Local Theatre Hero

In Melbourne, the 2012 Frankston Relay for Life has being named in memory of local theatre identity Sue Dyer. 

Sue was a founding member of PLOS, later becoming a Life Member as well as holding the position of President for a number of years.

The Relay for Life is run for cancer research and support programmes. The organising committee have named Sue Dyer OAM as the inaugural Local Hero. 

PLOS is extremely proud that Sue is being honoured and remembered in this way. 

After a long battle with Illness, Sue passed away in November 2010.

As well as being a matriarch of PLOS, she was a champion for amateur musical theatre everywhere.

In 2005 Sue was awarded the Edith Harry Award from the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria for her outstanding service to amateur theatre, and in 2009 Sue was similarly recognised with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) at Government House in Melbourne.

With her husband Arch she also wrote a series of children’s musicals. Their version of Pinocchio was performed earlier this year by the Brisbane Arts Theatre.

Sue and Arch Dyer's musicals are represented by David Spicer Productions.

This Saturday Night – September 8th @ 7:30pm – Team Sue, in association with PLOS, is presenting a fund-raising event for the Frankston Relay For Life.

PLOS says this will be an experience not to be missed, a night of very live, very impromptu and very funny...entertainment! Stand-up comedy & theatrical satisfaction is guaranteed! This is presented in Cube 37 - so seats will be limited - do not miss out!

All tickets are $25 and can be purchased from 03 9784 1060 or online.

As a young woman, Sue was the Chairman of the Malton and Norton Operatic Society in North Yorkshire from 1970 – 1972 and was heavily involved in the English pantomime scene. At the end of 1972, Sue travelled the high seas to Australia as a ‘ten pound migrant’ on a working holiday. She found herself on the Mornington Peninsula and promptly become involved with PLOS Musical Productions. Needless to say, Sue never returned home. She was a member of PLOS from 1972.

1989 saw Sue and Arch, together with two other couples, create Rainbow Theatre; a company that would re-create the traditional English pantomime at Christmas. This link back to her early days in theatre was incredibly ambitious. With her own money on the line, Sue believed in the tradition of the English pantomime and the magic associated with presenting such performances to young Australian families. Good, clean, family entertainment was what it was all about. Sue helped write these productions and acted as the company’s Administrator. These shows became a regular feature on the calendar of many families on the Peninsula, and seeing the ‘Rainbow Panto’ was a must. With casts over 100, and sell-out seasons of over 11 shows, Rainbow Theatre was an extremely important part of the history of theatre on the Mornington Peninsula, and helped to launch many successful professional careers.

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