Eve Lamb
Take a dash of creativity, a strong sense of community and a stack of recycled bits and bobs and … you may well end up delighting the neighbourhood.
That’s what’s happened at one leafy residential address on Castlemaine’s Barker Street.
There, Mike and Adrienne Thorbecke have pooled their personal creative talents to create an enchanting little diorama that’s become a stride-stopper and conversation starter ever since they installed it on their front fence on day one of the new school term.
Paying homage to the former owners of Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal, who had previously resided at the Thorbecke’s address, their little retro theatre scene features “Enzo and his amazing performing dog Pasquale” and seems to be amusing adults as much as it is children.
“Our little Theatre Royal was conceived and made in COVID as a gift to our local children and a homage to the Holland family who owned the Theatre Royal and lived in our home from the nineteen forties through to the eighties,” says Mike, who’s quite handy with a hammer and saw.
“COVID has been challenging for all of us but particularly for children. It has been such an enormous chunk in their young lives.
“It’s been wonderful to listen to the squeals of delight and also the unexpected joy it has also given the grownups.”
The addition of solar bud lights means the little diorama lights up after dark too.
“It’s very pretty when it lights up at night,” Adrienne says.
Strolling past the Thorbecke abode, early years project officer with Mount Alexander Shire, Sally Beattie, says the diorama has become a point of interest for plenty of local children.
“I’ve just heard so many comments from children going to kinder and school,” she says.
“I love it.”
Mike says he and Adrienne are hoping other local residents may follow suit.
“We’re hoping, in creative Castlemaine, the idea will catch on with more dioramas appearing on front fences in town,” he says.
Meantime the crafty couple have already started dreaming up their next installment. Watch this space.
