Councillors make production out of show for heritage

Alex de Vos
Councillors will swap Powerpoint presentations for Edwardian ink wells and quills when they step back in time this weekend to mark the centenary of Geelong’s proclamation as a city.
As part of this year’s Geelong Heritage Festival, councillors Barbara Abley and Stretch Kontelj will grace the stage alongside local thespians to re-enact the transformation of Geelong from a town to a city.
Writer and director Doug Mann said the play, Views from the Hill, would take its audience on a journey through Geelong’s past.
Set in 1910, the historical re-enactment brought together influential and powerful women and men from Geelong’s past, he said.
“The play was originally meant to deal with the celebration that occurred when Geelong was proclaimed a city but that didn’t happen until December, 1910,” Mr Mann said, “so we decided to do a play about a possible mythical garden party with a number of historical figures.”
Mr Mann said he blended actors with councillors to create a realistic portrayal of events.
“It’s an attempt to not just put on a theatre production as a work of art but to remanufacture history by having people in the position those people were 100 years ago.”
Cr Abley said the play was a new experience.
“I’ve done a little bit of (theatre) work but this will be different,” she said.
“Years ago we staged a play about a big Greek wedding and I played the part of a widow smashing plates.”
Saturday’s performance of Views from the Hill starts 11am at Belmont’s Royd Grange.
Geelong Heritage Festival organiser Jennifer Bantow said the annual event also featured a variety of displays, exhibitions, seminars and guided walks.