WELCOME TO OUR COMMUNITY
OUR HISTORY
Brighton Theatre Company began its days as “The St Andrew’s Players” performing at St. Andrew’s Church Hall in Brighton. The company then moved on to St Peter’s Parish Hall, Were Street and were known as “Brighton Repertory Company”, later changing their name to “Brighton Theatre Company”. An invitation was received from Brighton Council to use the main auditorium of the Town Hall, and in 1984 we began operations on that site. With the redevelopment of the Town Hall as an Arts & Cultural Centre, the company moved to the former library and constructed our own “little theatre” – seating 84 patrons. In 2009, the Bayside Council made a number of alterations to the interior of the building including a new entrance and modern foyer for the theatre. We have installed new seating and now seat 93 patrons.
OUR PRODUCTIONS
BTC stages four productions each year. Plays are selected by the Play Reading Committee from scripts submitted by its chosen Directors, as well as those suggested by members. The company aims to produce a range of theatrical experiences from comedy to drama, by a wide variety of Australian and international authors. Our directors are chosen from around Victoria, each one bringing new ideas and a wealth of experience to the company. Feedback from patrons is strongly encouraged as we like to produce the kind of theatre that audiences enjoy, as well as giving our casts and crew members the opportunity to extend their creativity and further their technical skills. BTC productions are always an entertaining night out.
Book your tickets online here.
OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM
Deborah Fabbro
Treasurer
Deborah has been involved in theatre since childhood. She has played many roles over the years with a number of companies and also performed at many One Act Play festivals in the 1990s. These days she prefers the other side of the footlights and has directed for Brighton, Malvern, Peridot, Encore, Sherbrooke, Mordialloc and Williamstown theatre companies. She has adjudicated for ‘in-house’ awards at Malvern, Beaumaris, Mordialloc and Williamstown theatre companies. She first came to BTC in 1989 and became part of the committee in April 2000 as Treasurer, a position she still holds. From 2005 she also held the position of Acting President until the change in the Management Structure of the company in 2007. Away from BTC, though still connected to theatre, she works as a volunteer for The Victorian Drama League.
Annie Blood
Artistic Director
Annie is a long-term member of BTC joining the company shortly after coming “home” to Melbourne after more than three decades in Adelaide where she had been an active participant in practically all aspects of community and independent theatre. She had “retired” from the BTC Management Team having served in the roles of Staging Director and Artistic Director and since her retirement has continued as a member of both the technical and the general production teams as well as having directed several plays at BTC,. At the Company’s recent AGM in 2025 Annie was subjected to a spot of déjà vu and elected Artistic Director – again!
Suzie Martens
Secretary and Box Office Manager
Suzie has been the BTC Secretary since 2017. She is also the Box Office Manager and usually the first person you see when you enter the theatre. Suzie has been a theatre goer for too many years, enjoyed BTC productions over a number of years, and also works with an association for drama teachers.
Tim Murphy
General Member
Tim has been acting on Melbourne stages for 30 years including five productions to date here at Brighton. Away from the stage he has worked in Human Resources and Training and Development and served as part of the Executive Management team for the Australian Ballet within his role as HR Director. Tim is passionate about the important contribution that the arts makes to our community and is looking forward to continuing to support BTC with the brilliant offering it makes to Melbourne’s theatrical footprint.
Alan Crispin
Technical Director
Alan has been involved with Theatre Stage Lighting and Sound since 1976, and has designed and operated many plays, musicals and operas over the years. Since coming to Australia 12 years ago, Alan has lit a number of shows for Beaumaris Theatre and more recently Brighton Theatre. Alan has also lit local venues outside of theatre including Legends of the Skies at Morrabbin National Aviation Museum and Jewel by the Sea for Black Rock House.
Michael Skillington
General Member
Mike has been involved with community theatre since 2010 and with the Brighton Theatre Company since 2015. He roles have included bad acting, stage management, marketing/promotion, front of house and newsletter editing. His hobbies include choral singing, hiking and yachting. He is thrilled to be back at the BTC post a 3 year assignment in Russia where he sang with the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk University Choir and assisted with a local puppet theatre
Robyn Hookes
General Member
Robyn has had a love affair with theatre, ballet and the arts since a very early age. Dance and calisthenic concerts were a big part of her learning stage presentation. Moving into Brighton in early 2023 a chance letterbox drop from BTC urged her to volunteer with the theatre and she was delighted recently being offered to be part of the management team to learn more and give support and encouragement to everyone involved in BTC bringing local theatre to the community.
Peter Guthrie
General Member
Peter Guthrie was first introduced to the backstage theatre world in the early 1980s via Heritage Theatre Company’s production of The Gang Show.
Employed in subsequent years by various eventing and production companies he has worked on The Australian Ballet, Opera Australia, and various television productions with Channels Nine and Seven
Peter joined BTC in 1986 and worked on most productions until the early 2000s, having various committee roles, including as President during our transition from the town hall to the building of our current theatre space.
In 2023, after a two-decade break spent renovating several “permanent sets,” he is again enjoying the backstage theatre world and is now, as BTC Chief Theatre Mechanist, the leader of the set building and realization team as well as providing support to the BTC Technical Team.
Joanne Gabriel
General Member
Joanne Gabriel is pleased to be on the Management Committee of Brighton Theatre Company, having been a member since 1998. She appeared in the last play in the town hall (1998) as well as the first play in the current theatre (1999). She has appeared on stage with many companies over the years and has extensive experience in direction, choreography and stage management.
Acknowledgement of country
Brighton Theatre Company acknowledge the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land, the Bunurong people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
