About ALOTCO
About Albany Light Opera & Theatre Company Inc.
Until 1993, the Company rehearsed in a number of venues, but had to use other facilities, such as the Albany Town Hall, to actually put on performances.
When the Company was offered the use of one half of the former transit shed owned by the Albany Port Authority, little time was lost in turning the empty shell of the building into the facility that now bears the title of Albany Port Theatre. There has been an ongoing programme to improve the theatre to provide more comfort for audiences and performers and to upgrade the technical and public facilities
We at ALOTCO are very proud of the Port Theatre and its history and our tradition of providing high quality entertainment. We continue to provide an artistic outlet for many fine and enthusiastic performers and musicians from the Albany district and several of our former members have gone on to careers in the arts in Australia and internationally.
About Albany Port Theatre
The building has 240m2 auditorium/foyer and can seat approx. 200 (row) and 150 (table/row). The building contains a kitchen, sewing room, public toilets and stage.
Backstage has cast toilets/showers, 2 change-rooms, makeup area, props design workshop and props storage loft. Offsite a container and storage shed for scenery and large props. See below for seating plan images.
History of the Albany Light Opera & Theatre Company
The first production was the musical New Moon in 1962, performed in the Town Hall. A succession of musicals followed and the Company gained a reputation for quality performances of the talented players from Albany and surrounding districts.
Rehearsals and storage of costumes took place in a variety of venues until 1965 when the Company was able to get a peppercorn lease on the property that is now Dylans. Later, about 1970, they were able to purchase the old glass factory in David Street. In the long term that was a less than ideal location and when the opportunity to obtain a lease from what was then the Albany Port Authority, in half of a disused transit shed for goods to and from ship to road and rail, it was eagerly taken up.
The Company moved in 1991 and immediately turned the bare shell into a theatre. The first production in the new premises was Old Time Music Hall in 1993. Around this time it was felt that a change of name was appropriate and we became the Albany Light Opera and Theatre Company and also became an incorporated body.
A program of improvement is still ongoing with the Company dedicated to creating better facilities for members and audiences. With audience tastes changing the Company has taken on the challenges of popular modern shows such as Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera. These have brought out the amazing talent that is in our community. Some, of quite early years when first appearing, have gone on to be professional entertainers. Others, not so ambitious, have stayed with the Company for many years, in some cases over 50! There are others who prefer not to be seen and provide the creative and technical support necessary for the performance of our productions.
The ALOTCO Committee
FIONA KUIPER
CARMEN FASOLO
MAUREEN REITZE
JANE REYNARD
Get Involved!
The ALOTCO Shows from 1962 - Present
New Moon - Town Hall, April 1962
Desert Song - Town Hall, December 1962
Doctor In the House - Town Hall, January 1963
Desert Song - Gnowangerup, January 1963
The Rope - Mt Barker, August 1963
White Horse Inn - Town Hall, November 1963
The Proposal - Albany, June 1964
Cavalcade of Mirth & Music - Town Hall, August 1964
Vagabond King - Town Hall, January 1965
United Productions - Mt Barker/Denmark/Albany, April 1965
Oklahoma - Town Hall, July 1965
Where the Cross is Made - Albany, August 1965
The Merry Widow - Town Hall, February 1966
The Happiest Days of Your Life - Empire Theatre, August 1966
Salad Days - Empire Theatre, November 1966
Gypsy Baron - Town Hall, June 1967
The Wizard of Oz - Town Hall, December 1967
Rose Marie - Town Hall, Jan/Feb 1968
Carousel - Town Hall, October 1968
The Desert Song - Town Hall, July/Aug 1969
Aladdin - Town Hall, December 1969
My Fair Lady - Town Hall, Sept/Oct 1970
Annie Get Your Gun - Town Hall, June 1971
How He Lied To Her Husband - Town Hall, October 1971
Jack and the Beanstalk - Town Hall, December 1971
1066 and All That Jazz - Town Hall, June 1972
Robinson Crusoe - Town Hall, Nov/Dec 1972
Pyjama Game - May 1973
Arsenic and Old Lace - Town Hall, July 1973
The Bride and the Bachelor - Albert Hall, October 1973
Tricky Dicky Whittington - Town Hall, November 1973
Cross Eyes - Scots Church, April 1974
Viva Mexico - Town Hall, July 1974
Choral Concert - Town Hall, October 1974
Old King Cole - Town Hall, December 1974
Blithe Spirit - Town Hall, May 1975
HMS Pinafore - Town Hall and Mt Barker, August 1975
Cinderella - Town Hall, November 1975
Kiss Me Kate - Town Hall, June/July 1976
Rebecca - Town Hall, September 1976
Goldilocks - Town Hall, December 1976
Mikado - Town Hall, April 1977
Sealers Sheilas Soldiers & Swells - Town Hall, September 1977
Puss in Boots - Town Hall, Nov/Dec 1977
Waltzes of Vienna - Town Hall, June 1978
Old Time Music Hall - Town Hall, September 1978
Jack and the Beanstalk - Town Hall, Nov/Dec 1978
Old Time Music Hall Extravaganza - Town Hall, May 1979
See How They Run - Town Hall, August 1979
Aladdin - Town Hall, Nov/Dec 1979
Calamity Jane - Town Hall, May 1980
The Amorous Prawn - Town Hall, September 1980
Old Time Music Hall - Town Hall, November 1980
Dancing Years - December 1980
Oklahoma - Albert Hall, August 1981
Cinderella - Albert Hall, December 1981
Old Time Music Hall - South Coast Progress Hall, June 1982
Merrie England - Town Hall, November 1983
White Horse Inn - Town Hall, June/July 1984
When We Are Married - Town Hall, September 1984
Picnic At Hanging Rock - February 1985
Brigadoon - Town Hall, July 1985
Mother Goose - Town Hall, Nov/Dec 1985
On Our Selection - Town Hall, May 1986
Toad of Toad Hall - July 1986
Wait Until Dark - Town Hall, Mar/April 1987
New Moon - Town hall, June/July 1987
Old Time Music Hall - Masonic Hall, Sept/Oct 1987
Old Time Music Hall - Stirling Club, Sept/Oct 1987
Old Time Music Hall - North Road Soccer Club, Sept/Oct 1987
Goldilocks and the Three Bears - Town Hall, December 1987
On the Wallaby - February 1988
On Our Selection - Town Hall, June 1988
Dracula - June 1988
Old Time Music Hall - North Road Soccer Club, Nov/Dec 1988
3 in 1 - Spectrum Theatre, Feb/Mar 1989
Old Time Music Hall - Stirling Club, March 1989
Zip Goes a Million - Town Hall, August 1989
The Old Selection - February 1990
Spring Follies - Masonic Hall, September 1990
Variety Show - Town Hall, October 1990
Kiss Me Kate - Town Hall, November 1990
HMS Pinafore - July 1991
Trio of Comedy - Albert Hall, August 1991
Old Time Music Hall - Shed behind Wombat Lodge, Jan/Feb 1992
Our Legend of Dog Rock - Albert Hall, April 1992
An Intimate Evening of Plays - Albert Hall, May/June 1992
Pearls (30th Anniversary) - Town Hall, August 1992
Old Time Music Hall - Lions Day Care Centre, January 1993
A Night Behind the Green Door - Shed behind Wombat Lodge, April 1993
Hotel Paradise - May 1993
Wizard of Oz - Town Hall, September 1993
Old Time Music Hall - Lions Day Care Centre, January 1994
Another Night Behind the Green Door - Centennial Oval Hall, April/May 1994
Humpty Dumpty - Town Hall, July 1994
Absence of One - Town Hall, Oct/Nov 1994
Old Time Music Hall - Port Theatre, April 1995
The Boyfriend - Town Hall, August 1995
Dracula - Port Theatre, Oct/Nov 1995
Dick Whittington - Port Theatre, Jan/Feb 1996
Hooray for Hollywood - Port Theatre, May/June 1996
Old Time Music Hall - Port Theatre, Dec/Jan 1996
My Fair Lady - Town Hall, June 1997
Alice - Port Theatre, Nov/Dec 1997
Viva Mexico - Port Theatre, April/May 1998
Let’s Shine - Port Theatre, October 1998
The Three Musketeers - Port Theatre, May/June 1999
Murder at the Music Hall - Port Theatre, September 1999
An O Henry Christmas - Port Theatre, Nov/Dec 1999
Dazzle - Port Theatre, May 2000
Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves - Port Theatre, Nov/Dec 2000
Pirate of Penzance - Port Theatre, May/June 2001
Jesus Christ Superstar - Port Theatre, October 2001
Old Time Music Hall 40th Anniversary - Port Theatre, April/May 2002
The Sound of Music - Port Theatre, September 2002
Variety Show Tribute to Broadway - Port Theatre, November 2002
Senior Citizens’ Variety Concert - Port Theatre, December 2002
Spectacular Talents of Albany - Port Theatre, January 2003
His Majesty’s Pleasure - Port Theatre, April 2003
Beauty and the Beast - Port Theatre, October 2003
The Roasted Oscars - Port Theatre, November 2003
HMS Pinafore - Port Theatre, May 2004
Moulin Ruse - Port Theatre, October 2004
The Roasted Oscars - Port Theatre, November 2004
Oliver - Port Theatre, May 2005
Nunsense - Port Theatre, Sept/Oct 2005
Aboard the Good Ship Venus - Port Theatre, Nov/Dec 2005
The Roasted Oscars - Port Theatre, December 2005
Gypsy Baron - Port Theatre, May 2006
Music Hall Capers - Port Theatre, September 2006
Puss in Boots - Port Theatre, November 2006
The Roasted Oscars - Port Theatre, December 2006
Annie - Port Theatre, May 2007
Gumshoe - Port Theatre, Aug/Sept 2007
Musical Showcase - Port Theatre, Oct/Nov 2007
The Roasted Oscars - Port Theatre, November 2007
Les Miserables - Port Theatre, May 2008
The King and I - Port Theatre, Oct/Nov 2008
The Roasted Oscars - Port Theatre, December 2008
70 Girls 70 - Port Theatre, April/May 2009
Carmen Jones - July 2009
Let's Shine Again - Port Theatre, Oct/Nov 2009
Man of La Mancha - Port Theatre, May 2010
What's Up in Sherwood! - Port Theatre, September 2010
The Gondoliers - February 2011
The Roasted Oscars - Port Theatre, February 2011
Cosi - May 2011
Nuncrackers - Port Theatre, Nov/Dec 2011
Jesus Christ Superstar - Port Theatre, May 2012
A Grand Concert - Port Theatre, July 2012
50th Anniversary - Port Theatre, August 2012
Hansel and Gretel - Port Theatre, December 2012
The Roasted Oscars - December 2012
Curtains - Port Theatre, May/June 2013
The Phantom of the Opera - Port Theatre, October 2013
The Roasted Oscars - Port Theatre, December 2013
Blood Brothers - Port Theatre, May 2014
Let's Shine Forever - Port Theatre, October 2014
The Roasted Oscars - Port Theatre, December 2014
Sing As We Go ANZAC Tribute - Town Hall, April 2015
Spamalot - Port Theatre, May 2016
Mary Poppins - Port Theatre, November 2016
The Sound of Music - Port Theatre, May 2017
The Magic of Musicals - Port Theatre, August 2017
Let's Shine Together - Port Theatre, November 2017
Little Shop of Horrors - Port Theatre, May 2018
It's Been a Long Long Time - Port Theatre, November 2018
Beauty and the Beast - Port Theatre, May 2019
Albany's Got Talent - Port Theatre, August 2019
Let's Shine Brightly - Port Theatre, Nov/Dec 2019
Urinetown the Musical - Port Theatre, September 2020
ALOTCo's Got Talent - Port Theatre, November 2020
Musical of Musicals - Port Theatre, May 2021
Seussical the Musical - Port Theatre, October 2021
Mamma Mia - Port Theatre, November 2022
Grease - Port Theatre, Oct/Nov 2023