Castanet Club, Newcastle Oz - 1980's

Subject: Castanet Club, Newcastle Oz - 1980's
From: Helen
Date: 30 Oct 21 - 07:33 PM

Back in the 1980's here in Newcastle, NSW Oz there was an amazing bunch of creative performing artists who formed The Castanet Club

I went there a couple of times but many, many of the members of the troupe went on to bigger and better things in the creative performing arts industry of Australia.

I was looking forward to visiting the Newcastle Museum back in July this year to see an exhibition but then we were struck by the COVID lockdown monster but the exhibition is now on until 14 November.

The Castanet Club

I saw an article yesterday in Newcastle Weekly a local free magazine and there was a link to this video:

The Castanet Club - Newcastle, Oz

Check it out. There is some amazing talent. Funny, clever, creative - a really unforgettable experience if you were there in person.

Subject: RE: Castanet Club, Newcastle Oz - 1980's
From: rich-joy
Date: 30 Oct 21 - 09:53 PM

Thanks Helen!
Looks like it was fabulous experience all round - love to have been there!
What a Hoot!!!
R-J

Subject: RE: Castanet Club, Newcastle Oz - 1980's
From: Helen
Date: 30 Oct 21 - 10:34 PM

Yes, it was a hoot!! Definitely. There are lots more videos available on the 'net, and you can track the further careers of the original members.

Subject: RE: Castanet Club, Newcastle Oz - 1980's
From: Helen
Date: 31 Oct 21 - 03:48 PM

One of the performers in The Castanet Club was Glenn Butcher aka Lance Norton who went on to being in the cast of two of my all-time favourite comedy sketch series, Fast Forward, and Full Frontal. Some of Australia's true comedy greats were in the two series, including my absolute favourite comedian, Magda Szubanski. Glenn B was also in a movie called Young Einstein, the TV comedy Kath and Kim, and more recently in a comedy series called Fisk with Kitty Flanagan.

Another performer from The CC was Mikey Robbins who later became a radio DJ on Triple J, a young progressive radio station which is part of the ABC Network. I used to listen to his shows a lot. Maynard and also Steven Abbott aka The Sandman were on Triple J and later on various TV shows.

John Doyle later became well known on Triple J radio and then TV with the comedy name Rampaging Roy Slaven and with his comedic accomplice Greg Pickhaver aka H.G. Nelson did funny sporting commentaries, including some of the Olympics. My Hubby would watch a sporting game with the TV commentary turned down, and would listen to the radio comic commentary instead. I met John Doyle briefly a couple of times when I was a Uni student.

I also met Penny Biggins and Jonathan Biggins. Their father was one of my English lecturers.

I used to hear Jacqui Amidy aka "Natasha Bassey" sing sometimes at local pubs. She has an amazing voice. It was always a thrill to hear her sing.

Jacqui Amidy sings Wuthering Heights from 1986.

Living in Newcastle, I guess we kind of took it for granted that there were so many amazingly talented artistic and creative performers but it was only much later that I realised just how special the Newcastle creative environment was as an incubator for performers and artists.

Subject: RE: Castanet Club, Newcastle Oz - 1980's
From: rich-joy
Date: 31 Oct 21 - 07:02 PM

And of course in the 70s, there was Bob Hudson and his "Newcastle Song"!
And now that very funny comedy currently on the ABC "Frayed" has brought Newcastle to the fore yet again!!

Cheers, R-J

Subject: RE: Castanet Club, Newcastle Oz - 1980's
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 Oct 21 - 08:21 PM

scroll down to poster for Newcastle Song concert, 1974 & other concerts of the period.

I wasn't at Bob Hudson's concert but was at Jeannie Lewis's concert!

Subject: RE: Castanet Club, Newcastle Oz - 1980's
From: Helen
Date: 01 Nov 21 - 03:57 AM

Yes, the Newcastle Song. That's how we were defined for many, many years. LOL

The problem with Frayed is that it was mostly not filmed in Newcastle. There are a few general location scene shots from Newcastle between action shots, but most of the supposed Newcastle action scenes were filmed in Sydney. But it's a funny show. Quirky.

Some of it is funny from a Newcastle viewpoint, e.g. when the lead character gets off the bus near Newcastle beach, on a road where buses don't go, or when one of the characters is supposedly driving to - or was it from - the house which is supposedly near Newcastle Baths/Newcastle Beach but the road scene she is driving along is at Kooragang Island which is heading out in the direction of Stockton, a suburb just across the harbour but about 15 kms by road. So there are a lot of "Huh??!!" moments for any Newcastle people watching it.