entertainmentgeelong.com
Drop Of A Hat Productions
Is Geelong's premier live entertainment company. Founded by writer Colin Mockett and musician Shirley Power in the mid 1990s, Drop Of A Hat holds a central place in the region's culture. It's a production company capable of staging everything from a full-scale costumed re-enactment to celebrate a major anniversary, a high-quality glamorous musical concert to mark a big occasion or a night of rip-roaring comedy fun. It can also host a swinging live rock 'n roll night. It can provide speakers for meetings, colour for occasions, music for ambience, local information delivered with wit and style for conventions, costumed period entertainment for a theme night - or lead walking groups on interest-packed tours of Geelong's built history. But the company's stock-in trade is a list of original musical shows written and produced by by Colin, musically directed by Shirley - and featuring the finest talents in our region. The shows all have the same qualities...
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They'll feature fine quality live music.
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They are usually happy, fun and informative
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They are frequently backed by powerpoint images
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They always promote Geelong and its performers
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They're never smutty or use blue language
Behind the Drop Of A
Hat success is Shirley and Colin's links with most of the region's
entertainment music and theatre companies. They can draw upon the resources of a
stunning range of performers.
So
the company was able to bring together the Three Geelong Tenors for a big
glittering concert - then
create
the Geelong Philharmonic Orchestra to back them. (left) This show
earned a standing ovation from a packed Costa Hall and spawned a whole series of
top-class 'Concerts Of The Decade' to open successive Geelong Seniors Festivals
since.
These concerts - named because the feature music from every decade - starred super soloists including Three Geelong Divas -
again brought together by Drop Of A Hat. Then again, we put together a super-group
of Geelong musicians to present a whole evening of Beatles music (right) and
they earned a great reception, too.
Some of the big
occasions created by Drop Of A Hat include Geelong's stunningly
successful celebration for Australia's Centenary of Federation. This involved every entertainment group in Geelong
along with our politicians and councillors
- some 600 people in all. The day started as a
costumed re-creation of the
original ceremony in Johnstone Park, complete with original speeches and hymns led by a
costumed pith-helmeted brass band (right). (This was the Geelong West
Brass Band, resplendent in specially-created period costume). Following the
re-enactment, the band led a procession through the
streets to Geelong's waterfront, where an all-day free concert was staged
featuring every one of the city's entertainment groups. It was a measure of this
day's success that the rapt crowds remained during (an unusual) pelting storm of warm rain.
Drop Of A Hat 
provided
memorable entertainment and costumed characters for, among others; GMHBA's
75th birthday celebration (a wonderfully authentic 1930s dinner and ball) Matthew Flinders
School's 150th Celebration (left) Geelong
Council's 150th anniversary, Geelong Chamber Of Commerce's anniversary, St Leonards Centenary,
two National Servicemen's Conventions, Probus Club's National
Convention, Rotary Clubs Convention, VIEW Clubs National Convention, 150th
Anniversary of Geelong Highland Gathering, 75th Anniversary of the Great Ocean
Road, the Victorian element of the National Bonnet Blessing ceremony and many, many more.
Drop Of A Hat's live-on-stage shows include:
The Authentic Old Time Music Hall
a musical step back in time using a rich choice of Geelong performers dressed in wonderful finery presenting the hits of the London music halls in the happiest of atmospheres.
Robert Burns - A Life!
a musical biography of Scotland's Bard, his loves and lovers. This show was centrepiece to Victorian Robert Burns Club's Burns Bicentennial celebration dinner.
The Emerald Bard
a fascinating musical biography of Ireland's own Bard, Thomas Moore, and his loves and life. This show tells the story of the man who whote 'Tis The Last Rose Of Summer', 'The Minstrel Boy' and many more.
Remember Culloden!
the starkly tragic story - and music behind Bonnie Prince Charlie's failed rebellion, its place in in Scotland's - and Britain's history.
Lower The Laughter
featuring Robert Trott as Lennie Lower, the man who kept Australia laughing during the Great Depression. This show premiered during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Petticoat Pioneers and Difficult Women
The story of Australia's women convicts, their trials, their life - and the ballads written about them.
That Thing You Do On Australia
this show, presented by Shirley & Colin, tells the story of Australia in exactly 60 minutes. This includes songs, images and on-stage costume changes. It's among the most popular shows, having had a number of different titles - but it's usually booked by people asking... "Can you do that show, you know... that thing you do on Australia..."
Decade By Decade
another two-hander from Shirley & Colin, this show explores the 20th Century, decade by decade , featuring the fashions, fads, fantasies - and music of each.
Pivot City - the story of Geelong
Originally showcased at the National Folk Festival in Canberra when Victoria was the feature state, this musical show explores Geelong's rich history in a smooth mix of narration, music and images.
The Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman's Wife
three stand-ups in costume on stage present a cavalcade of jokes promoting gales of laughter.
The Bush Balladeers
presents live-on-stage profiles of Henry Lawson, Banjo Paterson and the other balladeers - featuring a swag that have been put to music.
Outback & In Tune
produced for The Year of the Outback, this hit show features the songs, poems, yarns and humour of the Australian bush.
The Authentic Geelong Old Time Music Hall
all those wonderful sing-along songs delivered in costume by some delightfully wacky glamorous performers - and almost held together by Chairman Colin
The Victorian Boo-Hiss Melodrama
set in authentic Barwon Heads at the turn of the 20th Century, this period musical has the lot - devious villain pursuing heroine's virtue, heroic deeds, pathos - and the wonderful music of the times.
The Way We Were
the happiest of nostalgic jaunts down memory lane featuring images of Geelong from the 1930s to the 1980s - and linking them to the hits of the times.
Country Roads - Take Me Home - The John Denver Story
featuring Geelong's Geoff Sinnbeck, the show tells the life, loves, tragedies and triumphs of the now legendary singer/songwriter.
Geelong's Grumpy Old Men - Live On Stage
presents Colin with Robert Trott and Bryan Eaton with grumpy old man-handler Shirley Power presenting home truths in the happiest and most tuneful of ways.
The World's Best Comedians Are Celts
following the internet poll that found four Celts - Chic Murray, Billy Connolly, Spike Milligan and Dave Allen in the world's top 5 funny men, this show profiles each, their lives, humour - and music
Archibald's Legacy
the story of J F Archibald, the larrikin anti-establishment journalist from Geelong who founded Australia's first national publication - The Bulletin - and with it, fashioned our nation's image.
For more details about these shows, or any of Geelong's Drop Of A Hat Productions
please contact Colin Mockett at mockett@optusnet.com.au
or phone (03) 5278 3768