Well, hello there!
Well, hello there!
What a fun way to finish off a class! A closing ritual is an important part of our acting classes - it can help actors to ground themselves and leave any traumatic characters they been playing behind. This is a particularly silly activity we call the Chorus Line Showstopper! Enjoy!
Explore Improvs and Imagination in 2025
Join the Hobo's at Maldon Neighbourhood Centre in 2025 for our series of Improvs & Imagination workshops. Experience the joy of unleashing your creativity through improvisation, movement, art, music, storytelling, storywriting and more. Open your senses and let your imagination flow.
Participants will explore a range of story-making concepts including adapting a classic fairytale to include participants' personal experiences, the importance of de-roling and how drama techniques can benefit and inspire writers. There’s even a workshop for people who want to explore significant moments in their lives using puppets!
Explore the potential benefits
The workshops will be facilitated by the Hobo’s Artistic Director and Acting Teacher, Jeffrey Bryant Jones who hopes the sessions will help people foster more creativity, spontaneity, and confidence in their lives.
"The workshops also offer you a chance to think on your feet, play different roles and consider other perspectives. Most importantly, it’s about having fun and learning a bit more about yourself and others along the way."
The workshops are ideal for:
•Aspiring and experienced actors looking to enhance their improvisation skills.
•Writers wanting to try different ways of exploring story ideas
•Adults (18 years and over) of all abilities who want to explore their creativity.
The Improvs and Imagination workshops are funded by Adult, Community and Further Education Board and the fee for each workshop is $30 full/$20 concession.
Please note: places are limited to eight (8) participants per workshop.
The topics and dates for future workshops are:
Workshop 4: Reimagining a Fairytale: Devise an Original Performance Piece (June 29*)
Workshop 5: Life Crossroads: Exploring Personal Stories Using Puppets (July 27)
Workshop 6: Creating Our World: Devised Theatre and Collective Storytelling (August 31)
Workshop 7: From Stage to Page: Drama tips for Writers (November 30)
Workshop 8: From Role to Reality: A Guide to De-roling (December 7*).
All workshops will be held on Sundays and run from 10am-3pm. Each workshop has been designed designed to be a standalone session so you can attend one, several or the entire series.
For bookings, visit Maldon Neighbourhood Centre's website at www.maldonnc@org.au or call 5475 2093.
* Denotes: the new date for these workshops.
For further details about the content of the workshops, email hoboplayhouse@yahoo.com or call Jeff on 0457 843 551.
Sensational 2024 Showcase!
The Hobo's 2024 Showcase of Monologues and Scenes proved to be a winner when it was held at the Maldon Neighbourhood Centre on Sunday, December 1 at 2pm.
Ten talented actors, who attended three terms of acting classes at MNC this year, performed a diverse range of dramatic and comedic pieces for a packed house. More than 50 people turned out to see the actors strut their stuff.
The actors were: Ron Richardson and Tricia Migdoll (pictured here opening the show), Carolyn Palmer, Fran Gleeson, Mark Fuller, Graham Pitts, Loise White, Juliana Cafarella, Renee DeRobertis and Bernice Steinfort.
The performances were greeted with strong applause. Take another bow actors, you did a mighty job!
Special thanks to our Stage Managers Ross Hinckley and Adrian Palmer; MNC coordinator John Bainbridge; Pam Lyons from the Maldon Folk Festival; and the Adult, Community and Further Education Board for funding the three courses in 2024.
What students are saying about the course ...
"What I wanted out of the course was to develop more self confidence and have some adventurous fun. Your calm guidance gave me all that and more.
Personally I feel braver. You provided a safe place to be silly and spontaneous and I thoroughly enjoyed the process of learning my monologue. I’m glad that was the one you selected for me. It still gives me goosebumps."
"Your acting course has given me more confidence in my ability to act, in fact, since doing your course, I am no longer pretending whilst on stage but I feel I am actually acting. Further, I feel this confidence has fallen into my daily life."
"The course has helped me grow in confidence and belief in myself. It’s made me happy and helped me make new friends. If there’s another one I’d love to do it! Thank you for being a fun and engaging teacher."
"The Hobo Playhouse method acting courses have had a significant impact on my acting career and also my mental health. The classes allow me to develop my acting ability in a way that best suited my needs ... the classes were also a great outlet that helped me channel emotions for a useful purpose, which was a particular highlight for me."
LOOKING BACK
2023 Acting course - Well, that's a wrap!
Nine brave actors ventured onto our pop up stage at Maldon Neighbourhood Centre on Sunday, August 20, to perform a series of monologues to the public.
The Showcase was the culmination of 16 weeks of acting classes, which attracted actors from across Central Victoria. Some had years of experience, others had dipped their toe in the water a couple of times before and a few had never ventured on stage. No matter how much experience you've got, it can always be daunting for anyone to step in front of the lights, remember lines and share their vulnerability with complete strangers.
The Showcase is usually held for the cast's family's and friends but this was the first time the Hobo's had opened a Showcase to the general public and more than 50 people packed into the old hall to support the actors.
The Showcase contained comedy, drama, poetry, and improvisations and the audience loved it! The huge applause for the actors at the end of the show said it all.
What's next? Several graduates from this course have already been cast in Castlemaine Theatre Company's next production, Under Milkwood, and one has a role in Ballarat National's Wyrd Sisters. Others are furthing their studies in the arts.
Congratulations to all of the actors - Tricia, Mark, Graham, Fran, Loise, Laura, Juliana, Ron and Renee - on your stellar performances, and thank you for being part of the course. Thanks also to John at Maldon Neighbourhood Centre coordinator John Bainbridge for his assistance and to the State Government for funding the course.
The next Hobo Playhouse Acting course for adults will be held in February, 2024 in Maldon, Victoria. If you are interested, email Jeff at hoboplayhouse@yahoo.com
Acting I and II was one of several MNC courses in 2023 to be funded by the State Government’s Adult Community and Further Education Board, which aims to assist local people learn new skills and broaden their employment options.
Tutor available for private classes
Jeffrey Bryant Jones is available to take private classes with individuals and small groups (maximum 8 people) of all abilities who want to learn to act or /enhance their acting skills in 2024.
For enquiries, call Jeffrey on 0457 843 551 or email hoboplayhouse@yahoo.com