The Final Bow
The Final Bow photo in The Australian September 19, 2003. L to R: Paul Dellit, Rosemary Walker, Bev Langford, Michael Forde, Anika Vilé & Ian Lawson. The Australian September 19, 2003.

The Final Bow

September 27th, 2003 — September 27th, 2003

Venue

La Boite Theatre, Brisbane

Producer

La Boite Theatre

Cast

The Final Bow Cast & Crew:
Paul Dellit, Jim Vilé, Kaye Stevenson, Rosemary Herbert, Annette Kerwitz, Mark-Lloyd Hunt, Carita Farrer, Kym Ford, Sharon-Lee Marlin, Chris Maver, Hayden Spencer, Christine Comans, Dianne Eden, Carita Farrer, Jennifer Flowers, Sally McKenzie, Errol O'Neill, Rod Wissler, Chris Burns, Katrina Devery, Patrick Leo, Tony Longland, Kym Lynch. Narelle McCoy , Sean Mee, Betty Nicholson, Rosamund Vidgen, Margie Brown-Ash, Sue Dwyer, Michael Forde, Margery Forde, Elise Greig, Donald Hall, Peter Knapman, Bev Langford , Allen Laverty, Barbara Lowing ,Veronica Neave, Yalin Ozucelik, Anne Roylance, Renae Simpson, Ian Lawson, Andrew Buchanan , Liz Buchanan, Karen Crone, Paul Denny, Barbara Fordham, Kevin Hides, Josh McWilliam, Danny Murphy, Andrew Nason, Sarah Ogden, Gary Nunn, Ross Smith, Tamara Kalocsai, Patricia Miller, Denbee Newton, Anika Vilée, Rick Caskey, David Pyle, Toni Mott, Ewen MacKenzie.

The Final Bow

On the eve of departure, the past was honoured in a theatrical ‘goodbye’ to all the memories associated with the Hale Street La Boite theatre and also, for some older members, memories of the original La Boite in the Sexton Street timber cottage. Under the leadership of Rosemary Walker and Jim Vilé, and stage managed by Annette Kerwitz, this ‘goodbye’ was a celebration – a two night sold-out season of theatrical memories called The Final Bow, created and presented by former and present La Boite theatre makers representing each of the decades since the 1960s. This was a celebration, in Artistic Director Sean Mee’s words, of “a unique form of theatre-making, defined by the closeness, the dynamic interaction between audience and actor, the intensity of emotion and the sense of adventure that the space inspires.”[i] A highlight of the event was Kaye Stevenson’s personal reminiscences about major events in La Boite’s ‘life’ in the Hale Street precinct; as her involvement began in 1968 and included performances in twenty-three productions, she had much to recount. Let her final words on that historic occasion end this part of the story: [ii]

Here we are 31 years later saying farewell to this wonderful place which holds so many memories for so many people. So much joy, excitement, expectation, terror, sweat, laughter and tears held in the memory of these bricks, out here in this arena – and boy, if those tunnels could talk.

Many, many actors, designers, stage managers and writers learned their craft here, and many a theatre-goer discovered, or re-discovered the thrill of live theatre in this intimate space, and the even more intimate space that preceded it.

So, as we leave, and close the doors for the last time, don’t forget where we came from, and the people who went before us and gave us the opportunity to keep forging ahead.

Let us take out memories with us, so that the ghosts that inhabit this warm and welcoming space, might come with us to our new home, and encourage us to go on to even greater glories.

Thank you to this dear, dear place.

Writer: Christine Comans

[i] 2003 Season Brochure p.1.

[ii] The Final Bow script p.4.

Tell us your story

I had the privilege to be in the audience of THE FINAL BOW. If I remember correctly, Sean Mee closed the performance by leading the audience into song... He sang "Steal Away" and the moment was so beautifully bitter-sweet. Everyone in the auditorium got to their feet and sang and swayed and cried. I always admired that choice of farewell song. It felt like the only way to say goodbye to something you didn't really want to part with. "Steal Away" by Jimmy Hughes. Steal away let's steal away No reason left to stay For me and you Let's start a-new And darling steal away Steal away and chase some dreams And hope they never find us The dreary days The empty nights We'll leave them all behind us (chorus) We'll leave behind the city streets The gloom and desolation The rain the cold Just growing old God knows it's a hard old station (chorus) We'll leave with just a memory And make a new beginning We have to choose To win or lose And it's time we started winning

Shari Irwin

Gallery

The Final Bow cast, crew and audience members, 2003. A celebration of the company's 30 years of productions at La Boite Theatre in Hale Street, Milton.
The Final Bow cast, crew and audience members, 2003. A celebration of the company's 30 years of productions at La Boite Theatre in Hale Street, Milton.
Actors and past directors at the Final Bow, 2003.
Actors and past directors at the Final Bow, 2003.
Eileen Beatson & Rosamund Vidgen at The FInal Bow, 2003.
Eileen Beatson & Rosamund Vidgen at The FInal Bow, 2003.
Merle Dinning at The Final Bow. She first performed with Brisbane Repertory in the 1940s.
Merle Dinning at The Final Bow. She first performed with Brisbane Repertory in the 1940s.
Graeme Johnston & Gillian Tye at the Final Bow, 2003.
Graeme Johnston & Gillian Tye at the Final Bow, 2003.

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