By Dongyun Kwon
Hills Act Theatre Company successfully brought down the curtain for its first production.
The first production the company put on was Breathless by Deborah Mulhall.
Hills Act Theatre Company founder Phillip Stephenson, the director and stage manager of the production, said the journey of the first production was “significant”.
“I found some of it very stressful, but overall, I felt that we achieved something that I hadn’t thought we’d achieve, but we did, and we got there better than I’d thought at first,” he said.
“The actors became very close to one another. We became a family.
“When it came to the play, they did everything without complaining, and they were spot on with their cues and everything that they had to do, and I was so proud of them for that.”
Through four different conflicts and the stories of four different veterans, Breathless explores the unchanging cyclic horror of war, the unnatural stress it places on soldiers at the front line and how it bleeds into their civilian lives, traumatically affecting not only them but all those who love them.
Harry volunteers for battle in World War 1 and encounters the love of his life while working on early models of army vehicles.
Tom, a country boy, has to endure and live with the stress and mental anguish from his experience on the Kokoda Track in World War 2.
Dave is conscripted into the military and sent to Vietnam, where he finds a political conscience.
Alan comes from a military family who gives unquestioning loyalty to the army.
He is sent several times to Iraq and Afghanistan, which creates friction with his partner.
Each of the four, all in the same army unit but years apart, finds camaraderie in the army, but each has to struggle with the demons of PTSD, as do their partners.
Adam Boswell, who played Alan, said it was incredible to be a part of the debut show of Hills Act Theatre Company.
“It’s a very special thing to be a part of, and to do a play like this about Australian soldiers and veterans all around Anzac Day is incredibly special as well,” he said.
“I’ve always known that soldiers and veterans go through a lot and struggle a lot. I think it put into perspective how difficult and hidden some of their struggles are. It brought that to light.
“It’s been a fun experience, but it’s also been very educational and emotional.”
The play was performed twice on 27 April and 3 May, right after Anzac Day.
Hills Act Theatre Company will do a comedy for the next production, but hasn’t decided the exact play for it yet.
The company will have a meeting to create a committee on Sunday 18 May.
“We’ll do a comedy, but we’re also thinking of doing other things,” Mr Stephenson said.
“We may do play readings and perhaps a talent show.
“We’ll just keep doing stuff and making sure that the town knows we’re here.”
The founder also thanked the sponsors who contributed to making it all happen.
Mr Stephenson said he couldn’t have a theatre group for the local actors without support from the community.
“Obviously, without the Yarra Ranges Council, without the grant that they gave us, (we couldn’t make it happen), and I will be going for another grant with them. They’re well and truly on board,” he said.
“The money came in to cover the costs of this play through the sponsorship from the Bendigo Bank Healesville, the Healesville Lions Club and private sponsors.
“Now, I’m hoping that we probably made a little bit of a profit with this play so that the money that we’ve got will go into the kitty, and that will pay for the sets, the costumes, the advertising and everything for our next production.”
