Our History

Richard founded the Company in 1975 (originally called Seven’s Company because it consisted of seven Old Ignatians: six men and one woman) for Old Scholars wanting to continue their association with theatre after leaving school. This was Adelaide’s first such theatre. Over the years he worked tirelessly in the creation of many memorable pieces of theatre featuring a number of Old Scholars whose work has taken them into many different walks of life including the law, the judiciary, medicine, and teaching.

The early days of the Company saw both Old Scholars and a number of Jesuits, as well as lay staff being roped in to perform in productions of A Man for All Seasons (1976) and Murder in the Cathedral (1977). As Fr Paul Mull­ins wrote in his essay for the book Running Streams (celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the College), his own acting skills soon gave way to production roles including both lighting and sound, but more importantly costume design and production. Other memorable staff performances included Fr Norbett Olsen S.J. as the Common Man, Bishop Greg O’Kelly S.J as the Bishop (rather appropriate as it turns out), John Biele as Thomas Moore in the 1976 production of A Man for all Seasons and Dr Ed Heatley as Frank in the 1978 production of Equus. Not to be left out, Richard himself appeared as Thomas Cromwell in A Man for all Seasons. To say these early years were not without their difficulties would be an understatement, but for Richard, they were some of his happiest moments.

The 1980’s saw the Company experience a number of recession periods – 1982 to 84, again in 1986 and 1987, and one more period in 1989 and 1990. The resurgence of the Company from 1991 to 1997 was in no small part due to Richard’s indefatigable spirit and a large group of Old Scholars whose never give up attitude ensured that the Company remained viable until September 1997, when due to logistical, financial, and performance space constraints forced Richard to make the unenviable decision to close the Company.

In its time however it was a place of great creativity and endeavour where Old Scholars, Jesuits, and lay staff alike came together to produce amazing pieces of theatre, all under the artistic direction of one of the most passionate and determined theatre people I have ever had the privilege of knowing, our good friend and founder, Mr Richard Flynn.

The Seasons – 1975 to 1997

1975 Macbeth

1976 A Man for All Seasons

1977 Murder in the Cathedral

1978 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Singles and Doubles

1979 Equus

Black Comedy

Rookery Nook

1980 J.B.

The Physicists

The American Dream

1981 The Skin of our Teeth

Moby Dick – Rehearsed

The Legend of King O’Malley

1985 A Man for All Seasons

1988 The Golden Pathway Annual

1991 Winners Lovers Losers

1992 Black Comedy

The Two of Us

1993 The Sea

A Man for All Seasons

1994 Fortunate and Men’s Eyes

Dinner at Court

1995 Court Circles

Singles and Doubles

1997 The Importance of Being Earnest