Popular Theatre Troupe
Encyclopedia
The Popular Theatre Troupe was an agit-prop ensemble formed in Brisbane in 1974 as part of a radical movement against Premier Joh Bjelke Petersen's conservative Queensland's government of the day. The troup toured Australia with a total of 25 original shows between 1974 and 1983. The key players in the ensemble organised ten large community events and were behind many community arts projects.
and The Legend of King O'Malley
. A leader of alternative theatre in Britain, Albert Hunt, was brought out by the University of Queensland
's English Department to mentor the group. Their first production was Star Trick, a satire lampooning the Star Trek
television series focussing on the absurdity of local Queensland
politics interspersed with ironically sung old popular songs.
Geoffrey Milne in Theatre Australia (un)limited: Australian theatre since the 1950s suggests precursors to the Popular Theatre Troupe's type of political theatre included Peter Oysten, at Victoria College of the Arts, the San Francisco Mime Troupe
and run-of-the-mill communist theatre featured at worker's clubs.
The White Man's Mission (1975) by Richard Fotheringham and Albert Hunt stands out as one of the troupe's strongest scripts. It is reproduced in full in one of the few published texts on Brisbane's political theatre, "Challenging the centre" (1995) edited by Steve Capelin, where it takes up 36 pages about Australian racism, slavery and exploitation. It was invited to the Adelaide Festival in 1976.
, the Popular Theatre Troupe received no financial assistance from the Queensland Government. Quite the contrary, as a radical extra-parliamentary opposition, the Popular Theatre Troupe's activities were monitored closely by the Special Branch of the Queensland Police and two of their shows were banned.
The Popular Theatre Troupe were followed by another group, Order By Numbers, which was in some ways an unfunded Popular Theatre Troupe reprise in 1985-86, featuring writers Hugh Watson, Penny Glass, Kery O'Rourke. Order By Numbers and a sister company Teatro Unidad y Liberacion, were administered by an incorporated group called The New Actor's Company. The material for the satires performed were Brisbane cultural and political events, such as the SEQEB Strike in 1985. A few short wicks in paradise by the ensemble took the side of the striking workers in opposing anti-union laws of the Bjelke-Petersen
government. The founding members of Order By Numbers were Dee Martin, Penny Glass, Gavan Fenelon and Nat Trimarchi. Hugh Watson and Kerry O'Rourke were involved as writers.
Overlapping this period was the genesis of Street Arts
a community-arts driven theatre company which, unlike Popular Theatre Troupe which was more classically agit-prop in performing for the audience, were interested in creating theatre by enabling the communities suffering disadvandage, through, circus, song, drama and cabaret. Many of the players, thinkers, writers and artsists involved in the and were to find homes in Street Arts
.
funding was withdrawn in 1982 and though some members of the company struggled on, it eventually folded in 1983.
Beginnings
The Popular Theatre Troupe had its genesis in the meetings Richard Fotheringham called during 1973 to discuss options for the planned 'fringe theatre' for Queensland's first 'Festival of the Arts' directed by Lesley Gotto. Inspirations and influences included Oh! What a Lovely WarOh! What a Lovely War
Oh! What a Lovely War is a musical film based on the stage musical Oh, What a Lovely War! originated by Charles Chilton as a radio play, The Long Long Trail in December 1961, and transferred to stage by Gerry Raffles in partnership with Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop created in 1963,...
and The Legend of King O'Malley
King O'Malley
King O'Malley was an Australian politician. He was a member in the South Australian House of Assembly from 1896 to 1899, and the Australian House of Representatives from 1901 to 1917. O'Malley was also Minister for Home Affairs in the second and third Fisher Labor ministry...
. A leader of alternative theatre in Britain, Albert Hunt, was brought out by the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
's English Department to mentor the group. Their first production was Star Trick, a satire lampooning the Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
television series focussing on the absurdity of local Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
politics interspersed with ironically sung old popular songs.
Geoffrey Milne in Theatre Australia (un)limited: Australian theatre since the 1950s suggests precursors to the Popular Theatre Troupe's type of political theatre included Peter Oysten, at Victoria College of the Arts, the San Francisco Mime Troupe
San Francisco Mime Troupe
The San Francisco Mime Troupe is a theatre of political satire which performs free shows in various parks in the San Francisco Bay Area and around California. The Troupe does not, however, perform silent mime, but each year creates an original musical comedy that combines aspects of Commedia...
and run-of-the-mill communist theatre featured at worker's clubs.
The White Man's Mission (1975) by Richard Fotheringham and Albert Hunt stands out as one of the troupe's strongest scripts. It is reproduced in full in one of the few published texts on Brisbane's political theatre, "Challenging the centre" (1995) edited by Steve Capelin, where it takes up 36 pages about Australian racism, slavery and exploitation. It was invited to the Adelaide Festival in 1976.
Cultural Context
Although funded by the Community Arts and Theatre Boards of the Australia CouncilAustralia Council
The Australia Council, informally known as the Australia Council for the Arts, is the official arts council or arts funding body of the Government of Australia.-Function:...
, the Popular Theatre Troupe received no financial assistance from the Queensland Government. Quite the contrary, as a radical extra-parliamentary opposition, the Popular Theatre Troupe's activities were monitored closely by the Special Branch of the Queensland Police and two of their shows were banned.
The Popular Theatre Troupe were followed by another group, Order By Numbers, which was in some ways an unfunded Popular Theatre Troupe reprise in 1985-86, featuring writers Hugh Watson, Penny Glass, Kery O'Rourke. Order By Numbers and a sister company Teatro Unidad y Liberacion, were administered by an incorporated group called The New Actor's Company. The material for the satires performed were Brisbane cultural and political events, such as the SEQEB Strike in 1985. A few short wicks in paradise by the ensemble took the side of the striking workers in opposing anti-union laws of the Bjelke-Petersen
Bjelke-Petersen
Bjelke-Petersen is the name of an Australian family of both Danish and Swedish descent. The common ancestors of the Australian family is Georg Peter Bjelke-Petersen, a Danish farmer and master-builder, and his wife Caroline Vilhelmine . They came to Australia with their children in 1891. Born plain...
government. The founding members of Order By Numbers were Dee Martin, Penny Glass, Gavan Fenelon and Nat Trimarchi. Hugh Watson and Kerry O'Rourke were involved as writers.
Overlapping this period was the genesis of Street Arts
Street Arts
Street Arts Community Theatre Company was founded in October 1982 in West End, Brisbane, by Denis Peel, Pauline Peel, Steve Capelin and Andrea Lynch. Street Arts was preceded in Brisbane by the agitprop ensemble the Popular Theatre Troupe...
a community-arts driven theatre company which, unlike Popular Theatre Troupe which was more classically agit-prop in performing for the audience, were interested in creating theatre by enabling the communities suffering disadvandage, through, circus, song, drama and cabaret. Many of the players, thinkers, writers and artsists involved in the and were to find homes in Street Arts
Street Arts
Street Arts Community Theatre Company was founded in October 1982 in West End, Brisbane, by Denis Peel, Pauline Peel, Steve Capelin and Andrea Lynch. Street Arts was preceded in Brisbane by the agitprop ensemble the Popular Theatre Troupe...
.
Key Players
Key members of the group included writers and directors Errol O'Neill, John Watson, Fiona Winning, Alexandra Black, Kerry O'Rourke, Dee Martin, Bernie Lewis, Hugh Watson, Stephen Stockwell, Richard Fotheringham, Robert Perrier, Doug Anderson and Albert Hunt. Performers included Kathryn Porrill, Therese Collie, Ken MacLeod, Julie Hickson, Michael Cummings, Lynne Samson, Teresa Wilkinson, John Lane, Duncan Campbell, Lindy Morrison, Errol O'Neill, Leah Cotterell, Katrina Deverey, Gavin Fenelon and Penny Glass.England
Six members of the group staged an English tour of The White Man's Mission in 1977, assisted by a cash grant from the Arts Council of Great Britain, a minibus from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and in kind resources from the Bradford CollegeFinal years
Australia CouncilAustralia Council
The Australia Council, informally known as the Australia Council for the Arts, is the official arts council or arts funding body of the Government of Australia.-Function:...
funding was withdrawn in 1982 and though some members of the company struggled on, it eventually folded in 1983.