Tempo Theatre began life as one of Canberra’s earliest amateur theatre groups in 1974. It's original aim was to produce modern and alternative musicals to complement the more traditional musicals being performed by Canberra Philharmonic at the time. It was also intended as an outlet for younger people to learn and develop performing skills. The group was founded by a number of well known Canberrans whose names are synonymous with quality productions.
Since it's beginning Tempo has produced a large number of shows - many of them Canberra premieres. It has also broadened its range of productions to include Drama, Comedy and Theatre Restaurant. Tempo has been a stepping stone for many performers who have gone on to become popular and successful professionals in their own right.
Tempo was created to produce quality entertainment that allowed just about anybody to have a go.
Our objectives (as per our constitution):
And in doing so, we encourage new talent on and off stage, includes teenagers and pensioners (and many in between!) and have a good time doing it.
Tempo has also returned to its origins and endorsed a policy of giving young and inexperienced performers a go. We have been lucky to have a number of very talented writers as members of our group and we encourage them to write. Some of these scripts have been workshopped and performed by Tempo.
Currently Tempo uses the Belconnen Community Theatre in Swanson Court Belconnen (view a map here) as its base, however, we often tour shows to other areas within our region. We are administered by a committee of 7 people who are elected annually at an Annual General Meeting. Tempo Theatre Inc, a community based group, is an incorporated body which holds registration under the Associations Incorporation Act of 1992 in the ACT. We are classified as a “not for profit” organisation where NONE of our proceeds are distributable to members and we hold a current Australian Business Number.
Given the continued popularity of non professional theatre in the ACT we believe Tempo has a very important role to play both in providing a training ground for newcomers in all aspects of theatre and in entertaining Canberrans in new and different ways.
If you live in the Canberra, Australia region and have a hankering to write, direct, design sets, costumes, prompt, act, be a stage manager or light the show, then you can contact Tempo through its current President, Jon Elphick or Secretary, Marian FitzGerald.
