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.
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.
2025 Workshops prove popular
The Hobo's dived deeper into the world of improvisation and imagination in 2025 with a series of seven creative workshops, at Maldon Neighbourhood Centre throughout the year.
The workshops focussed on enhancing participants’ storytelling and story-making skills by using improvisation, drama games and creative arts activities. Participants explored the power of non-verbal communication, adapted a classic fairytale and used everyday objects to inspire original characters, narratives and scenes which they performed at the end of each workshop.
There was even a workshop for writers who wanted to learn actors' techniques and tips to create characters and dialogue. There have been requests from writers across Australia for a follow-up workshop so online version is planned for early 2026. Stay tuned!
All of the workshops were facilitated by the Hobo’s Artistic Director and Acting Teacher, Jeffrey Bryant Jones with assistance from local actor Mark Penzak in the 'physical storytelling workshop'.
“The workshops proved very successful and gave actors a chance to think on their feet, play different roles and consider other perspectives. Most importantly, they were a lot of fun,” Jeff said.
Huge thanks to everyone who attended, John and Emmylou at Maldon Neighbourhood Centre for their wonderful support, and to the Adult, Community and Further Education Board for their funding the workshops.
