History
The Adamson Theatre Company
Each of the St Kilda Road campus's four main theatrical productions - the Senior School and Middle School plays, and the Campus and Junior School musicals - is performed under the banner of the Adamson Theatre Company. Named after the famous venue which is its home, the 'Company' was conceived in 1988 by the then campus head, Tony Conabere, to bring together the theatrical aspirations in each of the new mini-schools, and to centralize budgeting and administration. The idea of a theatre company also aimed at highlighting the honoured position of theatre arts within the broader cocurricular program, and to consolidate the campus's long tradition of plays and musicals (before coeducation, in frequent partnership with other schools).
Artistic Director
2012 - Present: Marcus Pinnell
The Adamson Theatre Company is proud to welcome Marcus Pinnell as its newly appointed Artistic Director.
1989 - 2011: Tony Scanlon
Tony Scanlon was appointed the first Director of the Adamson Theatre Company in 1989. Many of those who, under his leadership, were responsible for each year's theatre program (stage and technical directors and the costume department) have been involved since before the Company's official recognition. They have, between them, along with others who have since left, brought countless plays to life on the stage. The Adamson Theatre Company has already established a rich and continuing heritage.
Patron
The Adamson theatre Company is honoured to have Carrillo Gantner AO as its Patron. Carrillo has a long and distinguished career in the arts, arts administration and the theatre. He was named 2007 Victorian of the Year for his lifetime of philanthropic activities fuelled by his passion for the arts and enthusiasm for Victoria. He was held numerous roles over the years, including serving as cultural counsellor at the Australian embassy in Beijing, Melbourne city councillor, the chairman of Asialink, the Sidney Myer Fund, the Australia Council Theatre Board and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and his present position as chairman of the Victorian Art Centre.
Archives
The online archival of our history is being made possible thanks to the generosity of a Wesley family. Their bequest has enabled us to start the process of putting together the history of Drama at Wesley College. Below is a work in progress of our online archives that includes the students involved in each production over the past 35 years, student profiles, past programs, photos, videos and reviews. If you have a piece of Adamson Theatre Company's history that we are missing - we'd love to include it in the online archives; please email boxoffice@wesleytheatre.net
Profile Search
Search the archives for your profile or a classmate's.
Past Productions
| Season | Name | School | |
| 2011 | Disney's Aladdin Jr. | Lower Middle School Musical |  |
| 2011 | The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe | Middle School Musical |  |
| 2011 | Kiss Me Kate | Campus Musical | |
| 2011 | The Pirates of Penzance | Campus Musical | |
| 2011 | The Silver Sword | Middle School Play | |
| 2011 | Cloudstreet | Senior School Play |  |
| 2011 | Oh! What a Literary War! | Special Event | |
| 2010 | Alice in Wonderland | Lower Middle School Musical | |
| 2010 | Just So | Middle School Musical | |
| 2010 | Barnum | Campus Musical | |
| 2010 | Chess | Campus Musical | |
| 2010 | Our Town | Middle School Play | |
| 2010 | A Streetcar Named Desire | Senior School Play | |
| 2009 | Pirates of Penzance | Lower Middle School Musical | |
| 2009 | The Wizard of Oz | Middle School Musical | |
| 2009 | Hair | Campus Musical | |
| 2009 | Pink Panther | Middle School Play | |
| 2009 | The Clink | Senior School Play | |
| 2008 | Season 2008 Launch | Special Event | |
| 2008 | Cabaret | Campus Musical | |
| 2008 | Much Ado About Nothing | Middle School Play | |
| 2008 | Seussical | Middle School Musical | |
| 2008 | Dido Ananias | Special Event | |
| 2008 | Annie | Campus Musical | |
| 2008 | The Importance of Being Earnest | Senior School Play | |
| 2007 | HONK! | Middle School Musical | |
| 2007 | Hot Mikado | Campus Musical | |
| 2007 | I Was A Teenage Dracula | Middle School Play | |
| 2007 | Stags & Hens | Senior School Play | |
| 2006 | Bugsy | Middle School Musical | |
| 2006 | Les Miserable | Campus Musical | |
| 2006 | Ubu Rex | Theatre Studies Play | |
| 2006 | Lysistrata | Senior School Play | |
| 2005 | It Happened in Hamelin | Middle School Musical | |
| 2005 | Footloose | Campus Musical | |
| 2005 | Romeo and Juliet | Middle School Play | |
| 2005 | Antigone | Senior School Play | |
| 2004 | Sign of the Seahorse | Middle School Musical | |
| 2004 | My Fair Lady | Campus Musical | |
| 2004 | The War of the Worlds | Middle School Play | |
| 2004 | Equus | Senior School Play | |
| 2003 | The Adventures of Mr Toad | Middle School Musical | |
| 2003 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Campus Musical | |
| 2003 | The Demon Headmaster | Middle School Play | |
| 2003 | A Midsummer Night's dream | Senior School Play | |
| 2002 | Peter Pan | Middle School Musical | |
| 2002 | Fame | Campus Musical | |
| 2002 | M29 Live | Middle School Play | |
| 2002 | Medea | Senior School Play | |
| 2001 | 284 - Back in One Second | Middle School Musical | |
| 2001 | The Boyfriend | Campus Musical | |
| 2001 | Fifteen strings of Cash | Middle School Play | |
| 2001 | The Freedom of the City | Senior School Play | |
| 2000 | Kable Kidz | Middle School Musical | |
| 2000 | Oklahoma | Campus Musical | |
| 2000 | From Cool to Sick | Middle School Play | |
| 2000 | Doctor Faustus | Senior School Play | |
| 1999 | The Wizard of Oz | Middle School Musical | |
| 1999 | West Side Story | Campus Musical | |
| 1999 | Death in the Limelight | Middle School Play | |
| 1999 | God | Senior School Play | |
| 1998 | Germs | Middle School Musical | |
| 1998 | Godspell | Campus Musical | |
| 1998 | Scenes from a Dream Factory | Middle School Play | |
| 1998 | Oedipus | Senior School Play | |
| 1997 | Alice | Middle School Musical | |
| 1997 | Bye Bye Birdie | Campus Musical | |
| 1997 | Across the Barricades | Middle School Play | |
| 1997 | Away | Senior School Play | |
| 1996 | The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe | Middle School Musical | |
| 1996 | Guys and Dolls | Campus Musical | |
| 1996 | Our Town | Middle School Play | |
| 1996 | Celtic Twilight | Senior School Play | |
| 1995 | Oliver | Middle School Musical | |
| 1995 | Chess | Campus Musical | |
| 1995 | The Mouse that Roared | Middle School Play | |
| 1995 | Rehearsal for Murder | Senior School Play | |
| 1994 | Toad of Toad Hall | Middle School Musical | |
| 1994 | The Sentimental Bloke | Campus Musical | |
| 1994 | Nicholas Nickleby | Middle School Play | |
| 1994 | The Life and Death of Almost Everybody | Senior School Play | |
| 1993 | Bugsy | Middle School Musical | |
| 1993 | Evita | Campus Musical | |
| 1993 | Pink Panther Strikes Again | Middle School Play | |
| 1993 | Summer of the Aliens | Senior School Play | |
| 1992 | Carrots | Junior School Musical | |
| 1992 | Kiss Me Kate | Campus Musical | |
| 1992 | Happy Daze | Middle School Play | |
| 1992 | Lysistrata | Senior School Play | |
| 1991 | The Wizard of Oz | Junior School Musical | |
| 1991 | Anything Goes | Campus Musical | |
| 1991 | Brave New World | Middle School Play | |
| 1991 | Hamlet | Senior School Play | |
| 1990 | Carousel | Campus Musical | |
| 1990 | The Ancient Mariner | Middle School Play | |
| 1990 | The Crucible | Senior School Play | |
| 1990 | Alice | Junior School Musical | |
| 1989 | Germs | Junior School Musical | |
| 1989 | Sweet Charity | Campus Musical | |
| 1989 | The Inspector | Middle School Play | |
| 1989 | Chase Me Comrade | Senior School Play | |
| 1988 | The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe | Junior School Musical | |
| 1988 | South Pacific | Campus Musical | |
| 1988 | The Silver Sword | Middle School Play | |
| 1988 | The Rover | Senior School Play | |
| 1987 | Heidi | Middle School Musical | |
| 1987 | The Boyfriend | Campus Musical | |
| 1987 | A Gap in Generations | Middle School Play | |
| 1987 | Scrooge | Senior School Play | |
| 1986 | It Happened in Hamelin | Middle School Musical | |
| 1986 | Bye Bye Birdie | Campus Musical | |
| 1986 | Cantaloup Crescent/The Little Man/Is that a Muffle | Middle School Play | |
| 1986 | The Taming of the Shrew | Senior School Play | |
| 1985 | The Hobbit | Middle School Musical | |
| 1985 | How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying | Campus Musical | |
| 1985 | I Was A Teenage Dracula | Middle School Play | |
| 1985 | The Merchant of Venice | Senior School Play | |
| 1984 | The Wizard of Oz | Middle School Musical | |
| 1984 | The Sentimental Bloke | Campus Musical | |
| 1984 | Androcles and the Lion | Middle School Play | |
| 1984 | The Iron Harp | Senior School Play | |
| 1983 | Oliver Twist | Middle School Musical | |
| 1983 | September Song | Campus Musical | |
| 1983 | The Front Page | Middle School Play | |
| 1983 | Naked Island | Senior School Play | |
| 1982 | Toad of Toad Hall | Middle School Musical | |
| 1982 | Iolanthe | Campus Musical | |
| 1982 | Journey's End | Middle School Play | |
| 1982 | The Lady's Not For Burning | Senior School Play | |
| 1981 | Pal Joey | Campus Musical | |
| 1981 | Moby Dick | Middle School Play | |
| 1981 | Luther | Senior School Play | |
| 1980 | Hello Dolly | Campus Musical | |
| 1980 | The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui | Middle School Play | |
| 1980 | Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead | Senior School Play | |
| 1979 | Kiss Me Kate | Campus Musical | |
| 1979 | Our Town / The Les D'Arcy Show | Middle School Play | |
| 1979 | Post Office / Sacrifice | Senior School Play | |
| 1977 | The Great George Gershwin | Campus Musical | |
| 1977 | Incident at Vichy | Middle School Play | |
| 1977 | Macquarie | Senior School Play | |
| 1975 | Richard II | Senior School Play | |
| 1975 | The Representative | Senior School Play | |
| 1974 | Macbeth | Senior School Play |
