HISTORY OF THE COMPANY
Pelican Theatre Company has a very short history. It began in late October 2002, when Edwin Creely (the current Artistic Director) was taking a walk along the foreshore of Hastings. He was thinking about how there was little if any cultural life in the Westernport area, compared to the Mornington side of the Peninsula and Frankston, where he had done a lot of theatre work. So, he decided to place a notice in the "What's on" section of the local newspaper asking anyone who was interested in forming a company to contact him. He received a number of replies to the ad, notably from an experienced musician and theatre person, Gordon Gribbin.
From that point there were a number of steering committee meetings to discuss a possible company and to decide on the form that it would take. Eventually it was decided to form an Association and to bring a strong community focus to the Association. In February 2003, the Association was formally incorporated.
Why form a company in this area?
The Mornington Peninsula has, in living memory, been a place for a vibrant theatre and arts community. However, this community, for the most part, exists on the Mornington side of the Peninsula. On the Hastings side of the Peninsula there has been a relative cultural desert, with little cultural and creative activity. In fact, there is no theatre company on this side of the peninsula, and there have been few theatrical, musical or artistic performances, apart from the yearly festival on the foreshore at Hastings and a jazz festival.
There is little doubt that Hastings and the broader community in the Westernport region has experienced a greater prominence and considerable growth from 2001 on, with real estate prices climbing and a greater sense that this side of the Peninsula is a wonderful place to live. Given all this, it is high time that an artistic/theatrical/creative life began to develop on this side of the community, one which can provide opportunities for young and old, experienced or inexperienced to become involved and change this perception that Westernport is a `cultural desert`.
Pelican Theatre Company has been formed by concerned members of the community who want to develop a strong cultural life linked with the community from Somerville to Flinders.
Our Vision
We certainly want to promote and foster theatre and the arts in the local community. We believe that this is not only satisfying in and of itself but contributes significantly to the health of any community. As such we want to reach out to the community and involve ourselves with a variety of other organisations.
We hope to achieve our vision through:
1. Public performances. The company would produce theatrical, musical and performance pieces for a local audience, using mainly local actors, musicians and performers. It is possible that the company would produce 2-4 public performances per year. These performances would be in local venues such as the Hastings town hall (and maybe other town halls across the Westernport region) as well as other performance spaces, even outdoor spaces.
2. Education. Through promotion of the arts and theatre, through workshops, a website and other materials, the company would seek to promote theatre and the arts.
3. Leadership opportunities. The company will offer local people the opportunities to write, direct, administer and promote theatrical and performance work.
Our Goals
1. To produce theatrical, musical, dance and other performance pieces for a local audience, using mainly local actors, musicians, dancers and performers.
2. To promote of the arts and theatre, through workshops, a website and other written and visual materials
3. To offer opportunities for people of all ages to learn and develop a range of skills and abilities, be they in writing, performing, direction, technical or administrative areas.
4. To provide a creative outlet in a community that does not currently have such an outlet.
5. To promote the enjoyment of cultural pursuits in the Westernport district and beyond.
