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The Hayman Theatre - by the new Vice Chancellor

Wed, 12 Apr 2006, 06:33 pm
Gordon the Optom10 posts in thread
Hayman Theatre

Performances planned for Hayman Theatre this year have been relocated to other venues in the metropolitan area, as Curtin has been advised by independent fire engineering consultants that the theatre does not meet the relevant fire and safety standards.

Some upgrading has been undertaken to ensure the theatre can be used as a teaching space and rehearsal space, but it will cost over $1 million to bring it to the standard required for public performances. Properties is now undertaking a study to identify the most appropriate use of the space, taking into account current needs and priorities, before any decision is made.

Despite the closure of the theatre, the activities of the Performance Studies course will continue with productions planned for 2006 being staged in alternative venues within the metropolitan area. This will have the advantage of giving students experience in the types of venues they will work in after graduation, and will showcase the Performance Studies course in different areas and to different audiences.

 

OBSERVATION by reader

The several UWA theatres are used extensively - check the lack of parking any night! - surely Curtin can support one theatre and their acting and theatre skills courses. They have the space, facilities and parking

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Thread (10 posts)

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Gordon the OptomWed, 12 Apr 2006, 06:33 pm
Hayman Theatre

Performances planned for Hayman Theatre this year have been relocated to other venues in the metropolitan area, as Curtin has been advised by independent fire engineering consultants that the theatre does not meet the relevant fire and safety standards.

Some upgrading has been undertaken to ensure the theatre can be used as a teaching space and rehearsal space, but it will cost over $1 million to bring it to the standard required for public performances. Properties is now undertaking a study to identify the most appropriate use of the space, taking into account current needs and priorities, before any decision is made.

Despite the closure of the theatre, the activities of the Performance Studies course will continue with productions planned for 2006 being staged in alternative venues within the metropolitan area. This will have the advantage of giving students experience in the types of venues they will work in after graduation, and will showcase the Performance Studies course in different areas and to different audiences.

 

OBSERVATION by reader

The several UWA theatres are used extensively - check the lack of parking any night! - surely Curtin can support one theatre and their acting and theatre skills courses. They have the space, facilities and parking

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crgwllmsThu, 13 Apr 2006, 11:34 am

Investment properties

And the theatre would be one of the few buildings at Curtin where they can charge people admission to enter...giving at least some return on the investment. Of course, the most profitable building on campus IS the carpark.... Cheers, Craig ~<8>-/====\---------
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LabrugThu, 13 Apr 2006, 12:46 pm

Marketing Potential

Theatrical Publicity and Community Image is something else that Curtin will lose with this latest move. Theatre has always been, at least as I understand it, a great way to improve a Community Profile. It is an easy way to "give back to the community."

It's Curtin's loss at the end of the day.

Dixi

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

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Walter PlingeThu, 13 Apr 2006, 02:36 pm

Hayman is important

It is an absolute disgrace. That course has been the breeding ground of so much talent, and it is a shame that the Hayman cannot be used to its full potential. I can think of so many graduates who have contributed to Perth's, and indeed, Australia's theatrical environment..... Perhaps one day someone will see the light and see past the almighty dollar....HAYMAN THEATRE must be preserved !!
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TaleiMon, 17 Apr 2006, 06:48 am

Phasing out the performance studies course?

Back in June last year Curtin decided to charge Humanties rental for the Hayman Theatre space hoping that this would put financial pressure on the department and close down the performance studies course. Plans changed when the issue got publicised in the press and letters flooded the VC's desk. Now they have a legitimate excuse to close down the Hayman theatre space and turn it into a lecture theatre. As Gordon and Craig have both pointed out Hayman Theatre could be marketed more aggresively as a theatre for public hire like the UWA theatres and Nexus Theatre at Murdoch (which is self sustaining financially)and provide some return on the investment needed to fix the theatre up. It's wonderful that students will have the opportunity to perform in various venues outside of the university but I have a feeling that the added expense of hiring these venues etc will add to the reasons needed for Curtin to phase out the performance studies course and that would be a damn shame. I hope my suspicions prove to be wrong.
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Walter PlingeThu, 20 Apr 2006, 09:02 am

Hayman

You just have to be careful in what sort of financial returns are promised if the money is spent on the building and it is made available to those outside the uni. Because and I have been in this situation, the money coming in takes precendence over the students using the venue. And they may find the venue unavailable because an outside hirer is in.The powers that be see $$$$ rather than student work Also quite often the return on investment is not as big on venue hire as many people think. There are alot of venues out there all competing for the same business. Not only is money required to bring the building up tp standard, but also money needs to be spent on raising the profile and letting people know where the venue is and that it is available for hire. A producer or some one wanting to put on a show will want a venue with a profile, and if there money is not there to give the venue a profile it makes it difficult to rent. You also have to be careful about the rental charged, as the pressure for a return on investment can set the bar rather high. Counting alot of potential hirers amature groups etc out limiting your market. Other venue may also be in a position to give deals to hirers because they have reserve funds, something a new venue cannot often do. Which makes other venues more attractive. So while I think that have the money spent on the venue is important you have to be careful what is promised in return as it could be to the determent of the students. It's a bit like dealing with the devil. That's my rant!!!!!
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Walter PlingeThu, 20 Apr 2006, 03:38 pm

What sort of kudos does

What sort of kudos does this course actually have?? I know one or two people who have graduated from this course and are still in the entertainment industry, but cant think of many others. Are there people in Perth and beyond who have been to Hayman/Curtin and are still in the biz?? Or is WAAPA the be all and end all in WA? Opinions?
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CrispianThu, 20 Apr 2006, 04:46 pm

Hayman's Kudos....

Hi Debra,

You'll find that many Western Australian theatre professionals (i.e Directors/Actors/Technical/Arts Administrators/Curators/) working around Australia have had some connection to Hayman Theatre and the Performance Studies course over it's long history.

In it's golden years, Hayman Theatre was putting on 3-4 main productions in it's downstairs theatre and in the upstairs theatre (which was completely run by the students) about 20-30 productions a year. This gave a lot of young actors practical opportunities to hone their skills. If they wanted to become a director they could focus on that by directing their own shows at Hayman; if they wanted to be technical specialists, they could crew as many shows as they could to pick up the skills. Students were exposed to all aspects of administrative/technical/on stage practices in the one course.

Hayman Theatre was a great breeding ground for future NIDA/WAAPA/VCA grads. Every year saw at least couple of students go into the Drama schools and I'm sure the practical experiences they got at Hayman contributed to their successful application.

Hayman Theatre was not an DRAMA ACTING SCHOOL. It was an institution that created THEATRE/FILM ARTISTS.

Here is a list of Hayman grads I know currently working in the industry...

Frances O Connor - Mansfield Park, Importance of Being Ernest, AI & others - actor
Kate Atkinson - Seachange & others -actor
Steve Jodrell - Seachange & others - director
Matthew Parkinson - Eistein Factor - ABC TV
Mandy McElhinney - The Bank(film), Comedy Inc. CH9
Luke Devenish - script producer Neighbours - CH10 Grundy
Jonathon Beale - Stateline ABCTV Perth
Aela Callan - Ch7 News Syd.
Gibson Nolte (actor)
Jim Scott - MLC (Greens WA) upper house
Judith Lucy - comedienne
Daina Reid - comedienne
Andrea Powell - comedienne
Andrea Gibbs - 96fm Breakfast Crew
Claire Hooper - Stand Up Comedian/Actor
Judy Davis (actor)
Michael Loney (actor)
Caroline Mc Kenzie (actor)
Bill Mc Clusky (actor, director, teacher)
Sarah Smith (script-writer, film director)
Glenn Swift (actor, variety performer, teacher of the Alexander Technique
Denise Kirby (actor)
Joanne Foley (actor, puppeteer, clown doctor)
Ian Triggoning (puppeteer, technical wizard)
Don Smith (actor, clown, comedian, teacher)
Brent Hill (actor/writer/musical director)
Luke Milton (writer/director)
Adam Mitchell (director)
Michelle Nussey (actor)
Crispian Chan (actor)
Craig Williams (actor)
Julia Moody (now teaching voice at WAAPA)
Paul Goddard (actor)
Michelle Baginski (actor)
Kerry O Sullivan (director/actor)
Angelique Malcolm (founder of Class Act/actor)
Simon Keen (actor - NIDA)
Tom Milton (actor - WAAPA)
Jenny Courtney (actor -VCA)
Lucy Bath (actor - WAAPA)
Damien Robertson (actor- WAAPA)
Austin Castiglione (actor - WAAPA)
Cavan Gallagher (writer/director/actor)
Calida With actor/singer)
Carla Kissane (actor)
Sarah Borg (actor)
Ingrid Hartwig (actor)
Kingsley Judd (actor/puppeteer)
Mike Frencham (actor/film director)
Mike McCall (actor/director - NIDA)
Tye Harper (actor - NIDA)
Ian Meadows (actor - WAAPA)
Renato Fabretti (actor - WAAPA)

and so many, many more....


There was an earlier posting from last year when Hayman was first threatened with closure. You can check it out at http://www.theatre.asn.au/node/2266 - there is a lot of testimonies from ex-grads on that thread regarding Hayman Theatre's contribution to the arts.

Crispy.


 

 

 

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CrispianThu, 20 Apr 2006, 05:21 pm

Hayman's Kudo...

Frances O Connor - Mansfield Park, Importance of Being Ernest, AI & others - actor
Kate Atkinson - Seachange & others -actor
Steve Jodrell - Seachange & others - director
Matthew Parkinson - Eistein Factor - ABC TV
Mandy McElhinney - The Bank(film), Comedy Inc. CH9
Luke Devenish - script producer Neighbours - CH10 Grundy
Jonathon Beale - Stateline ABCTV Perth
Aela Callan - Ch7 News Syd.
Gibson Nolte (actor)
Jim Scott - MLC (Greens WA) upper house
Judith Lucy - comedienne
Daina Reid - comedienne
Andrea Powell - comedienne
Andrea Gibbs - 96fm Breakfast Crew
Claire Hooper - Stand Up Comedian/Actor
Judy Davis (actor)
Michael Loney (actor)
Caroline Mc Kenzie (actor)
Bill Mc Clusky (actor, director, teacher)
Sarah Smith (script-writer, film director)
Glenn Swift (actor, variety performer, teacher of the Alexander Technique
Denise Kirby (actor)
Joanne Foley (actor, puppeteer, clown doctor)
Ian Triggoning (puppeteer, technical wizard)
Don Smith (actor, clown, comedian, teacher)
Brent Hill (actor/writer/musical director)
Luke Milton (writer/director)
Adam Mitchell (director)
Michelle Nussey (actor)
Crispian Chan (actor)
Craig Williams (actor)
Julia Moody (now teaching voice at WAAPA)
Paul Goddard (actor)
Michelle Baginski (actor)
Kerry O Sullivan (director/actor)
Angelique Malcolm (founder of Class Act/actor)
Simon Keen (actor - NIDA)
Tom Milton (actor - WAAPA)
Jenny Courtney (actor -VCA)
Lucy Bath (actor - WAAPA)
Damien Robertson (actor- WAAPA)
Austin Castiglione (actor - WAAPA)
Cavan Gallagher (writer/director/actor)
Calida With actor/singer)
Carla Kissane (actor)
Sarah Borg (actor)
Ingrid Hartwig (actor)
Kingsley Judd (actor/puppeteer)
Mike Frencham (actor/film director)
Mike McCall (actor/director - NIDA)
Tye Harper (actor - NIDA)
Ian Meadows (actor - WAAPA)
Renato Fabretti (actor - WAAPA)

and so many, many more....


There was an earlier posting from last year when Hayman was first threatened with closure. You can check it out at http://www.theatre.asn.au/node/2266 - there is a lot of testimonies from ex-grads on that thread regarding Hayman Theatre's contribution to the arts.

Crispy.


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Walter PlingeThu, 20 Apr 2006, 10:26 pm

Kudos?

The wonderful thing about the course at the Hayman Theatre at Curtin is that it was not designed to set people up to be in "the biz". It was designed to give students a well rounded education in theatre. Many of the graduates are still in "the biz" and many are not. But their understanding and love of theatre, fostered by Hayman, enables them to be drama teachers, to tread the boards in community theatre, or to support community theatre by working behind the scenes, or doing publicity or working front of house, they are audience members at both community and professional performances, they write reviews for newpapers, they are in television commericals, they perform stand-up at nightclubs, they encourage the staff in their office to get organised to go and see that show on this weekend, they are involved in theatre in many, many ways. They have an informed framework by which to be involved in and appreciate the Performing Arts. And that framework is due to the course at Hayman. The course at Hayman taught the history of theatre, explored performance, production and appreciation of theatre. Students were encouraged to work behind the scenes as well as shine in the spotlights! They were given a through, rounded education in ALL apsects of theatre. Asking for a list of "who's who" from the graduates of a course is no way to judge the merits of that course. And this course has many merits!
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