Seaborn Broughton & Walford Foundation Newsletter 925 Botany Rd Rosebery NSW 2018 Phone - 9955 5444 Email – [email protected] For bookings please call Carol Martin -on 9955 5444 Monday to Thursday - 10am - 4pm Volume Number Issue Number Date rd 23 2 23 April 2015 Chairman’s Letter A number of theatres are marking the commemoration, notably the Ensemble Theatre. Two new, well re-viewed, (incorporating Nan’s Letter Space) beautifully-acted, locally-written one-act plays make up ‘The Anzac Project’. It runs until May 9th. Carolyn is Dear Friends speaking at the Stanton Library on the theme selected by the National Trust for their heritage month: ‘Through I am writing to you as preparations are underway to Conflict to Compassion’. She will be speaking from a th commemorate the 100 Anniversary of the Gallipoli landings at theatrical perspective with the history of the Independent Anzac Cove in 1915. Theatre, particularly in times of conflict, as her main focus. Many of you will be attending services and gatherings on the Carol Martin has once again selected a splendid array of 25th April and some of our Friends are even making theatrical treats for us. pilgrimages to the Gallipoli Peninsula. It is a time of reflection Please read through the list and ensure you secure seats and, in many cases, of focussing on family history and the while they are still available. tragic sacrifices made by so many of our forebears, relatives The Sydney Opera House Ladies’ Committee lunches, to and friends. Let us hope that, for all those attending the which we are all invited, have now become quite popular. Marches, and for all those attending Dawn Services, it is a mild One of our Friends, Lynne Greenwood, wrote a beautiful and sunny day. I will be attending the Dawn Service at letter of appreciation after taking friends to the SOHLC beautiful Georges Heights above Balmoral Beach and feel St. Patrick’s Day brunch. I also attended with Carolyn and honoured to have been invited as a Director to lay a wreath some friends. We certainly enjoyed ‘wearing the green’ the there on behalf of the Sydney Harbor Federation Trust. Irish dancing, the Celtic fiddler, Irish accents, delicious Recent research has highlighted the role of Dr Rodney food and friendly atmosphere. The next SOHLC functions Seaborn’s father, Leslie Seaborn, in the dramatic recruitment of an Anzac Brunch with folk singer Warren Fahey AM and, young men during the First World War. There was a wildly in July, Miss June Dally Watkins OAM attest to the variety passionate pro-war atmosphere in Martin Place, near the heart of their programming and promise the be most interesting. of the legal profession at this time, creating a camaraderie that must have been hard to resist. Leslie Seaborn, who was Vale Betty Lucas and Stuart Wagstaff AM working as a solicitor at the firm Garland, Seaborn Abbot, It is with sadness we farewell two very talented actors both decided to enlist. He was a well known rugby player and of whom were associated with the SBW Foundation, became involved in the romantic idea of the ‘Sportmen’s especially in the years we fundraised to restore the Battalion’ – a scheme initiated by lawyers and launched at a Independent Theatre. Betty Lucas, who had distinguished large meeting at Sydney Town Hall on the 3rd April 1917. herself at the Independent Theatre and with most major Leslie appeared regularly at public meetings in Martin Place theatre companies, was ‘an actor of luminous truthfulness and outer Sydney suburbs throughout April 1917. He often and distinction’ whose talents revealed ‘a deft light touch shared the platform with other lawyers and enthusiastically in comedy and emotional strength in drama’. She was one organised many different activities to encourage recruits. By of the group who approached the Friends of the the end of April the Sydney Morning Herald reported the Independent Theatre to set up the Actors’ Forum Play slogan ‘Be a sport and enlist’ was displayed everywhere. In Readings to, in the initial stages, help fund the Theatre May 1917, Leslie Seaborn’s appeal for the Sportmen’s Restoration Project. Betty will be remembered for her Battalion dominated the Recruiting Section of the Sydney talents as a stage and television actress and her kindness and grace. Morning Herald. One rally, on 4 May at the Sydney Stadium in Rushcutters Bay, included patriotic speeches by Leslie Stuart Wagstaff, who also generously joined the Seaborn, Lord Mayor Richard Meagher and others, along with fundraising drive to restore the Independent, was an free entertainment characteristic of the popular vaudeville English-born Australian entertainer, with a great sense of entertainment of the day: ‘boxing exhibitions, wrestling humour. He was active and very popular in all genres of displays, jiu-jitsu, blindfold boxing, fancy and speed skipping the industry including television, theatre and stage by ladies, bugle blowing competition for soldiers and sailors, management. His memorial gathering at the Theatre Royal singing by well known vocalists, other high class vaudeville was attended by so many of his colleagues. Marina Prior artistes (along with) massed bands from various parts of the delivered a haunting version of Time to Say Goodbye and city. He also travelled the state urging recruits. Two months David Campbell closed with a customised version of I’ve later. Lieutenant Seaborn and the 150 men of the Sportmen’s (We’ve) Grown Accustomed to Your Face from My Fair Unit were designated the 20th Reinforcements for the 19th Lady. Battalion and boarded the transport Port Melbourne. On the 16 Thank you for your ongoing support. July 1917 they sailed out of Sydney Harbour to war. Peter Lowry OAM The theme for National Trust Heritage Festival 2015 is- CONFLICT AND COMPASSION The Stanton Library overlooking the Independent Theatre Sydney Opera House Ladies Committee One of North Sydney Council’s contribution to the Festival will be a talk by Carolyn Lowry on the ANZAC CENTENARY BRUNCH Independent Theatre Union Club 25 Bent Street Sydney Through Conflict and Compassion th Theatrically Speaking On the 27 April 100 years after the Anzac beach landing, the centenary will be A talk by Dr Carolyn Lowry OAM on the history of commemorated at this special brunch. the Independent Theatre, North Sydney. The talk will focus on the Independent’s role in war Renowned cultural historian, composer and and peacetime culminating in the landmark folk singer Warren Fahey AM will share production of ‘Rusty Bugles’, the first serious post- diggers’ stories and songs on this historic war play to pioneer the use the Australian occasion. vernacular. Once again, the Brunch is timed 11am for It will also include details of the creative platform 11.30am and will be held at the Union Club the Independent provided for local talent, 25 Bent Street Sydney. multiculturalism, refugees and reconciliation. Attendees will have an opportunity to share their Monday - 27 April 2015 memories of the Independent Theatre and Brunch and entertainment Dame Doris Fitton. A Talk, Walk and Tour. $70.00 Refreshments will be provided after the talk. Bookings – Carol Martin 9955 5444 Arrangements have been made with the owners of the Independent Theatre for a tour inside the Theatre after the talk. THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL Friday – 8 May 2015 - 1pm to 3pm By Richard Brinsley Sheridan This is a free event but bookings are essential- New Theatre 542 King Street Newtown Please call 9936 8400 A hedonistic society consumed by gossip, ambition and greed forms the backdrop for Griffin Theatre Company presents this delicious, witty comedy of manners. THE HOUSE ON THE LAKE Two brothers one an amiable rake, the other a by sanctimonious cad, are tested by their wealthy Aidan Fennessy SBW Stables Theatre 10 Nimrod Street Kings Cross uncle to determine which is more trustworthy; and crusty old fool-in-love tries to tame his A criminal lawyer with a cool head and a passion feisty, much younger wife. for logic, David wakes up to find himself confined Amidst the hilarity, the plots and subplots and to a small, sparsely furnished room, unable to many tangled webs lurks a cast of characters remember what happened the day before. With the help of his doctor, David begins to coax whose names say it all: memories out of the darkness, before the details of Lady Teazle, Lady Sneerwell, Mrs Candour, a terrible secret emerge. Surface, Backbite and Snake. The House on the Lake is a psychological thriller so There is much deception, double-dealing and crafty it’s criminal. Mired deep in layers of backstabbing but virtue wins over vice in the deception, it’s a puzzle of a play certain to engage end. the intellect and assault the nervous system. Thursday 30 April to 30 May 2015 Playing from Friday 22 May to 20 June 2015 Thurs to Sat – 7.30pm Sun-5pm Mon to Fri – 7pm/ Sat 2pm & 7pm Tickets - $30.00 Tickets - $43.00 Bookings – Carol Martin – 9955 5444 Bookings – Carol Martin – 9955 5444 LEGENDS by James Kirkwood Theatre Royal King Street Sydney Starring Hayley Mills and Juliet Mills with Max Caulfield THE THREE MUSKETEERS The incomparable stars of screen and stage, by Alexandre Dumas Hayley Mills and Juliet Mills daughters of the Genesian Theatre 420 Kent Street Sydney legendary actor Sir John Mills – storm the stage in James Kirkwood’s hilarious and touching comedy. All for one and one for all!! Brush up your sword As the sun sets in Manhattan the claws come out as play as this exciting and very funny adventure two famous but fading movie stars try to upstage parries its way to the Genesian stage.