A SMALL group of local theatre performers and technicians are hoping to bring more original content to Bendigo stages.
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That's Classic Entertainment had a successful premiere in December when they presented and sold out their first revue.
Founding member James 'JB' Bodin said it was an exciting time for the group of friends following their success in December.
"We had no idea what to expect but the hope is always to sell out," he said. "The company itself has been doing things for about two years but just very low key."
As well as producing more of their own work, That's Classic Entertainment hope to help more original performing arts content get developed in Bendigo.
"The importance of creating independent work is paramount," JB said. "The (performing arts) industry from every angle is so young and so fragile because of (a lack of) funding.
"Bendigo is at point where we are a driving creative force. It is important to us to be making stuff in own our back yard.
"Original work, even if you're taking inspiration from somewhere else, is important."
The group consists of JB, his wife Kyrilee Bodin and performers Scott Middleton, James Shaw and Hannah Smith and between them have a long list of expertise.
Middleton trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and helped run a talent agency in London and Smith has made a name for herself in burlesque and helping popularise comedy burlesque.
Kyrilee has trained as a professional stage and production manager, JB is a professional theatre technician and lighting designer while Shaw is an audio engineer and voice-over artists.
"We have all upskilled ourselves and made something of ourselves in the industry," JB said.
"We are treating this as a starting point and we'll have an intensive debrief but we have high hopes this is the starting point of many things to come."
But even with their growing list of talents, it has taken time for the group to put out their first revue.
"Our starting point was the five of us, we have been talking about it for six or seven years," JB said.
"Scott, Hannah and Kyrilee grew up together and James and I meet on a theatre tour in Melbourne.
"We all shared a love of classic revue and comedy like Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Danny Kaye, Judy Garland and spanning through the eras from there."
"Over the last seven years, we have waited to find place where we are all in same spot. It's been cascading and snowballing to (the December show) from what we have been doing in own ventures."