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Featured Member - October 2004
This
month we have a bit of a departure in featuring not one but
two members. Kevin and Ann Stubbs are a bit special because
they actually met as a result of their involvement with Melville
Theatre Company. That's right, we acted as Cupid in their relationship.
(Doesn't it warm your heart?)
Ann
was born in South Africa and came to Australia in 1974, settling
in Perth because it happened to be the first place the boat
stopped. She became interested in theatre at the age of ten.
As the quietest student in her Primary School class she was
cast by a particularly farsighted (or sadistic?) teacher in
a class play. The part required a lot of screaming and Ann discovered
that she liked screaming. She actually produced her first play
when she was 12 and continued attending plays throughout her
teens, although she didn't take part.
Her interest in theatre led to a (short-lived) relationship
with a speech and drama student at University. The relationship
came to an abrupt end when she went to the cinema with him and
a male friend of his and found her boyfriend holding hands with
both of them! Well, that's showbiz!
It
was 1981 when Ann got back into theatre with a vengeance - in
Kalgoorlie - mainly because there was nothing else to do - and
she acted, worked backstage, did lighting, and propped up the
bar until 1995 when she moved back to Perth, after a short stint
in New Zealand.
In
addition to a previous marriage that produced three sons, Ann
has busied herself with work at both Melville and Old Mill.
Her credits at MTC include "The Hollow", "Thriller
of the Year" and "The Cemetery Club". Ann has
also worked backstage and Front-of-House and enjoys all of her
involvement with theatre because of the nice people she meets
and the fun of "being someone else" while playing
a part. She thinks that MTC is the friendliest Company she has
worked with.
One
of the nice people Ann met was Kevin Stubbs. Kevin was born
in Victoria Park and was introduced to live theatre in Year
7 by an enterprising teacher who took the class to see "The
King & I" at the old Capitol Theatre. They enjoyed
the performance tremendously, although the entire class rather
blotted their copybook by enthusiastically singing along with
all the songs. The teacher had the habit of playing the soundtrack
of the show while they were doing other work in class!
Although Kevin continued to enjoy attending live performances
his busy life in the Airforce and later in the Department of
Foreign Affairs precluded any personal involvement in theatre
or acting (apart from one memorable TV appearance for an ABC
documentary in the 1970s) until 1996. That was the year he attended
an AGM at Melville and Stuart Riches introduced him as being
a carpenter. He was welcomed so enthusiastically by the crowd
that, even though he isn't a carpenter, he didn't have the heart
to say so and was stuck with building and bumping out sets from
then on!
Having
seen Ann perform on stage and meeting her at some of MTC's social
events, Kevin soon realised she was a special lady and it wasn't
too long before they decided to marry.
Since then,
Kevin has been roped in for even more functions in our Company,
including Stage Management for "The Cemetery Club"
and "Remains to be Seen".
Both
Kevin and Ann are well known and well-liked members. They have
done some wonderful work for our Company and we are proud to
have played a small part in their present happily married state.
Thank you both and may you continue with MTC for many years
to come.
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