Sleeping Beauty to wake up Geelong Arts Centre

A GEELONG-BASED theatre company is hard at work perfecting their production of a panto classic following a three-year absence.

Medimime Productions is back in the spotlight, raising funds for Barwon Health’s Swanston Centre by bringing to life the enchanting love story of Sleeping Beauty, which opens on Friday, November 10.

Medimime Productions president Scott Graham said Medimime had staged many productions over the years, providing the greater Geelong community with top-tier entertainment.

“Medimime Productions is thrilled to be back with Sleeping Beauty, the enchanting love story set over the course of 118 years, at the newly refurbished Geelong Arts Centre.

“Since its beginnings, Medimime has raised more than $560,000 for Barwon Health and its vital services provided to our region.

“Medimime’s Sleeping Beauty is the classic children’s tale remixed to include modern pop music, featuring songs from some of the world’s biggest artists over the past 60 years.

“Tickets are on sale now for this dreamy pantomime.”

 

 

Medimime Productions is an amateur theatrical group, initially formed by a small group of medical professionals from the then-Geelong Hospital to raise funds for crucial hospital equipment.

The first pantomime in 1974, Cinderella, raised $2,200 for the purchase of a Bennett respirator for the Intensive Therapy Unit.

This year, all funds raised by Medimime will be donated directly to the Swanston Centre for a new project supporting therapeutic groups for acute patients.

Sleeping Beauty director and local Alcohol and Other Drugs support worker, Paige van der Chys, is thrilled to be leading this year’s performers,

“Raising money for such important services in our community is vital to the health and wellbeing of all Geelong residents,” Ms van der Chys said.

Over the past decade, pharmacists Alicia Neels, Julie Taylor, and Erin Bloye have been a part of several Medimime pantomimes, held positions on the committee, and have directly helped raise more than $200,000 in that time.

“The friendships you make, with such an eclectic group of people, along with the singing and dancing, is a super fun way to spend your weeknights,” Ms Bloye said.

All three will again swap their pharmacy garb for the finest pantomime attire for Sleeping Beauty, which runs until November 17.

For more information, head to geelongartscentre.org.au/whats-on/all-events/medimime-productions-presents-sleeping-beauty