Amateurs: A Mockumentary Love Letter to Community Theatre

In the latest episode of Showtime, host Andrew G  chats with Justine Garnes and Danny Gibbons from Little Lamington Productions about their upcoming comedy series Amateurs. The mockumentary celebrates the unpredictable, heartfelt and hilarious world of community theatre, capturing the chaos, camaraderie and quirks that define this cultural space.

The idea for the series grew out of Justine and Danny’s own experiences in amateur theatre, where they first met performing in Clue. Car rides to rehearsals sparked conversations about the eccentric characters and relatable moments that fill rehearsal rooms, and from these stories came the concept for Amateurs. The show uses a mockumentary format, inspired by series like The Office and Modern Family, to highlight authentic behind-the-scenes moments such as audition mishaps, forgotten lines and costume disasters.

The tagline “all passion, no payday” reflects the dedication of community theatre participants who devote their time and energy purely for love of the craft. The characters in Amateurs are drawn from real-life archetypes, from the returning parent trying to balance family with performance, to the diva who treats local productions like Broadway. These portrayals balance comedy with empathy, showing the humanity behind the quirks.

The episode also highlights the importance of community theatre as a social hub where friendships and acceptance flourish. To support production, Little Lamington Productions is hosting a trivia and karaoke fundraiser, reflecting the spirit of volunteerism and grassroots creativity that fuels amateur theatre. Amateurs promises to be both affectionate satire and a love letter to the theatre community.

 

🎟️  Support Amateurs on Kickstarter

 

Amateurs is a new mockumentary comedy series from Little Lamington Productions that shines a light on the unpredictable world of community theatre. Created by Justine Garnes and Danny Gibbons, it draws on their experiences performing in local productions and captures the quirks, chaos and camaraderie that make amateur theatre unique.

The show embraces the tagline “all passion, no payday”, celebrating volunteers who pour time and energy into productions purely for love of the craft. With a mockumentary style inspired by favourites like The Office, Amateurs finds humour in behind-the-scenes moments such as audition mishaps, costume disasters and personality clashes.

Both affectionate and satirical, Amateurs balances comedy with empathy, portraying relatable characters while highlighting the friendships and sense of belonging that community theatre fosters. It is a tribute to the resilience and joy of making theatre together.

 

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DANNY GIBBINS is a writer, director, producer and performer with a strong background in community and independent theatre. He began his creative journey at Firbank Grammar School, where he performed leading roles in musicals, wrote original productions, and toured England with the Madrigal Choir. Over the years Danny has developed a diverse writing portfolio, creating works for festivals and theatres including Matilda’s Project at Midsumma, Bristleface, A Prince’s Quest, Beyond the Barriers, The Staffroom and The Sneeches. His achievements include recognition at the Malvern Theatre Writers competition and mentoring roles in the Malvern Theatre Emerging Leaders program.

Danny has directed and produced a range of independent works such as A Prince’s Quest and The Staffroom, and continues to be active as a festival producer and mentor. As a performer, he has appeared in productions including Clue and Beyond the Barriers, and most recently as a host and entertainer, embracing his role as the “Ringmaster of Fun.”

JUSTINE GARNES is a versatile performer with extensive experience in musical theatre, live entertainment and children’s performance. Originally from Essex, she trained in acting, dance and theatre at Colchester Institute, earning a Musical Theatre BTEC Diploma, and further developed her skills at the Guilford School of Arts in London. Her training also includes ISTD dance qualifications in ballet, tap and modern jazz, alongside strong musicianship with piano, ukulele, and advanced vocal and music theory accreditations.

Her career spans a wide range of performance settings, from professional cruise entertainment with The Radioettes on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas to fronting corporate and wedding bands such as the Smooth Whiskey Band. She has performed internationally in acclaimed harmony groups including The Ra