Ballarat Lyric Theatre Inc was formed in 1963. Its goals then and now are the same and may be stated as the following:

 

“Ballarat Lyric Theatre is an amateur theatre company whose purpose is to produce musical theatre productions in the Ballarat region with the intent of nurturing, developing and promoting talent, as well as cultivating an appreciation and enjoyment in all aspects of theatre art.”

 

Patron

CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD

Craig's professional training began in his hometown of Ballarat, Australia. He later moved to Melbourne and appeared in productions including WEST SIDE STORY, the Australian and New Zealand tour of THE DANNY LA RUE SHOW, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, ME AND MY GIRL, OLYMPUS ON MY MIND, SUGAR BABIES, JACK AND THE BEANSTALK and LADIES NIGHT (the hit comedy play in which he played the part of "Norman"). Craig also featured in numerous television commercials in Australia, notably, he was the face of the very first Kentucky Nugget advertisements for KFC and the voice of the MACLEANS toothpaste commercials. He also appeared in TV specials including THE DON LANE SHOW, THE MIKE WALSH SHOW and special-guest spots on THE MIDDAY SHOW.

 

On arriving in Europe Craig joined the famous company at the LIDO Du PARIS as a dancer in PANACHE and then as principle singer in FORMIDABLE at the MOULIN ROUGE, finding himself a year later in the UK tour of CATS in Edinburgh and Dublin. Craig also appeared in the original concert version of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.

In the West End, Craig has performed in CATS, playing the part of 'Munkustrap' at the New London Theatre, MISS SAIGON at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane as Dance Captain and was an original cast member playing the part of 'Harry' and Dance Captain of CRAZY FOR YOU at the Prince Edward Theatre. This took him to New York and Baltimore in the USA then to Germany at the Schiller Theatre, Berlin. Craig then went on to re-create the show for SUSAN STROMAN in South Africa.

 

Craig has performed in concert at The Grosvenor House, Smiths, Centre Stage, Talk of London, Prue Leith's, Kids at Heart (London Palladium) Groucho Club and at the New Connaught Rooms.

 

His recording credits include LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (original Australian cast recording), CRAZY FOR YOU (original London cast recording) and TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS with Jonathan Pryce, as well as numerous jingles for television and radio.

 

Television credits include CHILDREN IN NEED BBC, TVAM Breakfast Show, THE 1992 ROYAL VARIETY COMMAND PERFORMANCE for the BBC at the Dominion Theatre and THE 1993 LAURENCE OLIVIER AWARDS. Since the end of 1994, Craig concentrated on his directorial and choreographic career, but in recent years, has made a return to the small screen, appearing as a judge on the hit TV series STRICTLY COME DANCING for the BBC.

LIFE MEMBERS

Helen Peart, Jenny Catford, Fred Fargher, Jean Wardlaw*, Lois McGeachin*, Max Beames*, Isla Preston*, Yutha Valpied*, Robert Lemke*, Peter Dale, Wendy Holgate, Georgina Edgar, Arlene Geoffrey, Graeme Beames, Beverley Horwood, Gladys Beames*, Fay McCalman, Glenn Fisher, Andrew McCalman, Dr Ed Davis, Lois Walter*, Lee-Anne Martin, Cathy Heenan, Matthew Heenan, Dr Michael Whitehead, Marie Wilson, Marnie Bonell-Huy, Dr Robert Thurman, Barbara Stead

*Deceased