Joan Maslen

Amateur dramatic company in Melbourne, founded in 1951 by Frank Thring. Closed 1954. venue Arrow Theatre, Middle Park. artistic director Frank Thring. first production Salome by Oscar Wilde and A Phoenix Too Frequent by Christopher Fry. Director: Irene Mitchell.

Frank Thring brought amateur and professional experience and the necessary finance to the Arrow Theatre. He renamed the 200-seat theatre of the defunct Melbourne Repertory Theatre and spared no expense in production. As actor-manager he aimed to present the best plays of present and past, and he staged at least one Australian play, The Square Ring by Ralph Peterson. But the inner suburban location was a drawback. The theatre lacked public support and heavy financial loss forced Thring to close it. He went to England and other Arrow Theatre actors - including Bunney Brooke, Zoe Caldwell and Moira Carleton - found professional work with the Union Theatre Repertory Company.