Sparking an interest in youth theatre

Woy Woy Little Theatre (WWLT) is set to launch a new theatre program for young people aged 12-18, to culminate in a performance in July.

Long-time WWLT member Greg Buist is spearheading the Spark Festival program, which will be similar to the group’s annual adult Flash Festival of short plays.

A primary school teacher for more than 35 years, Buist has run a drama/theatre group called Comedy Club before school most Friday mornings of the school year for the past 15 years.

He has had lead roles in a number of plays for Woy Woy Little Theatre including Ben Hur, Four Flat Whites In Italy, Arsenic and Old Lace and Dial M For Murder.

Buist also has been in more than a dozen musicals for Gosford Musical Society at

Laycock St Community Theatre and was a member of the first committee which worked to create the Flash Festival, which is now in its 10th year.

“Last year, just after we finished Ben Hur, I thought it would be great to have a short play festival similar to Flash but for younger people,” he said.

“I talked it over with a few other members and it snowballed from there.

“We will hold our first introductory session at Peninsula Theatre from 1pm on

April 30.

“We will take registrations, show the kids around the theatre and then go over to the adjacent community centre, where our first four-six sessions will be held.”

Buist said drama games would be a large component of these initial sessions, to be held from 1pm to 3pm on Sundays beginning on May 7.

Other WWLT members, including Andrew Thomson, who runs regular adult theatre games nights at Peninsula Theatre, will help conduct the sessions.

“After that, we will be holding writing workshops if there is interest,” Buist said.

“Then we will be starting to rehearse the performance pieces.”

Performances will be held at Peninsula Theatre on July 1 and 2 and will comprise short plays featuring the children.

“There will be no audition process,” Buist said.

“Every child who attends the sessions will be involved in the production.

“The plays performed could be published short plays or pieces written by the children themselves.

“Being our first year, we will be very much playing it by ear.

“We have a few plays in mind for possible inclusion but would much prefer to use plays written by the children themselves.”

Buist has approached several schools to encourage children to register and hopes others will be interested.

“This will be a great thing for the kids themselves, but also for the theatre group,” he said.

“It will hopefully allow Woy Woy to cast shows we haven’t been able to do in the past as we see youngsters develop through Spark.”

For more information in becoming involved in Spark, go to www.sparkwoywoy.com, email 202sparkwoywoy@ outlook.com or call 0434 717 087.

Exhibition to highlight effects of domestic violence

A photography exhibition aimed at generating conversations around the impacts of living with domestic violence will be on show at Tuggerah and Wyong during the month of May.

The project which has been in creation for almost 12 months, with the black and white photographs giving a voice to those who have had lived experience of domestic and family violence and abuse.

The exhibition, It’s Not Black or White, also aims to increase awareness, shift attitudes and stop violence and abuse from the start.

By highlighting the voice of victim-survivors the exhibition will emphasise the long-term effects of violence and abuse and the difficult trauma recovery journey.

It is hoped the project will lead to the implementation of strategies to better support victim-survivors and to reduce recidivism.

This event is the initiative of NSW Police Force in partnership with Essence Images Photography and Central Coast Council and is sponsored by Mounties Group; Gosford RSL and Central Coast Leagues Club.

“We have finalised an exhibit

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Also of 27 photographs, depicting what the domestic violence/ abuse was/continues to be for domestic family violence victim-survivors,” a project spokesperson said.

“For example, one victimsurvivor has said ‘it was like I was stepping on eggshells’ and another said ‘I felt caged – I had no freedom’.

“All domestic family violence lived experience victimsurvivors were supported throughout the process.”

The exhibition will be open between 10am and 2pm at both Red Tree Theatre, Tuggerah, from May 1 to 14 and at The Art House, Wyong, from May 15 to 31.

Source: Media release, Mar 21 NSW Police Force

Exhibition shows plenty of optimism

Optimism is the theme of a new exhibition at The Design Gallery in Terrigal, featuring works by Peter Griffen, Bettina McMahon and Denise Lithgow.

Gallery Director Gael Butler has assembled a beautiful mix of paintings, etchings, drawings and felted sculptural creations.

The show includes playful abstract landscapes by Peter Griffen who has exhibited and conducted workshops at

Gosford Regional Gallery.

Denise Lithgow is an internationally renowned felt artist and has stunning wall hangings and sculptured vessels in the show.

Bettina McMahon came to prominence as Australia’s foremost equestrian artist. She is also renowned for her mythological and classical subject matter including portraits of Picasso and Rembrandt.

There are also cameo appearances of works by artists as diverse as Wendy Sharpe, Pamela Griffith, Meredith Gilmore and Salvador Dali. The exhibition opened on April 1 and runs until April 30.

The gallery is at 211a The Scenic Hwy, Terrigal, and is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am-5pm.

Source: Media release, Mar 23 Design Gallery Terrigal

The school holidays at the Australian Reptile Park are going to be super – literally.

From Friday, April 7, to Tuesday, April 25, the Park’s Zooperheroes campaign will combine all things superhero as guests experience the park’s star animals and the powers they harness up close.

There will be a free daily Superhero Stunt show at