On Stage &  

Back Stage


Stan began his theatre career with the Atherton Players in 1954.

“ He  became interested in painting back drops and scenery for the former Atherton choral society and later the Atherton Performing Arts, a skill he learned from his maternal grandfather. He was also a fine actor and took part in many of our productions.” ,                                  Judith Snelling


Stan's  maternal grandfather, Duncan MacFarlane was born in Greenock, Scotland. He and his wife Frances and their four children including Stan's mother, Wilhelmina, migrated to North Queensland in 1920.
 
Duncan had a minor theatrical career in Glasgow, besides his photography business and his landscape painting. His stage name was Mons McMarr and he did old time shadow presentations with his hands.



1955                                 

 "Blithe Spirit"  and "Laburnum Grove."    


 Stan began his theatre career as Stage Manager for the Atherton Players productions 

1955        

 "And This Was Odd"

      Back Stage - Advertising    


 "See How They Run"

His first role On Stage was as Rev Humphreys                      Back Stage - Scenery - Backdrop

  1956                                             

"Love's A Luxury." 

On Stage- Mr Mole                           Back Stage  assisted his grandfather, Duncan Macfarlane, with the scenery.

1958

  "Money By Wire"

 On Stage - Herbert Cronk
 

 "The Apollo de Bellac"

On Stage- The Commissionaire

 1962  

"My Three Angels "

On Stage - Felix Dulay
 

"A Spring Song "

 Back Stage - Set Design

1963 

   "The Millionairess " 

On Stage -  The Egyptian Doctor

 Back Stage - Set Design, Decor 

1964 

   "Count Your Blessings"

 Back Stage - Set Design, Decor 

1965 

   " East Lynne "  

Back Stage - Costumes

 "The Eccentric" 

On Stage - Mr. Goldstein


 "A Month of Sundays "  

Back Stage - Decor

1966 

   "Murder on the Nile"

 Back Stage - Decor 

1967 

   "The Admirable Crichton"

Back Stage - Stage Manager, Decor 

 

" Come Blow Your Horn"

 Back Stage - Set Design, Decor 

1969 

"Barefoot in the Park"


On Stage - Mr. Velasco
Back Stage - Decor

 

1970 

 "Come Back Little Sheba"

Back Stage - Stage Manager

1971 

 "A Murder Has Been Arranged"

Back Stage - Costumes

1976 

 "Night Must Fall"

Back Stage - Decor

1977 

 "Relatively Speaking"

Back Stage - Stage Manager

1978         

      "The Student Prince"

Back Stage- Stage Manager , Set Design, Back Drop

“A word of praise for Stan Moses who not only acted as stage manager but also did an excellent job. "

1978               "Carousel"

 Back stage - Set Design, Back drop

"A word for Stan Moses whose sets, as ever were both imaginative and extremely colourful, giving the right atmosphere. " 

1979                "Western Music Hall"

On Stage - Saloon MC
Back Stage - Decor 

When the Atherton Players joined other arts groups in 1979, to become the Atherton Performing Arts, Stan continued to be involved both on stage and behind the scenes.

1979

 "Tan Tan Ta-Ra" 

Back Stage- Stage Manager & Set Design

 1980  

"Die Fledermaus"

 Back Stage - Set Design & Construction

1981 

"My Three Angels" 

On Stage- Felix Dulay
Back Stage- Set Design & Construction

1981 

"Once in a Blue Moon" 

Back Stage- Scene Design 

1983                

"Oklahoma"

 Back Stage - Set Design & new stage curtains

1983                   

 "The Good Old Days- The Master and the Maid"  (Silent Movie) 

On Stage Role  The  Butler (on left)                                                         Back Stage -  Set Design & Stage Manager 


1984        

            "Bonaventure" 

Back Stage -  Set Design & Construction

1984     

" HMS Pinafore"

Back Stage - Set Design & Construction


  " When We  Are Married"

Back Stage - Set Design & Construction

1984     

" Nativity Play"


On Stage - Herod

Back Stage- Costumes 
The Roman Centurian Costume  & his Herod's outfit. 

1985                                           

" Confusions"

Gosforth’s Fete                                                                       A Talk in the Park

On Stage - Vicar                                                     On Stage-  Ernest
Back Stage- Decor

1985

"Fiddler on the Roof"

  Back Stage- Costumes, 

Set Design & Construction


  "An Evening with Noel Coward" 

  Back Stage - Set Design & Decor

 

"Centenary Capers"

  Set Design

 

"Sinbad the Sailor"

  Back Stage - Set Design

1986

 Costume Design & Construction


  "Oliver"

 Beadles Costume

 

"Red Riding Hood" 

Fox Head

1987

"Poor Men’s Riches"

On Stage -
            The Father, Gordon Armstrong (Lead)
Back Stage - Costumes
             Set Design & Set Construction

Stan Moses, playing the role of father is a long time favourite with Tableland audiences, many of who will remember his various appearances over more than 30 years on the Atherton stage. A sign writer and liturgical artist by profession he is also a talented stage set designer

1987

 "Half A Sixpence" 

  Backstage- Set Design, Backdrop painting

 "The Perfectionist"

 Back Stage Set Engineer

 

"The Lady’s Not For Burning"

                   On stage - Chaplain   

1988

"Pozitively Entertaining" 

 Art work and design 

1989

 "Lysistrata "


On stage- Old Man 
Back stage-  Costumes? Set Design & Construction 

     "How the Other Half Loves" 

Back Stage- Set Design

  1990

"Shakespeare’s Ladies (Merchant of Venice)"

On Stage  Shylock                                                                              Back Stage - Costumes

1990

 "Black Comedy" 

Back Stage - Set Design

1991

 "Waltzes from Vienna" 

Back Stage - Set Design including poly styrene sculptures
Costume Design & Construction- Grey men's suits

 Stan Moses was the driving force and inspiration behind the most imaginative sets of the three act production 


As usual, Stan Moses did excellent sets, with the help of many back stage crew, and Judy Snelling and Stan contrived to provide the cast with a number of elaborate costume changes.

Yungaburra Community Hall

Now under the control of the Tablelands Regional Council 


 Stage Backdrop and Side Panels with Lake Barrine scene 1983.
 
The hall was the  privately owned  Tivioli Picture Theatre and 1968 it was purchased for the Yungaburra and District Progress Association. 

"Stan had a great comic streak and was involved in the Atherton Players – painting a lot of the backdrops for their plays and also acting – often the role of the effete vicar but that irked after a while. 
He was passionate about church ritual, and I think the bishop was in awe of him! " 

Margaret Moses (sister)

Acknowledgements

 Dean Emeritus Don Barter, Rev Paul Beasley, Rev Kevin Bourke, Petrina Callaghan of the Eacham Historical Society Malanda, Betty Daly, Tom Gray, Beth Harrison, Townsville History and Heritage Library, John Honeycombe, Marcia Hyde, Richard Keene (co-editor with Ward Saylor of the “Anglican Visitor”). Rev Dr Kenneth Lay, Jill McAlister, Neal Muller, Guido  & Jenny Poggioli  Chris & Judith Snelling, Dorothy Stephens, Rev Janet Story, Revs Shirley & Ian Thomson, Kate Wanstall, Judith Waugh, Laraine Wood


Anne Watkins & Tony Jelusic  – Archivists with the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland

Rev Dr John Moses & the Moses family- for the family history and many photos 

If you have better quality photos, any extra details, or if there are errors or omissions, please email Lorraine Kennedy [email protected]