Proud husband and director Travis takes a back seat to the stories and song of five talented women

Bringing the Brisbane institution to Rockhampton is the latest accomplishment of Lock&Hock, the production company which began with a love story on the Pilbeam theatre stage.

Amanda and Travis Hock are creative Directors and Producers as well as Amanda adding her vocals to the line up of Women in Voice

Behind every great woman there’s a great man… isn’t that how the saying goes?

This weekend marks the inaugural production of the Women in Voice festival in Rockhampton, after 30-plus years’ success on the Brisbane circuit.

And of the five women to grace the Pilbeam Theatre stage with their songs and stories, there is none greater than Amanda Hock who, alongside her husband Travis, was determined to see this become another quality event on Central Queensland’s cultural calendar.

Women in Voice Rockhampton 2021

Amanda was in the shower after a long day wrangling their two small children and she faces a full week of teaching and rehearsing before bumping into the Quay Street venue late this week, so TheMorning Bulletin caught up with Travis for a chat.

The two met at the same theatre in the Rockhampton Council’s production of Cabaret 12 years ago; the trajectory of their foray into Red Foot Cabaret, then marriage and parenthood has been well documented by the local press.

But this is a rare occasion when Travis will avoid the limelight altogether; in helping to produce and direct Women in Voice, as well as stage-manage it from behind the curtains.

“I’m not on stage; I’m just here to support the women and shine a light on them the best way I can,” he said.

“Mind you, it’s never been competitive between us; we make it easy as possible on each other to be where we love, on the stage.”

On Saturday night five women from different walks of life will grace the Pilbeam stage.

Stand-up comedian Jenny Wynter, who riffs on her blended family adventures, “fell into” cabaret-style singing after she took her guitar on stage on day. Kate Leahy from Yeppoon is about to release her new album called Stone to the Ground, which details her life as a new mother while living overseas.

Stone to the Ground album is a “true labour of love, mixed and mastered right here in Central Queensland.”

Lorinda Merrypoor is on a Covid-induced hiatus from her starring role in the national tour of The Sapphires. She will be joined on stage by her childhood eisteddfod buddy Maddison McDonald who recently blew the Broadway and Beyond audiences away with her powerful voice.

But Amanda – or ‘Moo’ to her friends – is the glue that binds this group together. She was the first Central Queenslander to perform at the Brisbane Women in Voice festival and it was her and Travis’ initiative to bring the event back home.

Their production company, Lock&Hock, has gone from performing to a few hundred friends locally, to taking the Red Foot Cabaret act on the road, and striving to create paid opportunities for local talent.

In addition to working (as a teacher and plumber, respectively) and raising two kids, the couple endures the regiment of funding applications and other chores behind the magic which is musical theatre.

It is a testament to their commitment that so many seats have been booked for the Women in Voice show during a week when there is a lot on around the region.

There are a handful of seats still available in the sections closer to the stage, and enough room for groups to book further up still.

But if the recent production of Broadway and Beyond was any measure to go by, the lights and sound quality will be spectacular no matter where you are seated. People who don’t have tickets yet would do well to book them soon.

“I’m very proud to have married such a strong and talented woman and I want to be conscientious about raising our children to have respect for each other and themselves,” Travis said.

“And I’m perfectly happy to let Amanda and the other women do their thing this weekend and do it beautifully.

“It’s going to be an awesome show, the first of many to come, we hope.”

Book tickets at See It Live or at the PIlbeam Theatre Box Office.