. ATG . Theatre Companies . Venues .

GALLEON THEATRE GROUP

Address:
C/- PO Box 198
PARKHOLME SA 5043

Phone:
7225 6708

Contact:
Kym Clayton

Website:
http://www.galleon.org.au

Email:
info@galleon.org.au

The Galleon Theatre Group Inc. had its origins in Norwood where, under the name of the Mirthmakers Theatre Group, it presented a number of musical revues. In 1967 the group turned to the production of plays and became GTG, relocating to the Marino Community Hall.

In 1979, after 11 years and 37 shows, Galleon moved to the Pioneer Memorial Hall in Seacombe Gardens, which was owned by the Marion City Council. Up until late 2001, Pioneer Hall was the venue for all of Galleon's activities - storage, construction, meetings, social events, rehearsals and of course performances. The twenty-three year period at Pioneer Hall saw Galleon develop from being a virtually unknown theatre group to one which regularly saw the "House Full" sign being proudly displayed.

2001 was a pivotal year for Galleon – it lost its comfortable home of 23 years. The Pioneer Hall was sold by the Marion Council and its replacement - the Domain Theatre in the new Marion Cultural Centre - was commissioned. The process of moving out of Pioneer Hall was a mammoth undertaking for Galleon and presented a range of problems to be solved, including having to obtain alternative storage and rehearsal venues and the prospect of having to cope with greatly increased costs.

Galleon rehearses out of the Park Holme Community Hall on Marion Road and makes and stores its sets, properties and equipment at Cosgrove Hall. Galleon hires both premises and voluntarily serves on their management committees as a service to the Marion community.
Galleon has a voluntary Management Committee which is elected each year at an annual general meeting. There is a varied skills pool within the management committee. Most of the group have been active in the local community for many years.

Galleon seeks to make all aspects of community theatre accessible to all people, and to encourage new participants and consumers of the arts. Galleon is always ready to take on new comers - our "no experience necessary" motto means just that. Galleon is always keen to experiment and provide one of the biggest ranges of plays any group has to offer. Of the nine productions we have staged in the Domain Theatre, one has been an Australian première (Biting the Bullet’’), and one a South Australian première by amateurs (‘Bums on Seats’).

Galleon presents many of its productions in ‘cabaret’ style. As patrons arrive, they are served complimentary sherry and escorted by our front of house volunteers to their pre-booked table at which they enjoy whatever nibbles and drinks they have brought along. This manner of presentation is highly popular with our audience and has also been taken up by other theatre groups.