Jan Hamilton early biography |
| 1948 |
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Born
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Studied speech and drama from age 5, competing successfully in many competitions and eisteddfods
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| 1964 – 1966 |
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University High School, Melbourne (School Captain 1966)
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| 1965 |
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“Sun” newspaper (daily Melbourne newspaper) – Young Sun section
Winner Best Actress award, 1964 school theatre season
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| 1965 |
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“Sun” newspaper (daily Melbourne newspaper) – Young Sun section
Runner up Best Actress award, 1965 school theatre season
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| 1966 |
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“Sun” newspaper (daily Melbourne newspaper) – Young Sun section
Runner up Best Actress award, 1966 school theatre season
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| 1967 – 1970 |
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BSc (Physics Major) Dip Ed, Melbourne University.
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| 1969 |
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Recipient of the Murray Sutherland undergraduate prize for outstanding performance in a theatrical production, 1968-1969
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| 1970 |
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In 1970 Jan was the top female performer for the Murray Sutherland Award for outstanding undergraduate performance. But, along with the male winner, she was a postgraduate student.
So no Murray Sutherland Prize was awarded that year. But it was recommended that both actors be notified of the excellence of their performances.
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| 1971 |
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Taught Physics for one year.
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| 1972 – 1973 |
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Worked full-time in professional theatre in Melbourne.
St Martins Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company (contracted for 1 year and 3 months professional) and played Vanessa in “The Mating Season” with Syd James.
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| 1974 – 1977 |
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Awarded an Australian Council Grant to study at East 15 Acting School London, England.
Studied at the E15 Acting School, London
3 year full-time professional course.
Studied extra voice with Jess Curtis, singing with Geoffrey Connor and movement with Leah Bartell.
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| 1977 |
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When finished E15, worked in professional theatre in England.
Toured with own clowning show.
Played Viola in “Twelfth Night” for the MacNaughton Theatre Co.
Contracted for 1 year to Spectrum Theatre Company, but unable to take up contract because of work permit restrictions.
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| 1977 (Dec) |
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Returned to Australia
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| 1978 – 1979 |
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Worked in professional theatre in Australia.
Played Mary Todd in “Madly in Love” for the Q Theatre.
Played Sorel in “Hayfever” for Old Tote Theatre at the Opera House.
Worked on and performed own clowning shows and mask shows including:
“Buttercup’s One Woman Magic Show (with Gladys)”,
“Ready for Men”,
“Kold Kupperchino”.
Began Klowning classes and workshops, and started working with Ken Dyers.
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| 1980 |
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More klowning shows with her students.
“The Play”, “Just One of Those”, “XXIII” all written and directed by Jan Hamilton assisted by Ken Dyers.
TV and Radio work including Geraldine in "Water Under the Bridge" a Channel Ten production.
Started helping Ken Dyers give workshops and classes.
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| 1981 |
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Stopped work in professional theatre.
Gave attention to expanding and creating own work through working with Ken Dyers.
Klowning shows continued.
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| 1982 |
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Kenja began with Ken and Jan.
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Jan's own clowning and mask shows with other women. |
| 1978 – 1979 |
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"Buttercup's One Woman Magic Show (with Gladys)"
A clowning show cocreated and performed by Jan Hamilton and Heather Robb
Buttercup (Heather Robb) tries to run her own show but Gladys (Jan Hamilton) insists on doing it with her
Buttercup's cooking demonstration is ruined by Gladys sifting flour on herself. |
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Jan's clowning and mask shows co-created with
other women after Jan had met Ken Dyers. |
| 1978 – 1979 |
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"Kold Cuppacino"
Written and directed by Julie Hudspeth & (Jan Hamilton assisted by Ken Dyers).
A humorous send up of middle class approaches to the performance of Brecht, mime and other artistries.
A show performed by Jan Hamilton & Julie Hudspeth.
Jan Hamilton and Julie Hudspeth in rehearsal for "Kold Cuppacino" 
Jan Hamilton and Julie Hudspeth in rehearsal for "Kold Cuppacino" 
Jan Hamilton and Julie Hudspeth in rehearsal for "Kold Cuppacino" |
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| 1978 – 1979 |
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"Ready for Men"
Written and directed by Heather Robb & (Jan Hamilton assisted by Ken Dyers).
A Klowning show taking a look at the personal conflict involved when women sell out their own viewpoint in order to become attractive to men.
Buttercup (Heather Robb) plunges into womanhood with great eagerness while Gladys (Jan Hamilton) can’t see the point of these new rituals.
Gladys (Jan Hamilton) is confused and shocked by the emerging rituals of “womanhood”, whereas Buttercup (Heather Robb) is confident and poised with the whole area  The Clowns have to confront a masked character Ms Hair (Jan Hamilton), whose skill is electrocution.  In performance "Ready for Men".
Jan Hamilton in rehearsal for the mask work for “Ready for Men”. 
Jan Hamilton and Heather Robb in rehearsal for “Ready for Men”.  In performance "Ready for Men".
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Kenja shows created from Kenja Klowning and the Time,
Space and Energy work of Ken Dyers
 Ken Dyers and Jan Hamilton attending Kenja’s Inaugural Night of Stars
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| 1980 – 1981 |
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"The Play"
Written and directed by Jan Hamilton, assisted by Ken Dyers.
A Klowning show taking a humorous look at the classic theme of the "adult" trying to “suppress” the child-like part of people, "which never works".
The theme is the attempt by a "Director" to impose her will on a group of clowns, which never works.
Jan Hamilton as the Director with some of the Klowning cast from “The Play”.
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| 1980 – 1981 |
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"Trilogy"
Written and Directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers.
Involving mask and clowning work. A nine week season in Balmain.
Including "The Play", "Just one of Those", "XXIII".
After the success of “The Play”, Jan wrote and directed 2 more plays to make a trilogy of sequential shows along the universal theme of the attempted suppression of the child-like part of us.
“The Play”
This is a return season of the groups first work. It is a hilarious comment on todays “intellectualism”, as our four clowns “find themselves”.
“Just One of Those”
Our four clowns try to “get it together”, helped by four new and eager clowns and foiled by a cleaner with a degree. An investigation of suppression.
“XXIII”
This takes us on to some dynamic and original Mask work, with strong and powerful results when we place Clown and Mask together. Will champion swimmers Darlene and Monica really drown all opposition or will our clowns survive the race?
 Jan Hamilton as the “straight” character in “Just One of Those”  Masked character from “XXIII”  Klown and masked character from “XXIII” + click here to view more...
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| November 1981 |
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"Oh Crumbs, A Klowning Show"
St John's Hall, Paddington
Written and Directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Based on improvisation Klowning classes.
As the Time, Space and Energy work combined with the Klowning classes and mask work grew, and more people became involved, a demand for more shows surfaced.
So these were smaller shows, designed to introduce people to the skill of sharing their communication with an audience.
Mask characters and Klowns from “Oh Crumbs, A Klowning Show”
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| November 1981 |
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"Cool Fever Disco"
A Klowning show
Written and Directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Based on improvisation Klowning classes.
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| 1982 |
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"The Scariest Halloween Night of Your Life Show"
St John's Hall, Paddington
Directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Based on improvisation Klowning classes.
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| 1982 |
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"Oh, Bananas"
Original Australian Musical Written and Directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music Amanda Hamilton
A Klowning and mask show. An exploration of the pursuit of the joy of ones potential and the forces that can oppose this. An expression of the simplicity and love of life of the human spirit.
This very successful show did a season at Woolloomooloo and toured Queensland.
With many trained and effective performers through Ken and Jan’s work, Kenja now ventured into the production of a large cast musical.
A group of Klowns have a Banana tree growing in their living room of which they are very proud. They landlord comes to throw them out because of this.
However the spontaneous joy of life of the Klowns diverts him into the joy of living. He then confides in the Klowns that the real problem is not their tree but that he has deeply powerful and destructive characters in his house as well as the Klowns and he finds it impossible to get rid of these characters.
The Klowns naturally accept the challenge of helping him and set off on the quest to get rid of these destructive characters. After many adventures they prevail.
 Flyer for “Oh, Bananas”  The Klowns discuss their challenges
Some hit songs from this show:
“Plant a 'nana”
“Oh we're off the climb a mountain”
“Oh what a joy to
scrub rub-a-dubba-dub”
“Breakfast is the best meal of the day”
“A one is a one,
but a two is a happier way”
“Love song”
“I didn’t”
“Leave it to us”
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| 1982 – 1983 |
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"Oh Bananas Revisited"
Written and directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music by Amanda Hamilton
A follow up of the original show involving mask and Klowning work.
This show later toured Queensland.
 Poster for “Oh Bananas Revisited”  The Klowns must rise to the challenge of handling their fear of the landlords unwanted tenants
 Unwanted tenants of the landlord  Unwanted tenants of the landlord
New hit songs
"Old Man Sun has a song for me"
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| 1983 |
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"Klowns"
A mask and Klowning show
Written and directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music by Amanda Hamilton
This much loved Kenja show was very successful. Appearing to strike a chord with audiences across three states.
Synopsis
A group of Klowns who are great friends have been separated and lost for over 100 years. They are all trying to get “home”. On this one particular day, some how, they all find themselves in the small parochial town of “Greystakes”. Throughout the day their presence terrorizes the townspeople who end up trying to get rid of them. However it is through their stay that the Klowns find each other again and profoundly influence the lives of the Greystakes people. An old couple of god like masked characters, who are grandparents and have also been lost for 100 years from their own home, find themselves in Greystakes on this same day. At the end of the day, Klowns and mask characters are transported through a great storm to the home of the mask characters. Shocked by the emerging parochialness of their own god like domain over the 100 years they have been away, our two elder statesmen can’t help but change this with the help of the Klowns, who with great joy eventually find their own “home”.
 Poster for “The original Klowns”  Jan Hamilton in rehearsal with cast for Klowns  Ken Dyers in rehearsal with time, Space and Energy abilities with members of the cast
 Postmouthus and Apertania God like creatures from another world are stunned to find themselves amongst Klowns in the tiny city of Greystakes far removed from their own home  Ms Brown, head of the EPS in Greystakes (Emergency Protection Service) galvanizes her men and the service to save the town from this invasion of Klowns
New hit songs:
“I found you”
“Home, Home”
“They call us a low key town”
“Deep in the centre of the storm”
“Something is up”
“What would this job be without you,
Ms Brown”
“Greystakes kids are grey”
“I’m worried and flurried”
“Red up here”
“I’m running like a hare from Narelle or
keep your hands off tiny Sue”
“He gave me a rainbow”
“The woods are full of Klowns! - help help”
“There’s nothing quite so bold as a Klown who’s drowning in a heavy swell”
“Come along, come along,
stir your blood sing a song”
“Our house is very house nice,
I think you’ll like it”.
“When did I forget about the rain”
“Wind stinging my face”
 Mr Rafter, a Greystakes resident with 3 daughters and a demanding wife, sees his family destroyed with the discovery o a single Klown in their broom closest. But some how he will survive and free him self from the town of Greystakes.  2 Klowns who can’t help but enjoy the activities of Greystakes people, terrorize some young victims.
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| 1983 |
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"Noosa Magic"
Written and Directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
This show did a season in Noosa, which had a Kenja centre there.
It did a very successful season in Noosa and was a celebration of the beauty and aesthetic of Noosa, the bush, its wildlife and its surrounds.
 Sign outside the performance venue in Noosa  Much of the wildlife were portrayed as characters in this story  Jan Hamilton rehearsing with cast members |
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| 1984 |
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"Boots and Ballet"
Written and directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
A very successful show.
Synopsis
A group of ballerinas find their time to use the local hall has been double booked by a group of footballers. The show explores the resolution of the all out war that follows. Both parties discover they need to expand their realities to encompass the viewpoint of the other.
 Flyer for “Boots and Ballet”  Ballerinas discuss their problem  Ballerinas attempt to rehearse under duress. + click here to view more...
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| 1984 – 1985 |
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Kenja's first "Night of Stars"
A competition in dance, klowning, performance and the effective use of Time, Space and Energy held between the four Kenja Centres.
Held at the Bondi Pavillion. Judged by Ken & Jan.
This was a prelude to what would become in 1988 a fully blown Kenja Eisteddfod with competition in many forms of dancing, music and the spoken word. With judges who are professionals in their field. However at this particular first event Ken and Jan judged the performances from two viewpoints. Jan from performance and Ken from the use of Time, Space and Energy.
 Flyer for the evening as the event was open to the general public Ken and Jan arriving for the event (Please note the impartial sashes they had been presented with ensuring that they would maintain this viewpoint in their judgment. + click here to view more...
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| 1984 – 1985 |
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"Starstream"
Written and directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
This began to mark a transition from Klowning and mask shows to shows without Klowning and mask.
It was the beginning of Jan’s attempt to bring high life-force energy performance values, as well as a human viewpoint.
The red nose began not to be used in the shows. But as a training tool.
This ensured that performers could bring that openness and simplicity of the human to their communication.
This was the first time form all four centres joined in the original performance of this show at the Civic Complex in Canberra from four states, the four Kenja Centres.
Synopsis
Bush animals come face to face with benign and not so benign intergalactic travellers.
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| 1986 |
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"Higher & Higher"
Written and directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music by Amanda Hamilton
Seasons in Canberra
Various sporting teams meet competitively in their desire to achieve in competition. They move through the desire to annihilate their competitors into an understanding of the need to bring out the best in ones self and others in order to survive. so their war changes to co-creation.
This cast was enormous as it brought together, people from the four Kenja centres, across four states and it gave most people a “go”, to put their Time, Space and Energy training into action in front of an audience.
It was a big success and established the pattern of the involvement of people from different states in many of the big shows we were to subsequently do.
This show was originally performed in Canberra during our first ever “Kenja Challenge”.
The Challenge was conceived as competition in sport (individual and team) and dancing.
This was inarguably a four day event with one day put aside to rehearse and do a couple of performances of the latest big Kenja Musical.
This Challenge became and is still and annual event on the Kenja Calendar.
 Audience to higher and higher  Cast of Higher and Higher
Hit songs for this show:
“To those that would listen”
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| 1987 – 1988 |
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"Carmen Banana is Back"
Written and Directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music by Amanda Hamilton
Seasons in Canberra & Sydney
Synopsis
Reverse of the “Pied Piper” story. The townspeople awake to find that their children who had one day, up and left the town, have returned.
The higher values they have learnt influence and strengthen the bonds between the parent and child.
This new found awareness, begins to cause havoc with some of the city elders who eventually lose their battle to suppress new found consciousness and awareness of potential.
Again performers from four centres and four states participated.
 A joyful reunion of children and parents  The Carmen Bananas
Hit songs from this show:
“Ridiculous”
“This Place”
“The Welcome Song”
“To those that would listen”
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| 1987 – 1988 |
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First season of "Kenja Christmas Pantomimes"
Performed at Kenja centres in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney
This became an annual event
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| 1988 |
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"People"
Written and directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music by Amanda Hamilton
Seasons in Melbourne, Canberra & Sydney
Comment
This big musical show, comprising people from four states and four Kenja centres, was originally performed at the Melbourne Eisteddfod 1988. It did seasons in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.
It was as if the high energy, simplistic and humorous Klowning and mask viewpoints were now being consolidated in “straight” shows. (Without mask or red nose). The Time, Space and Energy work of Ken Dyers, was having a profound influence on the performers to be able to relay this level of performance.
It was as if with this show “People”, this genre of a new type of performance gelled.
It produced many hit songs and started another phase of very successful, big cast, Kenja Musicals.
This show was a breakthrough in many ways. A breakthrough on the organisational nightmare of directing and creating a huge show of people from 4 states. It was a break through in the writing and music, and a breakthrough in Ken’s work, with so many people capable of sustaining joyous energy over a sustained and stressful period. As well the energy abilities and skills of communication of the performers, validated Ken’s work.
This was the first in the second wave of a number of big, successful Kenja musicals.
Synopsis
The call goes out of the big dance competition and ordinary people from all walks of life, garbage men, school children, sportspeople, policeman and criminals are all inspired by the magic of the dance. There is a hint of intergalactic influence on the magic of the occasion. The humorous adventures and competitiveness between the different groups is the background to this magic and enthralling story. Underlining the adage that if you really aspire and commit to that viewpoint, all sort of positive flows will follow you.
 The Aerobics Women need to push themselves to get ready for the great dance competition  Even the Chef’s are inspired to begin dancing  Soldiers from the army are inspired to dance
 Cast of “People” Hit songs from this show:
“People”
“In the middle of the night all is still”
“Policeman’s song”
“Criminal’s song”
“Rumba song”
“Garbo’s song”
“Jogger’s song”
“Song of the Noble Milkman song”
“Aerobic’s song”
“Ducky Cha cha song”
“Wet Eye’s song”
“School song”
“Not the School”
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| 1987 – 1988 |
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Kenja’s 1st Eisteddfod held in Melbourne
This competition in music, dance and physical culture became an annual event.
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| 1987 – 1988 |
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"Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits"
Performed in Sydney
Created from improvisation through Klowning classes.
These smaller shows were designed to give people in Klowning classes experience in performing and to consolidate the simplistic viewpoint of the human.
Written and Directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Synopisis
A group of Klowns are studying Shakespeare and decide to perform his greatest hit’s. Shakespeare himself comes to MC it. The scenes get confused and in typical Klown style, Shakespeare is rewritten.
 Klowns getting ready for the first performances  The killing of the Princes in the Tower from Richard III changes with the Klowns and the Klowns talk the murderer into not killing them  In fact there seems to be much competition for the role of Juliet
 There are many suitors after Juliet standing in line.
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| 1989 |
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"Inspired Moments"
Written and directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music by Amanda Hamilton
Season in Canberra Melbourne and Sydney
This huge undertaking again used performers from all states and Kenja Centres.
Comment
As Kenja expanded, the positive results of Ken’s energy conversion work could not be denied in its effectiveness for people to become cause over their individual environments. It became real to Jan how much we can co-create each other in a truly positive way. She realized that at the core of the success of her own work in performance with other people, was Ken’s work. She had then, and has now, a deep appreciation of Ken’s work and his attitude towards promoting and developing her life’s work to become a reality. It was natural to have a deep appreciation of this. It made her look to the past to all the teachers, tutors and mentors over her life who had been able to assist her with her purpose at various times. It was with a deep appreciation to all of this that “Inspired Moments” was written. As a tribute to all the teachers and mentors we have all had throughout our life. It is almost as if we do nothing alone but are truly dependent on others for our survival. So “Inspired Moments” grew.
Synopsis
It is set in a school. All schools everywhere. The difference is the teachers were children and the students were the adults. The show opens with the song “School, School, School, when will it end, when will I learn? Establishing the proposition that we are always at school and we are always learning. The young teachers attempt to educate their adult charges into the word aspiration. And that the flag of aspiration could guide the life (Aspiration song, Men’s Aspiration song) The teachers try to educate their older charges into the bigness of the past with dinosaurs when “Petty was out and Gigantic was in”. The students attempt to take up this search trying to look above them for inspiration. In to their hockey, in to their soccer. But being adults they are weighed down particularly with the women, with doubt, uncertainty and the belief that they were “Lower than Low”. For the men they were plagued with the thought that they had done nothing with their life. But through a series of lessons. These fears were viewed as monsters of mere ghosts. That when confronted straight in the face dissipated in front of their eyes and through a series of adventures were able to achieve freedom from pain and suffering.
  Ken and Jan rehearsing for the original season of Inspired Moments in Melbourne  The cast of Inspired Moments at its inaugural performance in Melbourne
 Jan Hamilton introducing to the audience the inaugural performance of “Inspired Moments”  The young teachers attempt to educate the girls into the “bigness” of life Hit songs from this show:
“Sunshine warm on the back of my jumper”
“School Song”
“First Aspiration song”
“Second Aspiration song”
“Men’s Aspiration song”
“Dinosaur’s song”
“The Big song”
“Hockey Tango”
“Female Opera – Lower than Low ”
“Male Failure song”
“Fear went out my Window”
 The boys attempt to apply the “big” principle to their football
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| 1990 |
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"Our Opera"
Written and directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music Amanda Hamilton
Season in Canberra Melbourne and Sydney
Comment
This was now the third very big successful Musical combining people from all states and seeing it as part of their training in the Time, Space and Energy work.
Jan felt that the music that Amanda was producing especially from “People” and “Inspired Moments”, was so popular that we should focus on this in our next musical. It was becoming real to a number of people, of the success we were having with shows, which of course was based on the successful combination of Ken and Jan’s work. It was producing vibrant and accessible performance, particularly for people who were committed to the training in Klowning and Time, Space and Energy. It was also producing a constant and topical Australian Theatrical work. So, conscious of this Jan took the theme of the archetypal, outback Australian of the “Dad & Dave” series . So she decided to write a play with the emphasis on music and called it “Our Opera”, which was a new look at the old Dad and Dave story.
Synopsis
Right out in the outback strange things are happening. Dad is not only embarrassed by the lack of achievement of his older boy Dave. He is also feeling completely estranged from his old adolescent sons. They are having trouble with the sheep. So Mum cooks them dinner. (The sheep. Every night). Dave is dancing with Mabel. Dad bemoans the loss of his youth. And a strange sickness spread over the town, making people apathetic , dull and boring. Solitary sheep on top of hills, fell over. Strange creatures could be found in the street singing strange songs to themselves (the Marauding Incontinent Intransients). Children became apathetic and disgusting. It becomes very obvious, Dad, Mum, Dave and Mabel and the people of the town all need help. These strange creatures are able to summon the Great Conductor, who perhaps exists in each one of them. Realising the lack of joy and love in their life they are able to find it and so our story is inspired through love, to take on that dreaded monster, Blind Blight. Because there were so many people wanting to be part of this show and be part of the training, the characters of Dad, Mum, Dave and Mabel became choruses, played by at least 10- 12.
  Dad, Dave, Mabel and Mum view the horrific situation of sheep keeling over with the operatic aria “Ode to a Sheep”  The anguish of Dad and Mum is expressed through song
Hit songs from this show:
“Song of daring”
“Kid’s song to their own land”
“Dad’s song (The bitter broken soil)”
“Mum’s song (Short & to the point)”
“Dave’s song”
“Dad’s song (You take ‘em, I don’t want ‘em)”
“Big kid’s song (Watch out)”
“Mum’s song (To the under 5’s)”
“Mabel’s Aria”
“Mum’s song (Where did it go)”
“Song of the Marauding Incontinent Intransients”
“Ode to sheep”
“Aria to sheep”
“Song of Blind Blight”
“Adolescence song”
“What happened song”
“Mabel’s birth song”
“Mum’s song of Dave’s birth”
“Dad’s song (Who killed my boy)”
“Kid’s song”
“Accusation song (Dad)”
“Innocuous song (I have done nothing)”
“Song for outback triers”
“Alone song”
“Solution song”
“Despair song"
“Mabel’s pining song”
“Dave’s love song”
“Mabel’s younger sister’s song”
“We got it you ain’t song”
“Mum & Dad’s love sequence”
“The Battle song”
“Black Monster song”
 People became so unaware of their surroundings, because of the “strange sickness” that spread all over the town (Blind Blight) That they would drive cars through the centre of town, unaware that they were running over people.  This would result in great mayhem in the streets of the town where people were collapsing everywhere  But the Great Conductor leads people to rise above their despair as Dave recognizes his love for Mabel “Dancing with the Stars & Mabel”
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| 1990 |
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"First Prize Winners Concert from Melbourne Eisteddfod"
Featuring winners from Melbourne Eisteddfod.
This became an annual event every year after the Eisteddfod.
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| 1990 |
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Handel’s Messiah
First performance of selections of Excerpt’s from Handel’s Messiah with soloists.
This became an annual event.
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| 1991 |
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1983 hit show "Klowns" rewritten by Jan Hamilton
Written and Directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music Amanda Hamilton
“Klowns”
To Ken
Who has lead us all to each other, after many years, many, many years alone.
Tonight, we embark on a marvelous journey.
To all cast, crew and creators of this show you have done wonders, already surpassing your best. Tonight the next marvelous journey begins...
Begin!
Love Jan
Comment
This was such a popular show that it was decided that we could return and revisit it. Because there were so many people from so many states who now wanted to be apart of it we revisited this wonderful vehicle. The front page of the programme read,
 Flyer for "Klowns"  Greystakes people are terrified when they come in contact with a pair of Klowns.  One Klown enters a little Greystakes shop to get a match for her fire. This drives the shop woman made who is terrified.
 In the second half of the play, our Klowns make it to the godlike ancestral home of the characters Apertania and Postmouthus  Throughout their day in Greystakes, the Klowns eventually meet up with each other after 100 years of being apart.  Greystakes EPS (Emergency Protection Service) is galvanized to protect the town from this invasion of Klowns  The elite of Greystakes consider themselves superior to any affect a Klown can create.  Here the Klowns, Willow and Steady discover the clown Bing who has been by himself for 100 years.
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| 1992 |
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"Kittlepick Regained"
Written and Directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music Amanda Hamilton
Seasons in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney
Comments
Motivated by the eternal theme of what happens when we lose our joy of living, and the danger of accepting pain and suffering as a way of life. Jan delved obviously into themes from “Paradise Lost” and “Paradise Gained” and came down on the side of “Paradise Regained”.
By now it was accepted that these big shows, big musicals, would have participants from all states involved in them.
Synopsis
The local grade 3 teacher from the country town of Kittlepick (A dairy farming area), decides the children of grade 3 are becoming very problematic. She decides the best way to this is to get the students of grade 3 to investigate and produce a performance of the history of Kittlepick. This performance will be held in a local milking shed known as the “Shed of Shame”. So begins our show. This history goes right back to the very formation of matter and the formation of our planet. Through the mono-cell, the creation of life and the discovery of the joy of existence. It is a truly breathtaking, exciting and joyous journey.
  On this very eventful night, there is obvious antagism between the piano player and some of the social ladies of Kittlepick.  Local Kittlepick firemen, otherwise known as “Men of the Hose” are out in force for this production to ensure all goes well.
Hit songs from this show:
Part 1
“Kittlepick Pastoral Symphony for Cows”,
“Our Children doubted Kittlepick”,
“Year 3 song”,
“Requiem for a Dead Cow”,
“Kittlepickians arise”,
“Songs from the history of Kittlepick”,
“Nothing”,
“I never knew”,
“Song of the misunderstood nothing”
Part 2
“Songs of the Bright ideas”,
“Little speak song”,
“Bright ideas”,
“Bright times”,
“How can I resist you”,
“This little baby of mine”,
“Too fast for comfort”
Part 3
“The first speck of Kittlepickian matter”,
“Thank you for finding the dust”,
“Small beginnings”
Part 4
“Creating the land of Kittlepick”,
“Song (Can’t stop)”,
“They must have been stout”,
“Drama of the Fire brigade – An Opera in One short Act”
Part 5
“Underwater world the sea”,
“Song of the rain”
Part 6
“The Mono-cell”,
“I’m on the trail”,
“Early age song”
Part 7
“Mono-cell splits”,
“We looked and saw another”
“Once I floated on water”
Part 8
“Why should I only see the worst”
 One of the local ladies from Kittlepick cannot contain herself in the presence of the “Men of the Hose” and has grabbed the hose from them.  From nowhere a strange European woman emerges, causing great concern from the local ladies from Kittlepick  Two of the very concerned local ladies from Kittlepick
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| 1993 |
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This was the beginning of the personal attack on Ken Dyers. We began to realise that very few journalists in the mainstream media would genuinely investigate our growing awareness of the identifiable group of people determined to destroy Kenja. We found our shows had an added value for us. As a communication medium, and a way to tell our side of the story. Boats for Blokes and Sea Sheilas became such a vehicle. This is very exciting Theatre with a real purpose and providing an opportunity for people to have their say.
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| 1993 |
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"Boats for Blokes and Sea Sheilas"
(the front of our program dedicated this show to Mr Ken Dyers)
Written and directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music by Amanda Hamilton
Seasons in Melbourne and Sydney
The Sydney seasons sold out.
An extra season booked in the 900 seat Wesley theatre for a nine show season.
This was the biggest event ever undertaken in Kenja.
Wesley originally accepted our booking without problem, but those small people "in power", (now acting on behalf of the people out to destroy Ken) pressured Wesley to stop this performance and Wesley cancelled our booking (after we had begun advertising and spent money on this).
However, we repeated seasons at other venues and would not be suppressed in our right to speak up in whatever form, against injustice lies and deceit.
Synopsis
Our story is set against the back drop of a the start of a great boat race on the harbor. Our hero, Captain Horatio, has a boat entered in that race, but his sailors are not the smartest on the water. Keen, eager and loyal with a tendency to fall over board or not accurately duplicate his commands. A cast of a myriad of different characters follow him in many ways on his adventure, some of them ruthlessly ambitious and determined to destroy him, some of them just plain mean and some of them on side. Percy Multchface, a somewhat stupid but ambitious isolated young man, determined to be upwardly mobile in the Bears House, joins forces with Johnny and the Door Bashers, the Singing Ninnies and other questionable people in his attempt to promote his own career and marry Cinders.
The show begins to investigate, in a humorous way the frightening machinations of those in power and those who would manipulate this power structure for their own agenda.
The use of state powers to attack an individual was something neither Jan, Ken or any of us had truly viewed before. It is a frightening and terrifying experience.
 Flyer for Boats for Blokes and Sea Sheilas  Captain Horatio and his band of loyal sailors  Percy Multchface attempting to befriend a bear from the Bears House
Hit songs from this show:
“Song of the harbour (My boat’s over there)”
“Hurry hurry song”
“Song of the start of the race (The rollicking sea shanty)”
“Song of the Bears House (Like a ship we are off to sea)”
“Cinders' song”
“Storm song (When the sun’s so black it sends shivers down your back)”
“Stand up for a friend”
“Ridiculous”
“It’s not me song”
“I thought the stars twinkled at night”
“Siren’s song”
 The family of Percy Multchface  Johnny & the Door Bashers team up with the Singing Ninnies
While Ken would eventually clear his name, at this point the public’s desire to “not know” about such potential terror within our own system is perhaps why the seedy, sick,
invalidated, isolated Percy Multchface who appears to be so stupid that one would tend to ignore him, is given the last say at this point in the show, “Boats for Blokes and Sea Sheilas”.
This speech in the show which is his inaugural speech in the Bears House is a reminder that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance and that the inciting of inflammatory mob-rule and the use of state powers and alliances to do this should never be forgotten.
 Percy networks the Bears House  Cup of tea before his inaugural Bears House speech  Percy with some of his henchwomen  The Speech
Percy’s inaugural Bears House speech
You thought I was asleep, with my sausages.
You thought whilst you went about your business of living your lives, loving your families, bringing up your children, trying to fathom and enjoy the majesty of all of it – that I would just sit here – didnt you?!
You thought in all your eagerness to find some sense of it all that you could ignore my smelly little corner of the room.
Well you are wrong!! I have risen!
And I have uncovered a plot so sleazy that it’ll prove to you what a good boy I am and what pathetic little creatures you all are!!!
Tonight I wish to speak on behalf of concerned parents, concerned citizens and concerned American cultural exchange students.
I have discovered Captain Horatio is a front – He is a fraud – He uses dangerous and covert hypnotic induction techniques to create mass hallucinations like what happened on the beach this morning to unsuspecting women who took off in boats to the sea.
In skirts instead of trousers.
He is a seedy con man.
He is a liar, a cheat and a bully.
Like my Dad.
He lies on the backs of people he has deceived and abused like these women here.
He is a con man in pants.
My friends have told me.
And we allow people to go to sea to help their friends and search for those we know are dead and not there.
How dare they!
We must stop it!
Get the Police!
Light the fires – women are flying through the air and no one does anything about it.
Where are your torches and your straw?
Light a fire in your living room today and burn a friend, and I will have dominion over all.
And I will rise to the top of the Bears House on the ashes of all those boats so that no-one will go to sea again.
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| 1994 |
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"Kenja’s Greatest Hits"
Written and Directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music Amanda Hamilton
By now we had built up an extensive history of original music, shows and performances. We paused for a moment, took stock and realised we could reinvestigate the joy and excitement of these past performances. And so Kenja’s Greatest Hits was devised.
A very successful show with seasons in Canberra, Melbourne & Sydney.
 Flyer for “Kenja’s Greatest Hits”  The extensive cast from “Kenja’s Greatest Hits”  Cast of “Kenja’s Greatest Hits”
 Cast of “Kenja’s Greatest Hits”  Composer of the music, Amanda Hamilton
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| 1995 – 1996 |
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"Concert!"
Written and Directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music Amanda Hamilton
Seasons in Canberra, Melbourne & Sydney
Comment
During 1996 we were still embroiled in the battle to expose the attack to destroy the credibility of Ken Dyers and so close Kenja.
Synopsis
It is about a group of people attempting to put on their own “Show”. Dark forces emerge and attempt to close the show down. Of course the show is not closed down and the human voice of joy and hope prevails.
 Flyer for "Concert!"  Percy Multchface reemerged with a sinister dark associate called Baroque.  The Concert dancers
Hit songs from this show:
“Life”
“Fading crystal’s song”
“The Dangerous Rips and the Goldfish (Clean surf)”
“Is life a joke”
“The wave”
“A life that’s grand”
“No fellow like an old fellow”
“New boy song”
“Keep up, keep up, keep up”
“Ten again song”
“Where did the king go (a Royal Command performance)”
“The intergalactic knights song”
“The house of the rising damp”
“That unquestionable air”
“I’m so nice”
“Mulch – a man’s best friend”
“Hate now, pay later”
“We are here tonight”
“Finale (And they stood)”
 Percy with one of his henchmen sing the hit song “I make mulch out of poison maggots”  One of the hit acts from the Concert was the rock star Fading Crystal and his stand-in backing group, The Tadpoles
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| 1997 - 1998 |
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"La Passionata"
Written and directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music Amanda Hamilton
Highly successful seasons in Canberra, Melbourne & Sydney
Synopsis
A joyous celebration of the joy of aspiration and the racketeers who would create mayhem to suppress us.
And an examination of the changing attitudes in the war between men and women.
 Flyer for "La Passionata"  Soldiers of the men's army, the Blue Army  Racketeering gun-runners who would promote war and fight against co-operation
Hit songs from this show:
“Touch of the sun”
“A child is a gift”
“Every morning”
“I love quantum”
“I woke up today”
“We did it”
“Women, women (Why don’t women like me any more)”
“Keep it light (Heavy thoughts are poo poo)”
“You can’t take your teddies to bed”
“Calling all men”
“Ya ya ya”
“Let it out”
“Moon, we’re sick of fighting”
“Men, men”
“The kanga song”
 A Swedish army nurse who has dedicated her profession to helping men. The nurse is with a man she is helping.  Captain of the Foreign Legion is assisted by the Swedish nurses who desire to help all men everywhere.  One of the sun's rays hits the early morning.
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| 1999 |
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"Republic! the Musical"
Written and directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music by Amanda Hamilton
Seasons in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney
Synopsis
An exploration of the true equality of all men and women everywhere, in spite of the apparent hierarchies that confront us. We are much closer related than we think.
 Flyer for "Republic! the Musical"  His Highness Archibald, Head of Everything, and his strange female friend Minnie  Hooney - young idiot son of the Head of Everything
 Gustyrear, Wife of the second in line to the throne, devoured by ambition and her quest for power  The Minister for Debate and his assistant Hit songs from this show:
“All the wonders of the world”
“Archie’s balls”
“Chopping off the heads of friends”
“The grovelers song”
“Hooney’s song (I am the prince)”
“The Minister for Affairs’ song (I am the Minister for Affairs)”
“Song to Gert”
 The Minister for Affairs and his assistant  The Grovelers, the lowest of the low
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| 2000 |
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In 2000, Ken was found not guilty on all the remaining charges, except for one which was tried separately, which was quashed in the High Court in 2002.
We had endured 10 years of debilitating court battles to prove Ken’s innocence.
We also, amazingly, produced 6 new Australian musicals in this time, to carry our voice.
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| 2000 |
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"Klowns"
Written and directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music Amanda Hamilton
Seasons in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney
Synopsis
The popularity of Klowns amongst audiences led us to do a third season of the 1983 hit.
 Flyer for "Klowns"  Postmouthus  His wife Appertania - They both find themselves stranded in Greystakes on the same day as the Klowns
 The Klowns Snack and Sneeze find themselves stuck in a television set when they stumble into Greystakes  The Klown Apricot has been alone for 100 years, seeking her true love Bing who she will find this day in Greystakes.
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| 2001 |
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"Kenja’s Prize Winners Concert" featuring winners from Melbourne Eisteddfod.
Kenja Christmas Pantomimes
performed in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney
"Excerpts from Handel's Messiah with soloists" featuring the Kenja Choir
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| 2002 |
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"Kenja's Prize Winners Concert" featuring winners from Melbourne Eisteddfod.
Kenja Christmas Pantomimes performed in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney
"Excerpts from Handel's Messiah with soloists" featuring the Kenja Choir
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| 2003 |
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"Kenja's Prize Winners Concert" featuring winners from Melbourne Eisteddfod.
Kenja Christmas Pantomimes performed in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney
"Excerpts from Handel's Messiah with soloists" featuring the Kenja Choir
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| 2004 |
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"Kenja's Prize Winners Concert" featuring winners from Melbourne Eisteddfod.
Kenja Christmas Pantomimes performed in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney
"Excerpts from Handel's Messiah with soloists" featuring the Kenja Choir
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| 2005 |
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"Inspired Moments"
Written and Directed by Jan Hamilton working with Ken Dyers
Time Space and Energy coach Ken Dyers
Music by Amanda Hamilton
This show was put together to celebrate the 20th Kenja Challenge. As a tribute to 17 years of Kenja shows, it featured a collection of songs from all the shows.
Performed in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney
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| 2005 |
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In October 2005, after much tabloid publicity concerning the Cornelia Rau affair which falsely associated her condition with her minimal involvement in Kenja, Ken was arrested and charged again.
Given that, unbeknownst to us, police had originally dismissed these charges and did not proceed, it was obviously a return to the original attack.
Ken was 83 years old and in ill health.
Our realisation was that the same agenda was being pursued. There was no proper investigation. The media, fundamentalist Christian groups and the police all joined in the pejorative chorus of “The Cult”.
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| 2005 |
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"Kenja's Prize Winners Concert" featuring winners from Melbourne Eisteddfod
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Kenja Christmas Pantomimes performed in Canberra and Melbourne
"Excerpts from Handel's Messiah with soloists" featuring the Kenja Choir
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| 2006 |
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"Kenja's Prize Winners Concert" featuring winners from Melbourne Eisteddfod.
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Kenja Christmas Pantomimes performed in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney
"Excerpts from Handel's Messiah with soloists" featuring the Kenja Choir
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| 2007 |
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In 2007 the police pursued further allegations against Ken Dyers.
However in June 2007 the courts found that Mr Dyers was not fit to stand trial due to his ailing health and comprehension. He was 85 years old.
He committed suicide after the police indicated they were investigating an allegation by a person who had left the organisation that she had been assaulted in 2006 – this allegation was just as ridiculous as all the previous allegations.
The police conduct in respect of that matter is the subject of present proceedings in the Supreme Court of NSW in which it is alleged the police acted maliciously towards Mr Dyers, leading him to take his life.
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| 2007 |
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"Guilty until Proven Innocent"
Theatre Documentary
6 performances across Australia throughout late 2007.
"Kenja's Prize Winners Concert" featuring winners from Melbourne Eisteddfod.
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| 2008 |
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"Kenja Concert" - Prize Winners Concert from Melbourne Eisteddfod 2007
20 performances across Australia.
"Guilty until Proven Innocent"
Theatre Documentary
20 performances across Australia.
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| 2009 |
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"Kenja Concert" - Prize Winners Concert from Melbourne Eisteddfod 2008
20 performances across Australia.
"Guilty until Proven Innocent"
Theatre Documentary
20 performances across Australia.
Saturday, 25 July 2009 - Sydney, Seymour Center
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| 2010 |
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"Kenja Concert" - Prize Winners Concert from Melbourne Eisteddfod 2009
20 performances across Australia.
"Guilty until Proven Innocent"
Theatre Documentary
20 performances across Australia.
+ click here to view more...
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| 2011 |
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"Kenja Concert" - Prize Winners Concert from Melbourne Eisteddfod 2010
20 performances across Australia.
+ click here to view more...
"Guilty until Proven Innocent"
Theatre Documentary
Performed Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney
20 performances across Australia.
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| 2012 |
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"Kenja Concert" - Prize Winners Concert from Melbourne Eisteddfod 2011
20 performances across Australia.
+ click here to view more...
"Guilty until Proven Innocent"
Theatre Documentary
20 performances across Australia.
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| 2013 |
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"Kenja Concert" - Prize Winners Concert from Melbourne Eisteddfod 2012
20 performances across Australia.
"Guilty until Proven Innocent"
Theatre Documentary
20 performances across Australia.
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| 2014 |
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"Kenja Concert" - Prize Winners Concert from Melbourne Eisteddfod 2013
20 performances across Australia.
"Guilty until Proven Innocent"
Theatre Documentary
20 performances across Australia.
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| 2015 |
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"Kenja Concert" - Prize Winners Concert from Melbourne Eisteddfod 2014
20 performances across Australia.
"Guilty until Proven Innocent"
Theatre Documentary
20 performances across Australia.
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| 2016 |
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"Kenja Concert" - Prize Winners Concert from Melbourne Eisteddfod 2015
Currently being performed in venues across Australia.
"Guilty until Proven Innocent"
Theatre Documentary
20 performances across Australia.
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| 2017 |
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"Kenja Concert" - Prize Winners Concert from Melbourne Eisteddfod 2016
Currently being performed in venues across Australia.
"Guilty until Proven Innocent"
Theatre Documentary
20 performances across Australia.
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| 2018 |
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"Kenja Concert" - Prize Winners Concert from Melbourne Eisteddfod 2017
Currently being performed in venues across Australia.
"Guilty until Proven Innocent"
Theatre Documentary
Currently being performed in venues across Australia.
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