OBSERVER: Tribute to MLOC
Eighty years ago, post-World War II in the Melbourne beach-side suburb of Mordialloc, two different community performing arts groups were formed – a dramatic group, the City of Mordialloc Citizens League Theatre Group, (now the Mordialloc Theatre Company) and the Mordialloc Philharmonic Society, which became the Mordialloc Light Opera Company and then MLOC Productions.
Founders of the dramatic group were pharmacist Jock McLorinan, delicatessen owner Harry Dunbar, Barney Cohen the dentist and Parkdale solicitor, Stan Payne.
The president was the Managing Director of Standard Newspapers Pty. Ltd., Edward J Trait. Today, the Mordialloc Theatre Company remains a thriving community theatre group, regularly presenting productions at the Shirley Burke Theatre, Parkdale.
In 2025, also in its 80th year, the musical theatre company MLOC Productions presented an Australian premiere production in July, but became financially unsustainable and sadly closed in September.
MLOC’s wonderful history began in 1945, when the non-performing but musically appreciative Mr Trait, advertised in his newspapers and contacted local churches for music-loving people to form the Mordialloc Philharmonic Society.
Also the president of the dramatic theatre company, Mr Trait presided over and managed the group, with Roy Warren as musical director.
To address perpetuation for the group, the Mordialloc Philharmonic Junior Choristers was established in 1946, involving 80 choristers.
The Philharmonic Society presented annual concerts, performed at ANZAC Day ceremonies or charity events, and joined other choirs to sing in the Opening Ceremony of the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.
Accompanied by piano only with no specialised lighting or stage sets, choral concerts were presented in the now-demolished Mentone City Hall. The chorister women wore long white dresses, while the men wore black suits with black bow-ties.
In 1969, the ‘Phil’ became the Mordialloc Choral Society. Musical director Edward Fazakerley introduced concert versions of shows such as Brigadoon, and soloists appeared in costume, backed by the chorus wearing the traditional attire.
In 1977, the company became the Mordialloc Musical Society, presenting productions in full theatrical splendour at venues such as the Aspendale Technical School hall, the Hampton Community Hall and the Parkdale Library Hall (later named the Shirley Burke Theatre).
The company name changed to the Mordialloc Light Opera Company in 1985, opening at the Phoenix Theatre, Elwood with an Australian amateur premiere season of The Most Happy Fella.
In 1992 the name changed to MLOC Productions Incorporated, allowing flexibility for styles of shows presented and retaining tradition in the acronym.
From 1978, the company rehearsed at the Parkdale Church of Christ hall, and storage and set-building space was sub-leased from CLOC Musical Theatre at CLOCworks in Heatherton.
The backbone of any theatre company is its hard-working committee or board. Graeme Marriott joined the company in 1979 when performing in Oklahoma!
As company treasurer for over 30 years and president for 20 of those years, Graeme splendidly steered the company artistically and financially during this time.
Graeme speaks highly of the board members and helpers who made MLOC an enjoyable and lasting experience in community theatre.
“My presidential years fostered many friendships which have remained to this day.” Succeeding Graeme Marriott as MLOC president were Margot Sephton, Garry Bertrand, Chris Ryan, Andrew Gyopar, Leah Osburn and Debbie Jenkins who remained in the role until the company’s closure.
The Pirate Queen, a musical by the creators of Miss Saigon and Les Misérables, presented at the Frankston Arts Centre in July 2025, would be the last show in MLOC’s 80-year history.
Directed by Chris Ryan, musical and vocal directors were Matthew Pines and Alyssa Sorgiovanni respectively, Bridie Clark was choreographer and company president Debbie Jenkins was production manager.
Woven into the fabric of MLOC’s magnificent past 80-year history are more than 170 productions, from choral presentations to classic musicals such as Paint Your Wagon and The Sound of Music, to contemporary musicals such as Spring Awakening and non-musical shows such as Dimboola.
The company’s success has been built on the dedicated talents, skills and knowledge of thousands of volunteer participants in various onstage and behind-the-scenes roles, and support from the many thousands of audience members and subscribers.
There have been Music Theatre Guild of Victoria awards, lifetime friendships and marriages, and the appointment of 30 Life Members.
MLOC may have closed after 80 years, but memories will remain. The company’s history will also be recorded in local history archives.
Vale MLOC.
Cheryl Threadgold
on behalf of Life Members and the many friends of MLOC Productions
Pictured: Graeme Marriott