By Luke Voogt
Drysdale’s Liam Erck makes his solo playwriting debut this month with his new pantomine Justin Case.
Liam joined Drysdale’s 3Triple2 4 Kids when he was in high school and “had nothing to do on the holidays”.
“I thought this would be a great way to do what I love, have fun and entertain some kids,” the 20-year-old said.
Liam wrote the pantomime for the school holidays, after noticing the lack of sleuth-themed plays in the 3Triple2’s repertoire.
“I thought why not write a spy one – kids will love that,” he said. “You can do so much stuff on stage with it.”
“I’ve got a really good cast of actors and they throw up a lot of ideas. A lot of them have done kids performances before, so they know how to handle it.”
In the play, Justin and partner Anita Clue have just graduated training when their boss, Justin’s mum, sends them on a mission to find out what evil mastermind Robin Banks is planning.
In their journey across the globe, they come across an eccentric French chef, a busy-body party planner and discover the true plans of what Robin is up to.
Liam threw a few adult jokes into the pantomime along with his pun-based names to keep the older crowd entertained while their children watched.
“Some of them will go over the kids’ heads but we want to make sure the parents enjoy it as well,” he said.
Liam dreams of being an actor, rather than a playwright, and has acted in several 3Triple2 pantomimes.
But he said it was important to develop his talents in “other branches” of theatre.
Liam directed and co-wrote the play Molly’s Magic with 3Triple2 Theatre’s Kerrie Reynolds, who described him as “flamboyant” and “a visionary”.
“He’s a very talented young man,” she said. “He’s directed two plays for us and performed in several.”
With colourful costumes and “some very good sound effects” the show was perfect for primary school-aged children, Kerrie said.
“Justin Case is a good little play I’m really pleased with how he’s written it.“
Theatre 3Triple2 4 Kids has performed 250 plays to audiences across Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula for the past 10 years.
Past shows include classics such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
The group has also performed locally written originals, like Mother Goose, 3..2..1.. Blast Off! and I, Henry Robot
Justin Case runs at the Potato Shed from 11 to 14 July, with giveaways and a colouring competition.
