Theatre Memories

Norman McVicker was involved in theatre activities as far back as 6th class at school and later with the Tempe Younger Set. In the years that followed he was part of what was known as the golden years of radio. Later in the theatre he met and was friends with well known personalities. This part of the web site relates some of his memories of this side of his life and stories about those who were his mentors.

In the years following World War II the professional or commercial theatre in Sydney was either in the doldrums or producing revivals of musical comedies or overseas successes.

It was left to the Little Theatres to ensure that new plays, Australian plays and what was known as experimental theatre came to the attention of the theatregoers. The Little Theatres were the breeding grounds for actors, directors (producers as they were then called) and technicians to practise their crafts.

The Pocket Playhouse terrace, Sydenham.

The Pocket Playhouse at Sydenham was such a venture and many practitioners of the various theatrical arts emanated from that small theatre with the big reputation. Some of them are:

Robert Findlay left the theatre to work as Stage Manager at the Mermaid Theatre in London. He achieved a considerable reputation for similar work with the Royal Shakespeare Company both at Stratford and at the Aldwych Theatre in the West End. Later he worked at the Old Vic under Sir Laurence Olivier and with other commercial managements in the United Kingdom and in the USA.

Roger Barratt commenced his career at the Pocket Playhouse when he had just finished school. He designed the ‘lighting’ for many productions. He moved on to work professionally with the Australian Opera Company and other commercial managements designing lighting for many plays, operas and musicals both in Australia and overseas.

Noeline Brown commenced her acting career at the Pocket and played there over a number of years before moving on to a professional career in theatre and television. She wrote her life story in a personal memoir Noeline, and continues her acting career with active duties as Ambassador for the Ageing.

Other actors who appeared at the Pocket were Peter Carroll and Robert McDarra (both became professional actors in stage, films and television); Gerry Duggan, Graham Corry, and Ronald Tunstall all appeared in plays in the West End, London.

In Australia, Kevin Peatfield, after the Pocket closed down went on to non-singing roles with Australian Opera Company, and continued to do so for a number of years before retiring.

Ron Owen, directed theatre plays and films for television and ‘art’ films, John Gillies contributed educational scripts for radio and television, whilst Timothy Bennett continues to act in plays and musicals for different ‘Little Theatres’.

Lionel Long appeared in various productions as an actor and later established a successful television and recording career as a singer of Australian Folk Songs and Music.

Val Smith (Valerie Askew) who played leading roles at the Pocket Playhouse whilst studying make-up became a leading make-up artist for films and television.

David Brown became an executive officer at the Sydney Opera House and was an incumbent there from the beginning until he retired.

Dorothy Duncombe appeared in various Pocket productions as an actor as well as designing costumes before moving on professionally to design costumes and accessories for the Music Hall Theatre Restaurant at Neutral Bay, The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust and Channel 10 (TV – Capital).

Stephen Firkin worked at lighting, music and backstage on many productions. When the Pocket closed he continued professionally with theatre managements, TV and other commercial organisations in various spheres.

There are many other actors, writers, musicians, stage crews who trained at the Pocket Playhouse and because of the quality of their work became professionals in their chosen sphere.

Whilst all this was happening local and overseas theatrical personalities were often in the audience. Many of them became a friend and mentor of the Pocket Playhouse founder and director Norman McVicker and he has written brief biographies of some of them for inclusion on this web site.