The Newcastle Theatre Company’s 2012 season, its first full season in the new Playhouse, is announced.

Well, it was a joyous occasion to sit and hear the company’s next season announced in the NTC’s new playhouse, amongst all the usual pomp and circumstance of comedic comperes, presidents and directors, wine, canapés and crisps. After the tough selection process that was undertaken, involving culling a field of 20 to just seven plays to be produced for the 2012 season, they are as follows:

Starting off is A Midsummer Night's Dream the light lyrical comedy from Will S, directed by Stewart McGowan. In this play about love Stewart promises to transport you back to the age of 19 and invite you to relive the passion of youth. Starring Phoebe Rafty, and Michael McCarthy as the lords of the Faye this looks to be a delightful romp.

Water Child is a new play written by NTC member Emma Wood, and will open to its world premiere in March at NTC. Directed by Richard Murray, it examines some deep issues of family creation: what happens when everything doesn't fall into place. While miscarriage might not be talked about at the dinner table, it is a surprisingly common occurrence. This play deals with some of the taboo that surrounds the topic. Starring Rosemary Dartnell.

We all know Jeffery Archer from his pulp novels: his play The Accused is a courtroom ‘did he do it?’. This unravels as a bit of a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ play as you, the audience, are cast as the jury and get to declare the accused guilty or not guilty. Directed by Adelle Richards, this promises to be a must-go for those who love tense courtroom dramas with a twist.

Winter brings the production of Hotel Sorrento by celebrated Australian playwright Hannie Rayson. What happens when the novel Melancholy gets published? How does it affect these three sisters? This sweet, pensive, sophisticated kitchen-sink drama; set in a small town, is directed by Barbara Delaney. They're looking to cast the play between mid-January and early February.

The Women of Lockerbie is set in the now infamous place of the air disaster, as an American couple visit the town looking for their son’s remains. It was written by Deborah Brevoort in the style of a Greek tragedy. This play finds humour in unlikely places as the women of the town set about collecting clothes from the crash site, in order to wash them and return them to the owners loved ones. Directed by Janet Nelson.

Relative newcomer to NTC, Annie Bilton directs Aotearoa playwright Jean Betts's Ophelia Thinks Harder. Touted as “better than Shakespeare on Ice” this is a riotous reboot of Shakespeare's Hamlet. A bawdy feminist farce that is clever and witty with the good lines going to Ophelia. This comedy looks for actors willing to double up on roles. The auditions look to be held in May.

The last play of the season is An Absolute Turkey (Not a review, that’s the name of the play.) Fittingly it is a French bedroom farce from the precursor to the Absurdists, Georges Feydeau. Directed by John McFadden, the mise en scène is the Roaring Twenties. We follow our ‘turkey’, one Monsieur Pontagnac on an, often surreal, sexual gambol filled with schadenfreude moments. The play will round out what looks to be a season that will, according to President John Franks, amuse, provoke, divert and challenge you, but most of all reward you with some wonderful entertainment.

For more details contact the Theatre P/ 4952 4958 W/ www.newcastletheatrecompany.com.au

The Newcastle Theatre Company is always looking out for new members, people with theatre skills and sponsors.