Life Members of

Dubbo Theatre Company Inc.

2010

2010

2010

2010

2010

LIFE MEMBERSHIPS – 2010

BRUCE GORDON

Bruce Gordon – Began his association with Dubbo Theatre Company in 1958, when the company was known as Dubbo Amateur Theatrical Society, and remained with the company until he passed away in 1998.  In the 40+ years that Bruce was a member of DATS and Dubbo Theatre Company he was a figure head for the company and was nearly always at the centre of any production being undertaken.  Bruce became President of DATS in 1961, a position which he held for the rest of his life. He also starred in and/or directed many of the shows that DATS undertook, and it wasn’t until his later years that he felt safe to pass the baton on to our current company director Chris Bray. Bruce was parmount in elevating DATS to the status within the community that it holds today, and we as a company have been fortunate to be able to build on the solid foundation that he helped create. To this day Bruce remains the unofficial face of DATS and Dubbo Theatre Company and is fondly remembered by all who knew him.

AILSA CUNNINGHAM

Ailsa Cunningham – Joined DATS in 1960 and remained an integral part of the company both on and off stage for the rest of her life.  Ailsa played the lead role in many shows over a 30-35 year period, and also was the company secretary for much of this time.  Ailsa had a strong stage presence which she sometimes brought off stage and I can remember in my early years with DATS being a little afraid of her.  Together with Bruce Gordon, and the rest of the DATS family, Ailsa has played an integral part in the success of our company.

JOHN DOUST

John Doust – Has been a member of Dubbo Theatre Company since its inception in 1957.  In 1958 John took the position on the executive as Treasurer and held the position until November 1998 – over 40 years – making him the longest serving committee member in the company.  In his years with Dubbo Theatre Company, John played a pivotal role both in the executive and in the company, sometimes appearing on stage, sometimes working in the wings, and often managing the front of house.  As previously mentioned, and together with our two other posthumous Life Members, John was instrumental in providing the solid foundations on which our company rests today.

EDDY WHYFOON

Eddy Whyfoon – has been lighting shows in Dubbo for over 50 years. As recently mentioned at our 2009 Christmas Pantomime, Eddy has lit shows in the Dubbo Civic Centre since it opened in 1968, and lit the last theatrical performance in there prior to the opening of the New Regional Theatre, in late November last year.  Eddy has been an integral part of the Dubbo Theatre Company and its predeccesor DATS for over 40 years, and if one was to add up the amount of collective performances in the Dubbo Area that Eddy has lit over his career so far there would be a show every night for the next two and a half years. Dubbo Theatre Company has developed over the past 15-20 years to be one of the strongest and most talented amateur theatre companies in NSW, and this is largely due to some wonderfully talented people who we have had in our ranks over this time.  Eddy Whyfoon is one of these people and a worthy Life Member of Dubbo Theatre Company!

VICKI ALAND

Vicki Aland – has been with Dubbo Theatre Company for over 30 years.  Vicki has been active both on stage and off stage in all those years, choreographing and starring in many of the company’s productions.  Vicki is wonderfully talented, and incredibly dedicated, and able to create striking moves which are just hard enough to provide a show’s company with a challenge whilst looking fantastic from an audiences perspective when the moves are mastered.  Vicki has an incredible ability to hear limited versions of a song or instrumental and replicate moves which fit perfectly with the musical piece.