An evening soiree

Coolum performers Alice Rea and Jeanettte West.

Megan Mackander

ALL the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.

While the language echoing from theatres worldwide has come a long way over the centuries, passion for theatre has never wavered.

The Sunshine Coast theatre community came together on Saturday night for the season launch soiree at the Buderim Tavern.

Members from the seven Coast theatre groups ushered in the start of the theatre calendar in style at the cocktail event, hosted by Channel Seven's Rosanna Natoli.

Sunshine Coast Theatre Alliance president Sam Coward said the groups were tight-lipped about their upcoming performances leading up to Saturday night.

The soiree was the first opportunity for the Coast's theatre community to come together in several years.

"This night is our showcase of what is happening and for everyone to see we are one collective voice," Mr Coward said.

"The biggest thing I want to do while I am president is raise the profile of theatre into the hearts and minds of people who don't normally go to the theatre.

"I want theatre to pop into people's minds when they are wondering what to do on a Saturday night."

The Sunshine Coast Theatre Alliance will welcome in a new wave of members in 2012 with plans to extend the alliance membership to include all performance arts-based groups on the Coast.

The constitutional change would mean groups such as choirs, dance groups or profiting theatre groups could join the alliance.

"We have 17,000 genuine hits on our website each week with people searching for Sunshine Coast Theatre-that's huge and it's something that everyone in the arts should be benefiting from.

"The change means they will be associated members but they can still take advantage of the marketing, website and the collective community status."

FAST FACTS

March:

 Fast Forward - eight short plays, BATS Theatre Co Inc.

 Happy Birthday Mr President, comedy by Independent Theatre, Eumundi

 A Bad Year for Tomatoes, comedy by Nambour Lind Lane Theatre

 Flying Feathers, comedy by Coolum Theatre Players

April:

 Travelling North, drama by Noosa Arts Theatre

 The Picture Man Show, comedy by Independent Theatre Eumundi

 That Scottish Play, comedy by Nambour Lind Lane Theatre