Dale Janke has fostered his love of theatre for longer than most, starting his time on the stage as a wee primary school lad.
Much like Audrey II of Little Shop of Horrors, he kept it growing, feeding his love of the theatrical space.
That was until he left high school and moved up to Sydney.
“But then I came back after many years and then did a show with Turaton, a theatre restaurant called Murder at the Music Hall,” Dale said.
“And surprisingly enough, Helen was the lead lady, and I was the leading man, so that’s where that relationship started.”
Helen and Dale have been married for 23 years and have two boys together, a powerhouse couple in local theatre lore.
Even as Helen directed shows for younger actors through Initial Stages, Dale would come and support the cast both in rehearsals and in the audience, solidifying their status as the stage’s favourite couple.
“We were in shows together, and we were just really good friends, so that was just very natural, just very comfortable,” he said.
“That was really good and there was no awkwardness or anything, it was just friends on and off-stage.
“It was sort of enhanced by being love interests on stage and love interests off-stage.”
The on-stage part of their marriage would come to an end in 2024 with Helen being the director of Shepparton Theatre Arts Group’s production of Little Shop of Horrors and Dale cast as one of the lead characters, Mr Mushnik.
“I hadn't performed for about eight years and I thought, well, what a perfect opportunity to get back on, with Helen directing it would be a great way to do something together,” Dale said.
“I just think that, theatre is just what I love, I just really enjoy it.”
Dale ran into some health issues and said that as well as spending some more time with his wife, he has had a creative and active hobby.
“One of the reasons why I also got involved in the show was because I had to give away work because I've had back issues, and still continue to have these back issues, and so this has been a really great outlet,” he said.
“It's given me focus and more energy, I can exercise, that’s been the positive aspect as well, and Helen’s always got energy.
“I’m just trying to sap that out of her and give it to me,” he said smiling to himself in the rehearsal space, surrounded by Audrey II plants and props.
If you were one of the Little Shop of Horrors audience members, count yourself lucky as you saw the long-awaited return of a local theatre loving legend to the spotlight.
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