them performed in the previous play.
Healesville Lions Club has been a big supporter of the local theatre company since its inception.
It bought $1000 worth of tickets for two plays as a way of sponsorship.
Healesville Lions Club secretary Gary Butler said the Lions Club of Healesville wanted to support young talents to develop their skills after leaving school.
“Healesville High School has musicals once a year and they just do a fantastic job,” he said.
“But the problem is when they leave high school, there’s no place to go. We’ve only got the Athenaeum Theatre in Lilydale and The Basin Theatre in Ferntree Gully.
“You hear all bad things about young people but we’ve got so many great young mature people, and we really need to support them because it’s good for the youth and the community of Healesville.”
Josh Young is one of the treasures in the Hills Act Theatre Company.
He joined the company from the very first production, and he is now cast as Jasper King Junior in A Butler Did It.
As a person who would like to pursue acting as a professional career, Mr Young said Hills Act Theatre Company has been helping him a lot to get more experience.
“Breathless was different from what I was used to. I was in high school productions at Upper Yarra Secondary College, and there were a lot more light-hearted and goofy and more comedies,” he said.
“But coming out here and doing Breathless, it was different. It was serious. As someone who loves learning about the wars in history, it was just like, ‘This is a play I want to do, no matter what Phil says, I’ll be a part of it.’
“(Hills Act Theatre Company) helps me be in that constant routine, (for example), tonight between 6.30pm and 8.30pm, I know that time is dedicated to rehearsals and helping out.”
Mr Stephenson hailed Mr Young as a “natural actor” with great talent, and said he founded the local theatre company for hidden talents like Mr Young.
“Josh is one of those who has a natural ability to act. He’s able to take on any role, and I would like to see him succeed in the theatre business in any way,” he said.
“One of the reasons that we thought about starting this is to get them some experience so that when they write their CVs or go to an audition, they have that experience behind them.
“I know that if Josh continues, he’ll probably get somewhere great because he’s a natural actor.”
For the upcoming production, Hills Act Theatre Company is preparing a special activity to engage more with the audience.
The audience will receive a slip of paper with questions before they go into the theatre.
“Once they’ve seen the play, they can answer the questions, and there will be quite substantial prizes,” Mr Stephenson said.
A Butler Did It will be put on twice at 7.30pm on Saturday 15 November and at 2pm on Sunday 16 November at The Memo, Healesville.
Tickets are purchasable at The Memo or the following website: yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Explore-Yarra-Ranges/Events/A-Butler-Did-It
Hills Act Theatre Company is also planning to host a talent show, and Mr Young is the main organiser of this event.
Through Hills Act Theatre Company, Mr Young could develop not only his acting skills but also leadership skills by organising this event, which is something new to him.
“I’m doing a talent show for the people of Healesville and the surrounding areas. I want them to come down and try out,” Mr Young said.
“This talent show is about singing, dancing, playing an instrument or anything. The most important thing about it is that we don’t vote, but it’s the audience who vote on the actual day.
“It was a bit daunting at first (to organise this talent show), but you’ve just got to take one step at a time. First thing was organising the poster, and then it’s going to be advertising and getting everything out.”
The Hills Act Theatre Company is planning to hold the talent show at the end of January or the beginning of February next year.
