Who Are We?

GRTG is a group of dedicated amateur performers who work with great enthusiasm to prepare and perform shows for the local community. Our home has grown from humble beginnings, and is now a functional theatre - all additions as a result of hard work and dedication by passionate volunteers.

GRTG provides the opportunity for locals to find, develop and hone their skills and love of all things theatre and the performing arts. The age range, though depending on the show, can be from 12 to 80. As everyone comes together regularly to rehearse, sing, dance, dialogue, build, paint, sew, play with light and sound, laugh and grow; new friendships and a theatre family is born.

We usually have a single performance each calendar year, around August/September. However, in the past smaller one or two act plays have been performed around the larger chorus-centred productions.

What's life without a little drama?

GRTG began its days in 1990 when a group of volunteers came together to raise funds for the local community hospital, through a concert-hall musical performance. This group inevitably grew over several years, becoming incorporated as "Golden Rivers Theatre Group Inc." (GRTG) in 1995. Since then, the group has aimed to produce a range of theatrical experiences from comedy to drama through both musicals and plays, authored by a wide variety of Australian and international playwrights. 

For almost 20 years, the group performed at various halls and spare spaces to entertain its audiences, leading an exciting but somewhat ‘nomadic’ existence. In 2007, however, the Wakool Shire Council kindly provided new and permanent lodgings for the group at the Sandy Faulkner Pavilion in Barham. Since then, the once under-utilised building has been gradually transformed into a performing arts facility that is used for music and theatre workshops, school performances and visiting companies as well as being the home of GRTG Inc.

Many fittings and additions have been installed to turn an empty tin shed into a working theatre environment, including theatre seating, dressing room areas, mirrors, sound and lighting equipment, wall lining, a kitchen, stage wings. The most recent project has been the co-funding from Council and GRTG of integrated disabled access toilets and an extended mezzanine level for the technical equipment. GRTG very gratefully acknowledges the wonderful members and friends who have participated during the ongoing renovations to the now well-equipped, intimate performing space.

Continued success

Over the years we have seen more than 250 members, over 100 of them being children and teens. More than 10% of these young people have since moved into study and careers related to the performing arts. The members and friends of GRTG take great pride in the company and the "Pavlova" (as our facility is affectionately called). Many, many hours of time and love have made it what it is today, and we would welcome any new members.