A little piece of theatre history will be made this October, when the curtain rises on Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company’s second major production for 2026, the British comedy hit ‘Allo ‘Allo.
In a departure from the usual stage layout that audiences have come to expect from Production Line comedies – one main set – this fast-moving comedy will feature a giant turntable, or ‘revolve’, which will permit a number of different sets to be brought on-stage with minimal delay between scenes.
“It’s a feature that you’ll see in many larger theatres here and overseas,” said ‘Allo ‘Allo set designer Roy Rooney.
“But as a rule it’s a permanent fixture in the building. Bairnsdale’s Forge Theatre isn’t designed for such technical wizardry – so we decided to build one ourselves.”
The revolve is almost seven metres in diameter, almost the full depth of the Forge Theatre’s stage, and permits two complete sets to be placed across it, back-to-back, so that either can be rotated to face the audience.
As the comedy continues on one side, stage hands will move furniture as actors take their places on the other side, out of sight of the audience, and literally revolve into view at the appropriate moment.
Peter Martignoles has been building sets for Production Line shows for the past 12 years, and knows what a boon the revolve will be to the company – although it has its challenges.
“The walls of each set don’t obligingly stop at the perimeter of the revolve, so we have to make extra panels that line up perfectly with the revolve walls,” Mr Martignoles said.
“Similarly, because we obviously can’t sink it into the Forge Theatre’s stage, there will be a step up to the revolve, which we’re overcoming in part by building a raised deck around it. It’s a huge undertaking, but it’ll be worth it when opening night comes around.”
Right now, the revolve is under construction by local company Lateral Projects in Johnsonville.
With dozens of upside-down castors being fitted to a web-like steel frame, it looks every bit the precision-cut mechanism that it is.
Triple-layered, interlocked plywood panels will be laid onto the castors, forming a tightly-locked floor that will revolve while the metal web sits stationary beneath.
Once the welding is completed, it will all be broken down into pie-shaped wedges for transport, first to Production Line’s rehearsal studio to enable the actors to familiarise themselves with it, and then to the Forge Theatre prior to ‘Allo ‘Allo’s opening night on October 15.
It will then have its ‘baptism of fire’ over five performances, before being dismantled and stored, ready for its next call to action.
“Thanks to the generous advice and involvement of Cheltenham Light Opera Company, who have a similar revolve, we’ve managed to design and build this for a fraction of the cost of similar professional units,” Mr Rooney said.
“It’s still a sizeable investment, but it’s well worth it – and we might even be able to hire it out to other theatre companies, or for commercial displays.”
Meanwhile, back at the studio, painters and carpenters are busily preparing the various components of the ‘Allo ‘Allo set , and the actors are rehearsing on a precisely-scribed circle – on a flat floor – waiting for their new toy to arrive.
East Gippsland’s theatre-going public can see the revolve in action when ‘Allo ‘Allo opens at the Forge Theatre, from October 15–18.
Tickets are on sale via the Production Line facebook page, or the Forge Theatre website.
