LEONGATHA Memorial Hall recently underwent a stunning transformation, a couple of days of committed volunteer work turning it into a theatre well ahead of the opening night of Leongatha Lyric Theatre group’s production of Footloose on Friday July 11.
Lyric Theatre construction coordinator Mark Harrison oversaw proceedings as the stage took shape on Thursday and Friday before the set and tiered seating were installed on the weekend.
He’s ideally suited to the role and making sure work is done to a standard that ensures the safety of the cast and crew, having run a building business in Melbourne.
Performers and those with backstage roles combined with other volunteers to get everything ready for the show well in advance, allowing rehearsals to be held at the venue.
The process of assembling the stage has been refined over the years.
“We’ve labelled and marked all the substructure of the stage so it goes from point A to point Z and it just lines up without too many dramas; it’s like a jigsaw puzzle and is all numbered,” Mark said.
With people time poor and not everybody able to lift heavy weights, replacement of metal stage components with wood has sped up the construction process.
“Everything we try and do is about manageability with the least amount of people,” the construction coordinator said, having explained that things become unmanageable if too many people are involved in the set-up process.
His theatrical involvement began almost a decade ago after he moved from Melbourne to Gippsland, starting with working on sets for Wonthaggi Theatrical Group, soon after joining Lyric Theatre where he was involved backstage on a production of Hairspray.
Mark’s responsibilities evolved, with Lyric Theatre shows always requiring construction of an appropriate stage, whether they are held at the Memorial Hall or Mesley Hall.
Mark’s wife Orla McCarthy, who has been a stage manager for both Leongatha Lyric Theatre and Wonthaggi Theatrical Group, inspired his original foray into theatre, something he wasn’t a part of in Melbourne.
“She dragged me along to do backstage and it just took off from there,” he said, clearly pleased with the outcome.
Mark has expanded his theatrical skills over the years, having taken to the stage for Lyric Theatre’s production of Into The Woods, and appearing in Bright Star in Wonthaggi.
He relishes being part of a team, saying it was a great experience getting on stage and enjoying the results of everyone’s hard work, noting that backstage responsibilities are also rewarding when you see the performers in action.
