Local play Pilbara Pan wins rave reviews

The first locally-produced theatrical production to be performed at Karratha’s Red Earth Arts Precinct proved a hit with local audiences over three showings on Saturday and Sunday.

At least 1200 people turned out to REAP to cheer, boo and laugh their way through Pitter Pat Productions’ original pantomime Pilbara Pan, which told the story of a ragtag band of lost boys, wildcats and fairies on a mission to free the Pilbara mine sites of “Tio Rinto” and their FIFO workers from a takeover by Captain Hook and his pirates.

Pitter Pat Productions co-founder, show director and stage manager Danielle Chamberlain said she was proud of the entirely local cast and crew, which included many first-time performers, for banding together to put on an “outstanding” series of performances. She said she had been “overwhelmed” at audiences’ enthusiastic response to the play over its run.

“So far all the feedback has been positive,” she said.

“We sold out two shows and had to put on a third one.”

“I think there’s definitely been a need for community theatre here and I’m hoping that we’ve filled that gap.”

Pilbara Pan was written by Pitter Pat Productions co-founder Chris Heaton and has been in development for more than six months, with cast and crew members attending three rehearsals a week in preparation.

Participant interest was so great the play had to be rewritten to accommodate a much larger cast than intended and the show’s original one-show run was extended to three due to audience demand.

Performer Lee Tattam, who played Nana, said the production had provided an opportunity for him to get back into theatre after 18 years away from the stage.

He said it had been good to see the play bring people from all kinds of performing backgrounds together.

“We’ve got a lot of newbies here and a lot of people that have performed before through school and other groups,” he said.

“It’s just an amazing cast with a really good base of experience which has made for an awesome show.”

Ms Chamberlain said Pitter Pat Productions would aim to put on one large-scale production and another smaller performance each year.

She thanked everyone who had helped make the production possible.