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Harbour Theatre- the latest

Sun, 20 Sept 2009, 07:08 pm
Norma29 posts in thread

Below is reproduced in full the text of an item appearing in the Fremantle Herald, published yesterday.

Seldom have I read a more offensive 'interview'

Fremantle Education Centre CEO  Paul Stenson says expanding the Princess May Building’s use for education is far more important than Harbour Theatre’s “pissing around”

 

With the centre keen to get cracking on expanding its lecture space the 44 year old amateur theatre group was told to pack up and be out by December 1st.

 

It has since been given a reprieve till December 12 so that it can finish Oliver Twist its major performance for the year.

 

Mr. Stenson admits he had issued the earlier eviction date despite knowing it would slice through the production.

 

“We are given the scheduling at the start of the year” he acknowledged , “but they have known that the tenure of their lease has been month by month”

 

Important

 

 

“We have 450 students that will be using that space which is far more important than a local cultural group”

 

Ms Bond said that despite the reprieve the group had been given two days following the final performance to be out’

 

“he said that if we didn’t have everything out it would be trashed”, she told the Herald

 

 

Harbour has been unable to find alternative accommodation and Ms Bond fears the curtain is coming down for good on the port city’s only community theatre company.

 

Fremantle council has already refused to come to its rescue, she said, noting bitterly that “other local councils support their theatre groups”

 

 

Local Greens MLC Lynn Maclaren  raised the groups plight with local government minister John Castrilli: “I believe it is important  that Fremantle (council) provide them a secure alternative home and assistance with re-locating,” she told him
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Thread (29 posts)

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NormaSun, 20 Sept 2009, 07:08 pm

Below is reproduced in full the text of an item appearing in the Fremantle Herald, published yesterday.

Seldom have I read a more offensive 'interview'

Fremantle Education Centre CEO  Paul Stenson says expanding the Princess May Building’s use for education is far more important than Harbour Theatre’s “pissing around”

 

With the centre keen to get cracking on expanding its lecture space the 44 year old amateur theatre group was told to pack up and be out by December 1st.

 

It has since been given a reprieve till December 12 so that it can finish Oliver Twist its major performance for the year.

 

Mr. Stenson admits he had issued the earlier eviction date despite knowing it would slice through the production.

 

“We are given the scheduling at the start of the year” he acknowledged , “but they have known that the tenure of their lease has been month by month”

 

Important

 

 

“We have 450 students that will be using that space which is far more important than a local cultural group”

 

Ms Bond said that despite the reprieve the group had been given two days following the final performance to be out’

 

“he said that if we didn’t have everything out it would be trashed”, she told the Herald

 

 

Harbour has been unable to find alternative accommodation and Ms Bond fears the curtain is coming down for good on the port city’s only community theatre company.

 

Fremantle council has already refused to come to its rescue, she said, noting bitterly that “other local councils support their theatre groups”

 

 

Local Greens MLC Lynn Maclaren  raised the groups plight with local government minister John Castrilli: “I believe it is important  that Fremantle (council) provide them a secure alternative home and assistance with re-locating,” she told him
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Walter PlingeSun, 20 Sept 2009, 07:16 pm

I think it's important to

I think it's important to note it was the Fremantle *Herald* that published the story, not the Fremantle Gazette. They are two entirely different papers, owned by different entities, and have no association with each other.
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Walter PlingeSun, 20 Sept 2009, 07:26 pm

If people want to express

If people want to express their opinion, they can contact all Fremantle councillors and mayor via members@fremantle.wa.gov.au City of Fremantle CEO can be contacted via ceo@fremantle.wa.gov.au The Fremantle Education Centre CEO Paul Stenson, mentioned above can be contacted via ceo@fec.org.au
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NormaSun, 20 Sept 2009, 07:29 pm

i think It's importan to

You are correct- thank you for pointing this out.

My apologies to the Fremantle Gazette and I have hastened to correct my error.

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Walter PlingeSun, 20 Sept 2009, 07:47 pm

It might be worth asking

It might be worth asking the council why they're prepared to help Deckchair Theatre out by waiving lease fees yet sit back and do nothing to help Harbour Theatre. The council is also waiving leases fees for the Fremantle Esplanade for next year's Blues'n'Roots Festival, on the council agenda this week on 23rd September. So if they're prepared to take that step for two cultural items in Fremantle, why not Harbour Theatre?
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MelzSun, 20 Sept 2009, 08:41 pm

Blues N Roots Fest

and the Blues & Roots Festival is a purely commercial product... run by Sunset Events... they can afford to pay lease fees !!! Melz
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MelzSun, 20 Sept 2009, 08:46 pm

LIVID WITH FREMANTLE !!!

I, like most of you, are absolutely livid with this turn of events and comments (as reported) made by Paul Stenson. Harbour Theatre is one of our major WA community theatre groups ! This statement of his is an attack on theatre in its entirety - this statement indicates we are ALL a joke !!! I say we all need to rally together, show our support for our fellow thespians and stand up for ourselves and our art as a whole !! Let's rally and voice our disgust in their attitude and actions !!! Melz
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Walter PlingeSun, 20 Sept 2009, 08:57 pm

For people wanting to

For people wanting to contact the Fremantle Herald, the paper's details are: Andrew Smith Managing Editor 41 Cliff Street Fremantle WA 6160 Ph: 9430 7727 email: news@fremantleherald.com
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Walter PlingeSun, 20 Sept 2009, 09:17 pm

The Fremantle Council owns

The Fremantle Council owns the Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery, which is sometimes used as a performance venue. The RTR-FM Winter Music Festival was held there a couple of years back. Could this prove to be an alternative venue for Harbour Theatre, especially given it's a council-owned building?
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HarbourSun, 20 Sept 2009, 10:52 pm

Council Meeting Wednesday

And, there's a Council Meeting THIS Wednesday at 6pm (see the Help Save Harbour Theatre thread for details), so an ideal time for our fellow thespians to come down to Fremantle and show the council that Harbour Theatre is worth helping. We need more than suggestions and talk about possible venues from the councillors (all of which have proved to be inadequate for our needs). We now need action from the council!! If you're free, then please come down to Fremantle and help our cause. Ciao Rob
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HarbourSun, 20 Sept 2009, 11:00 pm

And for those wanting to

And for those wanting to contact the Fremantle Education Centre directly to lodge your complaint: Paul Stenson, CEO Ph: 08 9335 5444 email: manager@fec.org.au PS. Just a caveat - I'm not sure if the email is still valid and their web site is "temporary suspended" Ciao Rob
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Tim ProsserMon, 21 Sept 2009, 12:02 am

I went to the last council

I went to the last council meeting a few weeks ago and found Nicola, Peter and a front-of-house volunteer whose name I don't know...the only ones in attendance. I'm going to the next one too, this Wednesday evening. Anyone else like to join me?

Come on folks, we need a show of numbers on this. Let's show Fremantle Council that this means a lot to a LOT of people.

 

 

Per Ardua Ad Astra

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Walter PlingeMon, 21 Sept 2009, 12:13 pm

It's also the last council

It's also the last council meeting before the elections. There will be a new mayor after 17th October, along with several new councillors.
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NormaMon, 21 Sept 2009, 01:07 pm

Harbour Theatre the latest

a mid-day update

This morning I wrote to the CEO at the Fremantle Education Centre, expressing my dismay at the apparant tone of the reported item in this week's Herald.

He was courteous enough to reply straight away to me, insisting that the item was highly inaccurate and that he had been mis-reported, This I accept, so I am awaiting a further explanation of what was really said or not said.

i have also attempted to contact the journalist responsible for the article, without success- he is on holiday. i have also so far b een unable to contact anyone from the said Newspaper- but I'll go on trying.

Keep watching this space as they say!

Norma Davis 

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Paul TreasureMon, 21 Sept 2009, 01:17 pm

Journalism...

As my grandfather used to say: Journalism is one of the noblest professions on this planet, it's just a shame that so many of the people who call themselves journalists are actually just reporters... [no slight intended against those who are both journos and actors, I'm sure you all really are journos]
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Walter PlingeMon, 21 Sept 2009, 01:43 pm

You could always ask for

You could always ask for the Managing Editor Andrew Smith or Production Editor Steve Grant.
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MelzMon, 21 Sept 2009, 04:29 pm

Rally together for Harbour Theatre - This Wednesday

Today I have spoken with Nicola Bond (President of Harbour Theatre) and we need as many WA Theatre practitioners and supporters at this Wednesday's Fremantle Council meeting... Date: Wed 23rd September Time: 5pm for 5.30pm gathering outside Myer in the arcade area - opposite the Fremantle Library. Meeting is at 6pm... regardless of whether we are all allowed inside or not this will be a demonstration of our support for Harbour Theatre and WA Community Theatre as a whole - and we don't 'piss around'. Harbour Theatre built the entire theatre 13 years ago. We took a lease over what was a completely empty space and proceeded to build the stage, proscenium arch raked seating etc all from funds that our loyal members raised. We had no council support to undertake this project. Now that they've put in the hard yards they want to take it off them ??!!?? Come and find out more on Wednesday - I would love to see the masses of WA Community Theatre there showing their support. See you there. Melz
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TaureanTue, 22 Sept 2009, 01:24 pm

RIPLEY SUPPORT

On behalf of the Director and the entire cast and crew of "Ripley" at Playlovers, I wish to offer our combined apologies for being unable to attend the scheduled meeting in Fremantle.

Be rest assured the thoughts of all of us that are involved with the show are with you.

We have positioned copies of the petition issued by Harbour in our foyer to gather more signatures for your cause. These will be in place for our audience members to add their names to throughout our season run and we urge all other companies (both Community and Professional alike) to do likewise.

 This action may be too late to preserve Harbour's place in the Princess May building, but it will hopefully assist Fremantle Council to re-think their decision not to house the group elsewhere.

Graeme


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grantwatsonTue, 22 Sept 2009, 04:21 pm

Deckchair and particularly

Deckchair and particularly Blues and Roots both bring significant amounts of money into the Fremantle economy - maybe Harbour Theatre should look at ways of highlighting what they bring to the local economy, and lobby from there? (For all I know Harbour and its supporters may already be doing this.)
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TazzbearTue, 22 Sept 2009, 04:56 pm

I think

I do believe the Gazette was not mentioned.
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jeffhansenTue, 22 Sept 2009, 06:17 pm

It was originally, but

It was originally, but edited when the mistake was brought to Norma's attention. www.meltheco.org.au
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Walter PlingeTue, 22 Sept 2009, 07:29 pm

If you can't make it, you

If you can't make it, you can always contact the Fremantle councillors via members@fremantle.wa.gov.au as noted elsewhere
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NormaTue, 22 Sept 2009, 08:19 pm

HARBOUR THEATRE (again)

There will be petition forms available for signing at this weekend's Dramafest.

 

We urge everyone  to SIGN SIGN SIGN!! As Taurean says we may be too late to prevent an eviction but on-going support for be-leagured colleagues is vital to their survival.

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Walter PlingeTue, 22 Sept 2009, 10:47 pm

6PR interview

Interview with Howard Sattler: http://members.ii.net/~dazcarter/harbour6pr/
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MelzWed, 23 Sept 2009, 05:21 pm

Hi all... I hope there's a

Hi all... I hope there's a strong turn out today at Fremantle Council meeting... Unfortunately I am bogged down with the ITA DramaFest program and ticketing, as well as Playlovers "Talented Mr Ripley"... I don't have a second spare... however I will want to know the outcomes of the meeting, so someone please post here or email me... as I will want to be writing my own support letter for Harbour Theatre and contacting the various links provided in this post. Melz
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Paul TreasureWed, 23 Sept 2009, 05:47 pm

I second that!

Ditto to Melz' comments... Except I'm bogged down with Dramafest Techs :-(
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HarbourSun, 27 Sept 2009, 07:30 am

Update

Just realised that no update has been posted. Wednesday's Council meeting was well attended with Harbour supporters - I estimate between 20-30 people. Good to see both active and associate members there - and thanks for those poeple who sent words of support but couldn't make it. Damn council holding meetings at the same time as the DramaFest tech... Of course, nothing was resolved on the night but we didn't expect it would. The good piece of news is that Nicola (Harbour's President) & Peter (VP) have been invited to a meeting next Wednesday between the Council and Fremantle officers where possible venues will be presented and discussed. Keep your fingers crossed that something will come forth from this meeting. Ciao Rob PS. Despite journalists being present at the council meeting not a single article about Harbour was published in this week's Herald. Not even a confirmation or withdraw about last week's article. Mind you Paul Stenson hasn't responded to Harbour directly about his "mis-quote" either...
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Walter PlingeSun, 27 Sept 2009, 10:05 am

The Fremantle Herald never

The Fremantle Herald never prints corrections, unless they're threatened by legal action.
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HeraldicWed, 30 Sept 2009, 09:33 pm

Note that friends in high

Note that friends in high places help too... I mention that the overtones of all this mean that someone or some people have the ear of the Fremantle Council.. new elections as well I hear, then campaign to kick out these uncultural philistines and then lobby the new guys..Harbour Theatre needs A strong and stable base into the future... actually the Fremantle Education Centre might need to find a new home....yeah like it! :)
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