Matt Hewson
The Potato Shed in Drysdale will host its 500th performance for children these school holidays when ‘The Submarine Adventure’ runs from September 27-30.
Theatre 3triple2 theatre company has been operating out of the Potato Shed and producing pantomimes since 2004, and secretary Chris Reynolds said the company was extremely proud of the landmark.
“We have a couple of members of the cast and backstage crew who have been involved in over 400 of these performances,” Mr Reynolds said.
“Now we have many mums bringing their own kids along after experiencing theatre for the first time themselves as children at the Potato Shed.”
Local performer Alysha Jane, who wrote ‘The Submarine Adventure’ and is currently completing her bachelor of music at Melbourne’s Australian Institute of Music, said the Potato Shed had been a big factor in her choice to pursue performing arts as a career.
“I can’t count how many times I’ve sung or performed there, I basically lived there as a kid,” Ms Kitchingman said.
“I’ve spoken to some of my friends who also ran around there with me as a kid and have also gone on to make the arts their careers, and we talked about how we were treated like adults, within reason.
“The Potato Shed is a working theatre but they were always open to having new people be part of it and training people up. If you’d never done anything like it or acted before it wasn’t an issue.
“They always gave opportunities to new writers and new actors and let us kids do things. Without it I don’t think any of us would be doing what we’re doing now, getting paid to run around like idiots.”
Ms Jane said ‘The Submarine Adventure’ was ostensibly directed at children but was intended to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.
“It’s a story about two kids who are on a beach holiday and dream themselves up a whimsical adventure; they jump on a yellow submarine and sing songs along the way,” she said.
“It’s inspired by the Beatles, and I think it’s colourful and wacky enough that the kids will sit through it, but the adults will enjoy the songs. So hopefully everyone will have a good time.”
