Goulburn theatre chief steps down after 30 years

AFTER 30 years on the helm of Goulburn’s venerable Lieder Theatre Firm, its creative director Chrisjohn Hancock has determined handy over the reins to firm member Blake Selmes.

“I’ve labored with some superb individuals on the Lieder and collectively we’ve got cast some sensible theatre, however now I actually do imagine there may be some unimaginable inventive expertise round, and solely good issues will come of giving them an opportunity to shine,” Hancock stated.

Former actor with Lieder Theatre Evol McLeod, who acted many occasions with Hancock earlier than she left to hitch Canberra’s theatre neighborhood, instructed “CityNews”: “He simply introduced an amazing dedication creativity sense of worth and inclusivity to the function of creative director… his legacy goes to be enduring.”

An internationalist in outlook, in 2018, Hancock was behind a notable collaborative enterprise with Polish theatre firm Teatr Brama, who travelled to Goulburn. He has taken Lieder Theatre Firm to carry out authentic work to the US, Poland, the Czech Republic, the UK, Monaco and Spain.

Blake Selmes grew up performing in Shakespeare festivals on the Glen Avenue Theatre in Sydney and joined the Manly Corso and Round Quay busking circuit at simply 12 years of age.

After college he went on to stage Shakespeare and new works with the Moresby Arts Theatre in PNG, producing and starring in seasons of, and directing variations of latest works.

At Lieder Theatre he has been behind the “ Mighty Playwrights” program, directed 18 quick performs, accomplished lighting design, set design and development, whereas additionally composing music and modifying the 2020 “Mighty Playwrights” documentary.

He’s recognized to have been the private selection of Hancock, who himself had been handed the baton by the legendary administrators John and Mary Spicer 30 years in the past.

Believed to be Australia’s longest continuously-running theatre firm, Lieder Theatre Firm was established in 1891 and is predicated within the Lieder Theatre, constructed by the Goulburn Liedertafel Society in 1929.