1812 history and award-winning comedies

Chris Procter and author Ray Peace with copies of the 1812's history 'Behind the Curtain'. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS. 305252_02

By Peter Kemp

The Basin Theatre presents Art

An award winning comedy about what constitutes “art”.

Art is a comedy set in Paris which revolves around three friends and raises questions about art and friendship. Moving from disagreement on the questionable purchase of a completely white painting their arguments come less theoretical and more personal. They border on destroying their friendship.

Serge has bought a modern work of art for a large sum of money. Marc hates the painting and cannot believe that a friend of his could possibly want such a work. Yvan attempts unsuccessfully, to placate both sides with hilarious consequences. The question is: are you who you think you are if you are who your friends think you are?

Season: 1 – 11 December at 8pm.

A history of The 1812 released

The 1812 Theatre celebrated its years at the Rose Street Theatre with the release of their book Behind the Curtain.

A fire destroyed the old home at Wellington Road, Lysterfield. Not only did the fire destroy the building but it nearly destroyed the spirit of the company, however, with the encouragement of the subscribers and audience members, the company led by Jon Lowe rebuilt the theatre at Rose Street Ferntree Gully.

All the above is described in the book Behind the Curtain, by Ray Pearce which is now finished and available. The book takes the company back to 1938 when a group of people started a number of community theatres which then merged into the Hut Players who performed at the Ferntree gully Arts Society building in Underwood Road before they moved to Lysterfield.

The name The 1812 Theatre came from the fact that the theatre in Lysterfield was on the corner of Wellington Road and Napoléon Road.