By Romy Stephens
A group effort from theatres across the eastern region has seen about $5600 donated to CFA groups and Healesville Sanctuary.
From the Ashes was a bushfire benefit concert held at the 1812 Theatre in Upper Ferntree Gully on 9 February.
The concert saw an afternoon of song, theatre, poems and comedy from theatre groups across the east such as the Peridot Theatre, Ark Theatre, Lilydale Athenaeum, Eltham Theatre, How Dramatic, 1812 and the Mooroolbark Theatre Group.
Profits from ticket sales went to District 11 Bairnsdale and the Upper Ferntree Gully Fire Brigade.
Meanwhile, funds raised from a raffle and cake stall at the event went to Healesville Sanctuary to help out with koalas.
Fundraiser organiser, Phillip Stephenson said the whole event took about four weeks to organise.
“I was sitting at home thinking is there something we can do with the theatre community,” he said.
“I just sent out an SOS to everybody and all the theatre companies around this side of Victoria.
“I didn’t think it was going to sell because it was a weekend and we had four tickets sold.
“Within two weeks we had sold out the whole thing.”
Mr Stephenson said he was pleased to see theatre groups join forces for a great cause.
“We don’t really see that a lot because each theatre group has their own individual events and don’t mix,” he said.
“For the actual theatre groups to work together I think that’s one of the first times it was actually done.
“I was really proud to see them come together.”
