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Born in Townsville, Karen had been involved with theatre since her early
days as a student at Pimlico High School. At age 15
she appeared as “Precious Stream” in the school’s play “Lady
Precious Stream”. This was entered in the 1966 Drama Festival
of One-Act Plays. In 1967 Karen again appeared in the Festival, this
time as “Ophelia” in “Hamlet: Act 1”.
Karen left school in 1967 and went to University. On completion of her
studies she accepted a teaching post at a school in Mount
Isa. She remained in Mount Isa for 13 years, and returned to Pimlico
High School in 1986. During
her time in Mount Isa, Karen directed school musicals, plays and
concerts and also became a member of the Mount Isa
Theatrical Society. She also sang in one of their musicals!
On returning to Townsville Karen quickly became part of the local
theatre scene, working on school productions and with local
theatre groups. She did most jobs in and around the theatre: acting,
producing, directing, stage managing, set design, sound
and lighting, costuming and working back stage.
Karen became Head of Performing & Visual Arts Department at Pimlico
High School and since 1992 was the Artistic Director of
the annual “Pimlico Presents” Variety Concert. Karen was also a
co-founder of Props Youth Theatre Co, and involved with
the local band Ravens which started at Pimlico High School.
The annual Festival of One-Act Plays brought Karen enormous success. Her
high school productions won many awards. In 1993
her first one-act play production “Apples” gained her a Best
Director Award, the first of many between then and 2011. Karen
also directed musicals for NQOMT and The Townsville Choral Society and
plays for Townsville Little Theatre. She won
the Townsville City Council Performing Arts Award in 2002 for directing
the NQOMT musical “Chicago”. For the Choral
Society, she directed “Beauty and the Beast” on two occasions and
“Spamalot” in 2010.
Over the years Karen has directed many plays for Townsville Little
Theatre, including – “Hotel Sorrento” in 1995, Sir Terry Pratchett’s
plays “Wyrd Sisters”, “Maskerade”, “The Truth”, “Guards
Guards” and “Mort” between 2004 and 2009. She also
directed “Late Arrival” 1995 One-Act Play Festival, 1996 “I Hate
Hamlet”, 1997 “Play On” and “The Kite” (a one-act play),
in 2007 “I want to be in a Jane Austen Novel”, and in 2010 “Dinkum
Assorted”.
Wife, mother, sister, teacher, director and a very fine person, Karen
will be sorely missed by everyone she ever came into contact
with. However, the
Townsville Bulletin headline on 25th April 2011 said it all…“Her
legacy will live on in her students”.
Karen would have been proud of her students at the 2011 Festival of
One-Act Plays, “The Guardians”, written by Karen, winning
Best Junior Play, Best Director and Best Unpublished Play.
by Gordon Hodgson - Performing Arts Historical Society
Townsville
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