In June 1977 “National U”, the newspaper of the National Union of Australian University Students, published an interview with Ponch Hawkes and Mick (Microphone) Conway of Soapbox Circus (later to become Circus Oz). Much of the interview was about the record album that had just been released, “Matchbox and the APG – The Great Stumble Forward”. L 36245, Festival Records.
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The scenes at the wedding reception in the APG movie “Dimboola” were filmed in a hall in Melbourne. They were the last to be shot. At the end of filming the cast and crew were assembled for a photograph by stills photographer, Ponch Hawkes.
To the best of my knowledge this website is the only place where this photo has been published. Several years after the making of the movie the print was purchased from Ponch Hawkes by my wife and given to me as a birthday present.
Soapbox Circus and the Matchbox band performed “Smackin The Dacks” at the front theatre of the Pram Factory from 17 November to 24 December 1977. Below is a copy of the brochure/programme for that season (including advertisements), plus copies of two APG PR papers. (Updated 11/10/2021)
Leading performers: Alan Robertson, Jon Hawkes, Robin Laurie, Laurel Frank, Helen Sky, and Michael Price. Band: Tony Burkys, Jim Conway, Mick Conway, Rick Ludbrook, Gordon MacLean, Peter Muhleisen, and Colin Stevens. Credits also are given to Bob Daly, Richard Murphet, Carol Porter, Rose Chong, Margot Lindsay, Kelvin Gedye, Ponch Hawkes, Tim Caldwell, Sue Broadway, Chips Mackinolty, Richard East, Mary Duggan, Fay Mokotow ” and an antfarm of friends and helpers” including: Charlie Aarons, Sally Clifton, Eve Glenn, Ursula Harrison, John Konig, Bayne Laurie, Esther Naylor, Shuvus and Mark Tanner.
Continue readingPosted in Alternative theatre, APG, Australian Performing Group, Australian theatre, Circus Oz, Pram Factory Theatre
Tagged 1977, APG, Bob Daly, Carol Porter, Chips Mackinolty, Christmas Show, dacks, Fay Mokotow, Front Theatre, Kelvin Gedye, Margot Lindsay, Mary Duggan, Matchbox, Ponch Hawkes, Richard East, Richard Murphet, Rose Chong, smack, Smakin The Dacks, soapbox circus, Sue Broadway, Tim Caldwell
From 14 March to 19 March, 1978 the Australian Performing Group (APG) offshoot Circus Oz gave 12 performances at Bonython Park, Adelaide, as part of the Adelaide Festival of Arts.
“Circus Oz was the amalgamation of two already well known groups—Soapbox Circus, a roadshow set up by the Australian Performing Group (APG) in 1976, and the New Ensemble Circus, a continuation of the New Circus, established in Adelaide in 1974.” – Jon Hawkes, circopedia.org
The following photographs and text are from the Circus Oz brochure which was prepared for distribution at the festival. (Advertisements have been not been copied.) (The photographer/s is/are not credited in the publication. The performers who appear in the photos are:
Sue Broadway, Tony Burkys, Tim Coldwell, Jim Conway, Mick Conway, Jack Daniels, Laurel Frank, Kelvin Gedye, Jon Hawkes, Ponch Hawkes, Robin Laurie, Ric Ludbrook, Gordon McLean, Peter Muhleisen, Michael Price, Jim Robertson, Pixi Robertson and Helen Sky.
Posted in Alternative theatre, APG, Australian Performing Group, Australian theatre, Circus Oz, Pram Factory Theatre, Theatre History
Tagged 1978, Adelaide Arts Festival, Captain Matchbox band, circus oz, Gordon McLean, Helen Sky, Jack Daniels, Jim Conway, Jim Robertson, Jon Hawkes, Kelvin Gedye, Laurel Frank, Michael Price, Mick Conway, Peter Muhleisen, Pixi Robertson, Ponch Hawkes, Ric Ludbrook, Robin Laurie, soapbox circus, Sue Broadway, Tim Coldwell, Tony Burkys
Most of the filming of “Dimboola” took place in and around the small Victoria township of Dimboola. For those few weeks the people of Dimboola took a great deal of interest in the filming, with some even taking part as extras in the movie. The local paper, The Dimboola Banner, published several articles about the event which were accompanied by photos taken by the film’s stills photographer, Ponch Hawkes.
This is the THIRD of four post on this subject. Continue reading
Posted in Australian theatre, Dimboola the movie, Movies
Tagged APG, Australian Performing Group, Bruce Spench, Captain Matchbox, Dimboola, Dimboola Banner, Gordon McLean, Jack Hibberd, Jim Conway, John Duigan, John Weily, Kerry Dwyer, Matchbox Band, Mick Conway, movie, news articles, newspaper, Peter Muhleisen, photographs, Ponch Hawkes, Pram Factory, Pram Factory Pictures, Ricardo Ludbrook, Stephen Conroy, Tim Robertson, Tony Burkys
Most of the filming of the APG’s movie, “Dimboola”, took place in mid-1978 in and around the small Victoria township of Dimboola. For those few weeks the people of Dimboola took a great deal of interest in the filming, with some even taking part as extras in the movie. Naturally, the local paper, The Dimboola Banner, published several articles about the event. These were often accompanied by publicity photos taken by the film’s stills photographer and APG member, Ponch Hawkes.
Posted in APG, Australian Performing Group, Dimboola the movie, Movies
Tagged 1978, Australia, Banner, Bruce Spence, cuttings, Dimboola, Dimboola Banner, Evelyn Krape, filming, films, Jack Hibberd, John Duigan, Matchbox Band, Max Gillies, Mick Morris, movie, movie review, Natalie Bate, news articles, newspaper, Paul Ammitzboll, Phil Stirling, Ponch Hawkes, Pram Factory Pictures, Tom Cowan, town
“Sisters” was staged by the Australian Performing Group in the front theatre of its Pram Factory theatre in Carlton from May 20 to June 23, 1976. Written by Robin Thurston, it was a prison show written by a man but with an all-female cast. They are pictured below in a copy of the poster.
(A videotape of “Sisters” – with Bob Weiss in charge – was made at the Pram Factory on 5th and 6th June 1976.)
Posted in Alternative theatre, APG, Australian Performing Group, Australian theatre, Pram Factory Theatre
Tagged 1976, APG, Bob Weiss, Claire Dobbin, Jane Clifton, Jenny Jones, Kerry Dwyer, Margot Nash, Ponch Hawkes, Pram Factory, Richard Murphett, Robin Laurie, Roz de Winter, Ursula Harrison, video