By KATIE DE VERTEUIL
NOOSA Arts Theatre is renowned as one of the shire’s prime cultural centres, greatly popular with both locals and tourists alike throughout the year.
It is however, the dedication of a small group of humble yet hard-working volunteers that truly is the life of the local theatre.
Lurking behind the scenes every Tuesday and Thursday morning are the delightful members of “Secret Men’s Business’ (SMB), a motley crew drawn together through mutual love of the arts, creativity flare and home-baked choc-chip cookies.
Hours of their time are spent preparing costumes, sets, electrics and much more to ensure that each performance at the theatre goes above and beyond the audience’s expectations.
The group has been around for almost 50 years, dating back to the original establishment of the arts theatre.
While the members are all too spritely to have been around since the beginning, many have been part of the SMB for at least 20 years.
Aged between 60 and 85, most of the volunteers are men, indeed in the last couple of years the group has become affiliated with the Men’s Shed initiative.
There are however, two lovely and highly talented ladies responsible for the costumes and keeping the men in order of course.
Nelson and Barbara Tomlin have been volunteering with SMB for the past 28 years.
Both lovers of the theatre, the couple enjoy both the company of the group and the satisfaction which comes as a result of their hard work.
“There is definitely a huge sense of satisfaction,” Barbara said.
“When the curtains open and reveal the set,and you hear the reactions from the crowd, it is always a very proud moment.”
The group’s newest member Brent Harvey is only two months in and he is already loving it.
“It’s a very open and welcoming group, with diverse skill sets and personalities that just work so perfectly together,” Brent said.
“The other day I found myself asking if I had to go home,” he laughed.
Fortunately for Brent, there is no expectation that he will be leaving anytime soon, in fact it seems that once in, you’re in for life.
“It’s a great bunch of people and a way for us to use our skills and give back to the community,” fellow member Mike Nixon added.
“ We all have a really good time too, why would we want to leave.”
Noosa Arts Theatre’s Jodie Brezzi said the theatre would be lost without the help of SMB.
“ Our 12 men are simply terrific – to surround sound music they sweat, hammer, drill, paint, saw and laugh,” she said.
“Not only this, they design all of our sets and create brilliant lighting and sound systems.
They have real verve and are an invaluable part of Noosa Arts Theatres’ silent volunteers.”
The SMB team are currently working on the set and costumes for the upcoming One Act Play Festival, which is sure to be another hit.
