PRESIDENT’S LETTER August 2021 b Dear Friends, We are sending our warmest best wishes to you at this challenging time of Lockdown and isolation. STAYING STRONG TOGETHER IN LOCKDOWN We sincerely hope that you are all safe and well, and managing to stay cheerful and connected to friends and loved ones. Just when we thought the dark days of the 2020 COVID pandemic were over and we were all able to attend theatres again, albeit wearing masks and sitting in safe, socially-distanced seating, it’s most dispiriting to learn that COVID cases have increased. The disappointing cancellation and postponement of performances and events seems identical to the unprecedented situation we all had to endure last year. Once again, we see venues close down. Theatre box offices have had no choice but to offer ticket holders a refund, a rebooking or to convert their ticket prices into donations. Unfortunately, at the Foundation, we have also had to postpone or cancel some forthcoming theatre parties and events. Let us all stay strong at this difficult time and do not hesitate to email or ring our office if you would like a chat or some information. If the phone is unattended or busy, your message will be recorded and your call returned as soon as possible. HOW OUR FOUNDATION CAN HELP THE PERFORMING ARTS COMMUNITY We extend our heartfelt sympathy to members of the performing arts community who are, once again, facing shattering financial hardship caused by the sudden closure of shows and uncertainty in regard to forthcoming productions. As you know, the Foundation is devoted to supporting our artistic community whose members strive to lift our spirits in difficult times and whose performances so eloquently ‘hold the mirror up to nature’. Last year we postponed our Grants programme and, with your help, initiated a substantial donation to the Actors Benevolent Fund to become the seed funder of the ABF's rescue package - the COVID 19 EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND. This emergency fund has been successfully delivering urgent assistance to members of the performing arts community who were struggling to meet unexpected medical, pharmaceutical and household expenses such as utility bills or purchasing food. I am currently in discussion with Bruce Spence, the President of the ABF, to see how our Foundation can best continue to assist the entertainment sector survive the current crisis. ASSISTING STUDENTS Anthony Whelan, NIDA’s Development and Alumni Coordinator, has expressed NIDA’s appreciation for the Foundation’s commit- ment as administrator of the Leslie Walford AM Award. At NIDA’s 2021 Graduation Ceremony former Foundation Chairman Gary Simpson AM presented the Leslie Walford AM Award to this year’s winner Liv Hutley. IN THE SEABORN LIBRARY & THEATRETTE - 2021 WORDS & MUSIC SERIES: May 6th Clara Schumann & Alma Mahler Sandy Gore & Donna Balson. Audience comments: Peter Binning: ‘Awesome musical tribute. Thank you so much.’ John S. Clark: ‘Excellent presen- tation and very informative. A treat to learn about the lives of these two great women.’ June 3rd Marriage of Figaro film (1960) Marie Tysoe & Geoffrey Chard. Audience comments: Sissi Stewart: ‘Thank you for a wonderful morning. Great singing and music. Enjoyed it all.’ Alana Kirk: ‘What a delight to visit and see The Marriage of Figaro today. Excellent.Thank you.’ John S. Clark: ‘Wonderful opera, great sound quality…’ Jenny Gillespie: ‘Absolutely fantastic. Great to see two of our legends performing.’ Carolyn Hush: ‘Great performance Marie and Geoff and lovely morning tea. Thank you - lovely speaker Carolyn.’ Marie Tysoe: ‘Thank you so much for the beautiful roses...I love coming to the Seaborn Foundation events and especially as you presented 'our' Figaro!! My best wishes to all. love Marie T.�� SHARING OUR SPACES Prior to Lockdown, our Seaborn Library welcomed Les Solomon and cast to rehearse a play reading of Alan Seymour’s The One Day of The Year in aid of the Actors Benevolent Fund. Celebrated playwright Alan Seymour (1927-2015) was a great Friend of our Foundation. His powerful play received a major revival in London in 2015 with Fiona Press also in the cast. 2021 cast photo (L to R): Samuel Welsh, Madeleine Wighton, Samson Alston, Grant Dodwell, Fiona Press and Anthony Phelan, COMMENTS IN THE GUEST BOOK: Fiona Press: ’’It’s great to be here.’ Anthony Phelan: ‘I feel Dr’s spirit’. On May 16, the Seaborn Theatrette was the venue for Australian Theatre - Live’s screening of the Griffin Theatre Company’s production of Katherine Thompson’s Australian play Diving for Pearls produced at the SBW Stables. In his letter of thanks, Grant Dodwell wrote: ‘How fortunate to have this screening room with one of the best projection and sound systems available for public and private screenings’. https://australiantheatre.live/on-demand-2/ ARCHIVES: AWARD, ARTICLES, TALKS The Foundation received a Highly Commended Award in the recent 2021 National Trust Heritage Awards. Photo: Caroline Mackie, Carolyn Lowry and Susan Mills at the Award event. https://issuu.com/nationaltrustsaustralia/docs/national_trust_her- itage_awards_winner_showcase_-_i/s/12285094 Congratulations to our archivist, Susan Mills, whose informative articles highlighting aspects of our Performing Arts Collection appear regularly in our Newsletters and also in Stage Whispers. https://www.stagewhispers.com.au/history/treasure-trove- programmes and theatre historian, Dr Carolyn Lowry, who organised a National Trust Heritage Walk & Talk, visiting local theatrical sites, and also gave a much- appreciated illustrated talk to COA, a not-for-profit volunteer-based organisation for Jewish seniors, on the subject of Dame Doris Fitton’s sympathetic post-war encouragement of Jewish German-speaking theatre in Sydney. VALE: Dinah Shearing AM and Valerie Newstead — much loved and sadly missed. Their careers and support of the Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation will be covered in our next Newsletter. Thank you for your continuing support, Pete Lory Peter Lowry OAM President Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation Suite 10, 20 Young Street Neutral Bay NSW 2089 AUGUST 2021 NEWSLETTER Volume 29 Issue 3 Phone – 9955 5444 - [email protected] 2021 Bookings – Call Carol Martin – 9955 5444 Monday to Thursday – 10am to 4pm Entertainment- Virtual - Plays-Music-Talks-Recitals-Musicals Inside this issue: Sydney Theatre Co Online STC Virtual Words & Music Sydney Theatre Company are thrilled Passage To bring you Sydney Virtual- their online to Video series. Gathering their community of Australian India theatre artists, this series is designed to plug that heart-shaped hole in our life. WORLD BALLET DAY Enjoy this series of short, personal Live from the Bolshoi Ballet Inside videos made by some of your favourite Moscow Story 2 actors, directors and writers, plus tune Watch on line for free nearly 4 in for live play readings. Inside hours of ballet from the Bolshoi Story 2 Hugo Weaving performs a soliloquy from or others from the Royal Opera Hamlet, Shari Sebbens & Luke Carroll House Covent Garden, the Inside perform a scene from the Battle of Story 2 Waterloo, Helen Mitchell performs a Australian Ballet, the Pacific piece from Social Grace by Northwest Ballet in Seattle USA, Inside Noël Coward and Kate Mulvany performs The Royal New Zealand Ballet Story 2 a reading from Ruth Park’s even the Estonian National Ballet. The Harp in the South to name just a few. Performances, rehearsals or classes www.sydneytheatre.com/virtual theatre at the Royal Academy in London, who have now been teaching ballet for over CIRQUE DU SOLIEL 100 years. 60 MINUTE SPECIALS OF There is an important message in ENDLESS PRODUCTIONS World Ballet Day ONLINE “Everyone can dance” Hour long acrobatic moments from all All can be found by going to their live performances featuring YouTube. fan-fsvourite shows. Varekai- Alegria-& Quidam Luzia-Corteo & Volta A subscription to the Ovo, Alegria & Bazzar Seaborn, Broughton & Mystere,”O” & KÀ Walford Foundation is a Toruk-Amauna,Dralion great gift for a birthday Plus classics like Saltimbanco. etc. Only $11 per year or Go on line to Cirque du Soliel $77 for Life. Cirque Connect. Call Carol – 9955 5444 SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE LIVE STREAM 36 LIVE STREAM FULL BROADWAY SHOWS- Contemporary and Classical Music and on YOU TUBE Opera, Digital Originals, Talks and Ideas, www.youtube.com<playlist Dance, Artist profiles, behind the Scenes a Musicals included are – free or rent selection of events from Sydney A CHORUS LINE - ALADDIN Opera House including performances for ANNIE - BEAUTY & THE BEAST kids. CATS – FROZEN – GREASE Enjoy full length performances from SOH GUYS AND DOLLS stages, highlights from the multi-genre HAIR SPRAY - INTO THE WOODS archives, presentations by local and JESUS CHRIST SUPER STAR international arts companies. LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL A special performance from John Bell AO, MARY POPPINS – MISS SAIGON who founded Bell Shakespeare based on MAMMA MIA – NOISES OFF his belief that all Australians should have PHANTOM OF THE OPERA access to the works of Shakespeare in SWEENY TODD – SHREK THE MUSICAL performance. In an excerpt from THE LITTLE MERMAID One Man in his Time John shares his VICTOR VICTORIA reflections on the timeless and poetic Plus TAKE ME TO THE WORLD language of Shakespeare’s plays in his A SONDHEIM 90th BIRTHDAY lifetime spent performing and directing CELEBRATION them. www.sydneyoperahouse.com>digital Full show also available on Register for free. Broadwaycom 2 hours 23 minutes Lambert House Enterprises 2.4M views to date Presents a Zoom reading of the classic Nick Enright play ST JAMES INFIRMARY by arrangement with HLA Management With- Samson Alston, Norah George, Tom Kelly, Rachel Marley, Callum Slater, Matt Young and Samuel Welsh as the narrator. Saturday – August 21 at 7.30pm HOME CHAT All proceeds to the Actors Benevolent Fund by Noël Coward All attendance -#15.00 Genesian Theatre 420 Kent Street Sydney (or a higher amount if you would like Cast includes – Robert Green, Louis Marsh Kendall Drury & Jenny Jacobs to contribute a little more) A special zoom reading for the Actors The Genesian Theatre is thrilled to Benevolent Fund.