Gemco is a community theatre company set in Emerald, Victoria, with an emphasis on quality performance and a friendly atmosphere.
The name Gemco stands for the townships in the Ranges: Gembrook, Emerald, Monbulk, Macclesfield, Menzies Creek, and Cockatoo Community Theatre.
The aims and objectives of Gemco Players are:
- To encourage community involvement in the performing arts
- To develop skills in all aspects of theatre
- To provide live entertainment to the people of Emerald and the surrounding district
- To provide a vehicle for locally written productions
- To manage and maintain The Gem Community Arts Centre as a community-oriented venue for arts related activities, public and private meeting and occasional classes and events as may be requested by various community groups.
Gemco proudly runs a successful youth program, firmly believing in the benefits of theatre to young people. Gemco has had thousands of young people involved in its Youth/Children’s programs.
All leaders, board and committee members give their time voluntarily. The youth theatre has grown over the last 20 years from 15 young people, to over 100 young people each week. Many young people have completed all youth programs and are still involved in Gemco to this day.
Gemco proudly hosts:
- The Dandenong Ranges One Act Play Festival. A competitive event between groups from all over the state, this one being known as “the friendly festival” and also one of the few that offers Youth prizes. This event is held each year, having started in the local community hall and now hosted in our beautiful theatre.
- Take Ten Writers Festival as a playwriting competition for playwrights. The top 10 plays are performed and published.
- Gemco also produces 2-3 major productions each year, as well as partnering with the PAVED Festival and supporting improv groups, a monthly open stage, supporting new writers and training people in back of house and front of house activities.
- The Gem Community Arts Centre is available for hire and offers the community appealing facilities for parties and events. The restored railway carriage becomes a pop-up bar annually and is used throughout the year for various events.
- Gemco has solar and battery capacity that provides a community space during adverse weather events, thanks to a major grant from Ausnet.
The aims and objectives of Gemco Players are:
- To encourage community involvement in the performing arts
- To develop skills in all aspects of theatre
- To provide live entertainment to the people of Emerald and the surrounding district
- To provide a vehicle for locally written productions
- To manage and maintain The Gem Community Arts Centre as a community-oriented venue for arts related activities, public and private meeting and occasional classes and events as may be requested by various community groups.
Gemco proudly runs a successful youth program, firmly believing in the benefits of theatre to young people. Gemco has had thousands of young people involved in its Youth/Children’s programs.
All leaders, board and committee members give their time voluntarily. The youth theatre has grown over the last 20 years from 15 young people, to over 100 young people each week. Many young people have completed all youth programs and are still involved in Gemco to this day.
Gemco proudly hosts:
- The Dandenong Ranges One Act Play Festival. A competitive event between groups from all over the state, this one being known as “the friendly festival” and also one of the few that offers Youth prizes. This event is held each year, having started in the local community hall and now hosted in our beautiful theatre.
- Take Ten Writers Festival as a playwriting competition for playwrights. The top 10 plays are performed and published.
- Gemco also produces 2-3 major productions each year, as well as partnering with the PAVED Festival and supporting improv groups, a monthly open stage, supporting new writers and training people in back of house and front of house activities.
- The Gem Community Arts Centre is available for hire and offers the community appealing facilities for parties and events. The restored railway carriage becomes a pop-up bar annually and is used throughout the year for various events.
- Gemco has solar and battery capacity that provides a community space during adverse weather events, thanks to a major grant from Ausnet.
