The Actors’ Forum – theatre on your doorstep

I’m one of those annoying people. I’ve come back to Sydney after living in London for 12 years, and it feels like I start every second sentence with “In London…”

Well, it’s time to stop sounding like a whinging pom. No more carping about Sydney transport. No more raving about how fantastic the Tube is, conveniently forgetting the horror of navigating London when it snows. No more bemoaning the price differences between London and Sydney. Though, just in case, please avoid mention of the Barbican or the National Theatre’s £12 tickets. I might cry. [Editor’s note, you might want to check out the STC’s $20 ticket opportunities.]

I’ve been investigating a Sydney cultural scene that allows you to be spontaneous. Something that doesn’t need to be budgeted for. Where parking doesn’t cost as much as a ticket should. Affordable to me means a show and a drink for $40. By accessible I mean easy public transport or easy (free) parking. Ideally I’d also like it to be accessible for those with limited mobility/wheelchair users.

The first group I want to highlight is a great collective called The Actors’ Forum, whose premise is to perform professional readings of plays in community settings. The driving force behind the group is Bill Conn, a well established Sydney actor. Each play is performed 3 times at different locations throughout Sydney. Always a matinee, always a weekend, and always affordable ($15 concession, $20 full price).

Both the plays I’ve seen this year have been enjoyable, and done to a higher standard that you might expect of performances described as play readings. The staging and sets are minimal and actors perform with script in hand. I find the quality of the acting is such that it overrides the simplicity of the staging and limited rehearsal times that necessitate actors using a script.

The Actors’ Forum perform at Randwick Library (Maroubra branch), the Independent Theatre on the North Shore, and St Andrew’s Church Hall Balmain. Finding information about upcoming readings is not so easy, but once you’ve been to one performance you can pick up a brochure with details of future shows. Forthcoming performances in Randwick/Maroubra are advertised in the “What’s On” sections of the Randwick Council & Library websites. Numbers vary, so for more popular plays you may need to show up early to get a good seat. Only the performance at The Independent Theatre on the North Shore can be pre-booked.

The next play they’ll be presenting is Helen Hanff’s 84 Charing Cross Road, on the following dates:

• 23 August at Bowen Library, Anzac Pde, Maroubra
• 24 August at Independent Theatre, Miller St, North Sydney
• 31 August at St Andrew’s Church Hall, 223 Darling St (cnr. Curtis Rd) Balmain

There will be one final performance this year, towards the end of October, of The Moon is Blue by Hugh F. Herbert.