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The President and Management Committee of Gold Coast Little Theatre are pleased to announce an exciting new initiative - the GCLT Encore Club. This is in response to many requests by members and subscribers of the theatre for more social and networking opportunities. Being aware of the constant flow of new residents into Southport and the surrounding areas, President Bruce Shearer says that GCLT is in a wonderful position to provide a range of outstanding theatrical, cultural and social activities, unique to community theatre on the Coast.

The Encore Club will give preference to the fast growing GCLT membership and subscription base when planning its social functions but other guests are very welcome. The Encore committee welcomes ideas for other functions!

If you would like to join and/or assist the committee or if you have ideas for future functions please contact Helen Hill on 5526 8308.

Gosh! What can I say? Helen Hill, Dawn China, Audrei Carrington-Keam, Hannie Kellenberger, Pam Humble-Crofts and Vicky Nicoll, who are The Encore committee have every right to be proud of themselves! The Southport RSL was decorated simply yet so impressively for the Oh What a lovely war! presentation. Thanks go to the RSL staff, Ros Watts and others, who assisted with the stage set..

My table companions included a group of ladies who were not members of GCLT, but by the end of the presentation they were falling over themselves to join up and ensure they didn’t The Encore committee miss any of the future Encore events or GCLT productions. Although I did not know the ladies that shared the table, it wasn’t long before introductions were made and a friendly repartee commenced. I learned about “chocolate soldiers” and found that the memories of the war are still very much alive in hearts and minds. This scenario was being repeated at each table around the room where new friendships were being formed based on the mutual interest in local, live performance – and socialising!

It was apt that Helen Hill, sported her General’s cap, assertively requesting a bit of “shush” so she could introduce Julanne Shearer (Director), and subsequently the Cast and Crew of Oh What a Lovely War. Thus began the entertainment.

Musically supported by Mary Walters on piano, Peter Rogers on drums and George Frame (Musical Director). The proceedings were narrated by Michael Beard while the audience tucked into our plentiful fruit dessert. Some of the songs performed were familiar and some less so. All around the room I saw people smiling and joining in with the songs. Then as Erica Whyte sang Keep the Home Fires Burning, little white hankies appeared all over, and a few tears were surreptitiously wiped away. The presentation finished on a high note with the title song bringing the smiles back.

But that wasn’t the end of it all! To keep interest going there was a Lucky Door raffle and a ticket raffle, the coveted first prize – a midweek break at Songbirds on Mt Tamborine was won by Pete Meggitt. Pete found himself the centre of attraction with offers to keep him company! Other fabulous raffle prizes were a leather wallet, a bonsai tree (won by Janice Bell), a velvet shawl, silk tie, hostess book and a bottle of champagne (won by Delpina Hodgeson). Grateful thanks go to Songbirds, Arden Boutique (Main Beach), The Defined Garden (Chevron Island) and Kimya Boutique (Broadbeach) respectively for their prize donations.

Dawn was kept busy as folk drifted home, stopping only to join the ever growing GCLT membership, and to book their place at the next Encore event. A wine tasting afternoon at the Courthouse Hotel, Southport on 26th June.

Those who missed this event are put on notice – there is going to be a stampede to the Box Office to get tickets to see the show in its entirety. So don’t dilly dally on the way!