Previous Esperance Theatre Guild Productions

A member of the Esperance Theatre Guild since 1984, Victoria made her debut at The Bijou Theatre in Cheap at Half the Price that same year. Involved since in the following productions; Bijou Music Hall (1984), The Christmas Dragon (co director for ESHS production 1984), Absurd Person Singular (1985), Norman is That You? (1986), The Starz Awards (ETG review, 1986, actor, co writer and co director), Cheap at Half the Price (1988 actor and co director), Emerald City (1989), Daylight Saving (1994), The Importance of Being Earnest (2005), It's My Party....and I'll Die if I Want to (2006), Wake Up! (ETG review 2008, actor and co writer), The Bijou Monologues (2010)and Captive Wives (Co-director 2010).

Victoria has a BA (Hons) in English and Drama from The University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (1981), learning her craft whilst performing in plays by Chekhov, Shakespeare, Coward, Brecht, Jonson, Kopit and Zindel at Theatr y Werin and at The Oxford and Edinburgh Festivals. She worked as an on air announcer at Radio 747, Esperance in the 80's, and over the past ten years has written and performed her work on a variety of ABC Radio programs.

"I am very excited to be back on the ETG committee after many years, and look forward to helping Esperance thespians and theatre goers enjoy our wonderful Bijou Theatre.  My Great Uncle Bill, William Hartnell, was the first actor to play Dr Who, so theatre and the performing arts have been in my blood since I was born."

Jennifer Ford - Vice President

Jen only moved to Esperance in 2005 after a career in Archives and Records Management.  Having been a keen member of a female classical singing group Ensemble Veritas in Perth and having performed in the chorus of Dido & Aeneas, Orpheus & Eurydice plus Fiddler on the Roof, she was delighted to find the Bijou Theatre and the Esperance Theatre Guild.

"Since joining the Guild I’ve enjoyed working backstage and/or as an extra in Cinderella, Matilda’s Magic Mirror and A Christmas Carol. I’m new to the committee and am going to have a great time sorting out the Guild’s archives."

Tracey Schlink - Secretary

Tracey wandered into the Bijou in 1993 to audition for Jayne Arnold in Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. Having had the time of her life in this production, she has not wandered out of the Bijou since. Musicals is her love and has performed in Puss In Boots (1993), Little Shop of Horrors (1995), The Sound of Music (1997), In Too Deep (1998), Guys & Dolls (2001), along with various other Variety Nights, Fund Raisers, Festival of the Wind etc.  After having 2 beautiful daughters with husband Damien and moving to their farm 117km east of Esperance, she has only managed to fit in performing in Wake Up (2007) and Captive Wives (2010).

Tracey has stepped behind the scenes as Assistant Director for Andrew Dean in Santa in Space (2000) and was on the directorial team as Producer and Musical Director for Captive Wives which she enjoyed immensely.

Tracey was elected to Committee in 1995 and served 5 years as Secretary working with Presidents Greg Ducas, Lyndel Taylor & Derek Clarke.  After taking some years off to have her family, she returned as Secretary in 2009 answering a SOS call from President Chris Greenwood.  Since then has worked with Presidents Naomi Bailye and now Victoria Brown.  Tracey relishes her role as Secretary of the Guild and keeps the books and committee on track with her bossy but efficient nature.

MARY McCULLOCH - TREASURER

After majoring in Performing Arts in Teachers College, Mary's love of the stage began at Kalgoorlie Repertory Club in the 80's participating in Music Hall and Comedy.

She joined the Bijou in 2010 with a role in Captive Wives which renewed her passion for the Performing Arts.

Soon after she was elected to Committee as the Treasurer, a role she is still learning but fulfilling with enthusiasm.

Mary looks forward to much more involvement in the Esperance Theatre Guild in the coming years.

KYLIE BISHOP- special projects

I am no actor. Prior to joining the Esperance Theatre Guild my one and only stage appearance was as a drunken education department official while I was in high school.  Considering I hadn’t done any “research” I didn’t do to badly.

Despite moving to Esperance a few years ago, it has taken me until recently to get up the courage to audition for a production.  Auditioning wasn’t as scary as I expected and in 2011 I made my Bijou debut in No Sex Please – We’re British.  What a fun first time!

Andrew is a man of few words, but is extremely knowledgable when it comes to all things theatrical. Primarily the "lights man", but also backstage worker extrordinaire and dedicated set builder.

ANDREW DEAN - MAINTENANCE MANAGER

Andrew first joined the Bijou in My Fair Lady in 1987 with 5 small song & dance numbers.

He has since acted in numerous shows but mostly he became Andrew Bound’s understudy in set construction but also specialised in special effects for shows like Little Shop of Horrors, The Lion, Witch & Wardrobe and Peter Pan.  He is also able to throw around paint with an artistic twist with help from the likes of Phil Shelton.

Andrew first directed a One Act in 1987, then went on to Direct Santa In Space in 2000, A Christmas Carol in 2009 along with Julie-Anne Clark and Jayne Arnold, and most recently No Sex Please, We’re British in 2011.

Andrew has spent many years on committee along with a year as Vice President.

Andrew cites acting in Guys & Dolls & A Midsummer Nights Dream as his favourites, but his greatest pleasure is working with the wonderful, amiable, pleasant members of the ETG over the years.

CAITLYN EDWARDS - Committee Member

Caitlyn had a passion for performing before she could walk. Constantly vying for lead role in all home movies, she made her debut on the stage at 6 years of age with the Kalgoorlie Primary School Year 1 assembly item - "Oh Mickey, You're So Fine".

Since then Caitlyn has made many more appearances, including a man-eating plant in Little Shop of Horrors, a larger-than-life dolphin in FantiSea, a Grandma in The Bijou Monologues, Smeraldina in A Servant to Two Masters, and Prince Malcolm of Cumberland in a piece she had written herself based on characters in William Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Caitlyn feels at home in the theatre, and aside from acting, she enjoys writing, set design and set painting, and is soon to experience directing in the next season of One Act Plays.

DANNY ELLEFSEN - committee member

Danny has been involved in performance around Australia and overseas since young. He has taken on numerous lead roles and various production roles such as director and stage manager. Enjoying theatre he decided to complete a Bachelor of Secondary Education Majoring in Drama. Since having his bachelor he has taught Drama and English at numerous schools in WA and in London UK.

Danny was born in Esperance and briefly attended Nulsen Primary and then moved to Perth to complete the rest of his schooling. However over the years he has been back and forth to Esperance to visit family and also to teach at Esperance SHS. He now presently teaches at the Esperance Anglican Community School.

Jodi MacNish - committee member

Jodi has always been in love with the arts.  Her grandpa, Fred Williams and mother, Lyn MacNish have been involved with the Bijou for many years and she couldn’t wait until it was her turn.

"I first really fell in love with live stage performance when I watched Peter Pan (2002) and decided I wanted to be involved.  It was now my turn to get on stage and Cinderalla (2005) was my first Bijou play and I loved every part of it!  Needless to say I have been hooked every since.  I have been Stage Manager for a number of productions and I quite enjoyed having that responsibility.  In Year 12 I completed my Certertificate II in live theatre and stage production.  I also studied TEE Drama and Art for 2 years.

I recently performed in my first lead role as Frances in No Sex Please - We’re British and it was such a thrill to be a part of such a fantastic play.  Being Front of House Manager for the Bijou is a fantastic opportunity for me to become more involved in the theatre that I love.  Being on Committee and able to have my say about our 'little gem' is a real honour."

BARRY WROTH- committee member

Barry’s interest in theatre stems back several decades when as a teenager he used to go to the matinee performances at The Playhouse theatre in Perth every Saturday. Since that time, whenever live performances were put on, both theatrical and musical he would go and watch.

Since coming to Esperance there have been very few Bijou performances that he has not seen, and always had a hankering to get up on stage have a go.

It was not until early 2011 that after prompting from his wife Vera to go ahead and have a go that he picked up a script for No Sex Please We’re British and after auditioning played the role the pompous banker Leslie Bromhead.

Having been bitten by the bug, Barry then auditioned for and played the role of Inspector Thomas in Agatha Christies’ The Unexpected Guest (2011) .

STELLA YOUNG - committee member

Stella moved to Esperance from Perth in 2010 and immediately joined the Esperance Theatre Guild. Previously a member of Kalamunda's KAD Theatre, where she appeared in Meals Warmed Up (2009) and the Monologue Season (2010), Stella was looking forward to some new theatrical challenges at the Bijou. She appeared as Eleanor in No Sex Please, We're British (2011), and the One Act Play Once Upon A Jumbuck (2011). She has also spent time backstage as Stage Manager and ASM in both theatres.