Address
Former premises in Millicent & Naracoorte, finally established in Mount Gambier. Dissolved in 2006.
Mount Gambier 5290

Company information
In 1984 Mainstreet Theatre began as a small collective in Millicent, in the South East of South Australia. The founding Artistic Director was NIDA graduate director, Ronald Branscombe, who had previously worked with the Riverina Theatre Company, The Sydney Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company, Salamanca Theatre Company, the SATC Lighthouse Company in Adelaide and the Fortune Theatre Company in New Zealand. Among the initial collective members appointed by Branscombe were writer Pat Cranney and Administrator Kirsi Hiltula.

Their first production 087 was performed by a large cast drawn from across the region at the 1984 Adelaide Festival Fringe. Presented under a big top, the show was reputedly the largest community event ever staged in Australia up to that time.

Ronald Branscombe left the company shortly afterwards, to take up a senior role in ABC television. He was replaced by a former colleague from Hobart's Salamanca Theatre Company, Mary McMenamin.

Under her guidance, and her successors', the Mainstreet company created and developed theatre about and for the south-east region of South Australia, performing in trains, vineyards, lighthouses, abattoirs, mills, cattle yards, shearing sheds and football fields, as well as theatres across Australia.

Over its 22 years of existence, Mainstreet evolved into a fully funded professional company, commissioning and developing new Australian theatre.

Before its demise in 2006, Mainstreet had moved to Mount Gambier, re-branded as The Limestone Coast Theatre Company.


MAINSTREET's KEY ACHIEVEMENTS include:…

2005 - The Lightkeeper was taken on a national tour, including extended seasons with Black Swan Theatre Company in Perth and Griffin Theatre Company in Sydney. The Disability Theatre Troupe performed Today I Am at the Mayoral gala. Catherine Zimdahl's adaption of Moonfleet was nominated for an AWGIE.

2004 - Verity Laughton's, The Lightkeeper won a 2004 Australian Writers' Guild award (AWGIE)

2003 - Mainstreet began a partnership with Windmill in co-presenting Summer promenade theatre across South Australia. The Disability Troupe performed Precious Things at the Hi Beam Festival in Adelaide.

2002 - The Colours Trilogy (Yellow, Red and Blue) began at the Penola Coonawarra Festival, directed by Teresa Bell. Salt Creek Murders won the Wal Cherry award

2000 - Sarah Vincent's Smashing Pancakes was performed in Greece at the International Woman's Playwrights Conference. Fonzy's Fishing was released by the Disability Troupe

1999 - The company introduced a Disability Troupe that provided ongoing theatre opportunities throughout the year.

1996 - Owen Love's No Shame toured the Pitjantjatjara lands and went on to the Seventh Festival of Pacific Arts in Western Samoa

1994 - Mainstreet moved to Mount Gambier

1993 - The company set up an office in the Penola Tourist Information Centre. The resulting production, Lights on Petticoat Lane, received an Australia Day Award for Community Event of the Year.

1990 - PP Cranney's Busted, directed by Catherine Fitzgerald, toured overseas

1988 - Bob Maza's The Keepers, was picked up by the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust for a Sydney production at Belvoir Street and was published in Jack Davis et al, Plays from Black Australia.

1987 - Richard Tulloch's Talking To Grandma While The World Goes By received an Australian Writers' Guild award (AWGIE). P.P. Cranney's Mixed Kill, was nominated for the same award.

1986 - Mainstreet moved to Naracoorte

1984 - Mainstreet was founded in Millicent by Artistic Director Ronald Branscombe, who led a company including writer Pat Cranney to create what was billed as the 'largest community theatre event in Australia', 087, performed under a big top at that year's Adelaide Festival Fringe. Branscombe was succeeded by Mary McMenamin. Among subsequent Artistic Directors was Harry Postema, with Nick Gill as the resident writer.

Further information
Ronald Branscombe
+44 7759905921

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