The Demise of Hayman Theatre at Curtin Uni
Wed, 22 June 2005, 12:17 pmCrispian42 posts in thread
The Demise of Hayman Theatre at Curtin Uni
Wed, 22 June 2005, 12:17 pmHi Peoples,
With the recent announcement that Curtin Uni will be cutting the number of courses it will run by over 300, it seems the Hayman Theatre is about to be a casualty.
The following was posted by Tony Nicholls on an online forum run by Hayman students:
***************************
IÂ’m sorry to say that this course is now under serious threat of closure.
Curtin recently changed the way funding is distributed to the various Divisions. Teaching areas are now expected to pay for the space they use. In most cases this makes little difference but the Hayman Theatre is a large space to which we have exclusive access. The annual ‘rent’ has been calculated by the university as about $200,000 per year.
The Division of Humanities and our Faculty of MSC are both considerably in deficit already. Closing the Hayman, as you can see, is from that point, an attractive and some would say, necessary choice.
My view is that without a theatre there can be no worthwhile theatre course.
We shall obviously be making every effort to find an alternative solution but as high school students will very soon be making their applications to university courses a final decision must be made within a very few weeks about the continuance of Performance Studies.
The Guild has been informed of the situation.
I believe the university has an obligation to allow students currently enrolled to complete their course.
There is considerable goodwill towards PS within the Division for many reasons not least of which is the contribution theatre students have made to the cultural life of the campus. However we now appear to have moved to a rather less than brave new world in which our leaders cannot distinguish between value and price.
TONY NICHOLLS
22/6/05
*********************************************
Would love to hear the thoughts of any ex-Haymanites out there or from any patrons who have come to a Hayman performance, on the demise of this course.
Perth's theatrical and cultural landscape will suffer as a result of the closure of this course. Hayman Theatre has been a testing ground for new writers, directors, performers and tehcnical crews who have gone on to successful careers in the local, national and international theatre industry.
Without the Hayman Theatre, the ladder to a professional career in theatre arts has just become longer.
Crispy.
With the recent announcement that Curtin Uni will be cutting the number of courses it will run by over 300, it seems the Hayman Theatre is about to be a casualty.
The following was posted by Tony Nicholls on an online forum run by Hayman students:
***************************
IÂ’m sorry to say that this course is now under serious threat of closure.
Curtin recently changed the way funding is distributed to the various Divisions. Teaching areas are now expected to pay for the space they use. In most cases this makes little difference but the Hayman Theatre is a large space to which we have exclusive access. The annual ‘rent’ has been calculated by the university as about $200,000 per year.
The Division of Humanities and our Faculty of MSC are both considerably in deficit already. Closing the Hayman, as you can see, is from that point, an attractive and some would say, necessary choice.
My view is that without a theatre there can be no worthwhile theatre course.
We shall obviously be making every effort to find an alternative solution but as high school students will very soon be making their applications to university courses a final decision must be made within a very few weeks about the continuance of Performance Studies.
The Guild has been informed of the situation.
I believe the university has an obligation to allow students currently enrolled to complete their course.
There is considerable goodwill towards PS within the Division for many reasons not least of which is the contribution theatre students have made to the cultural life of the campus. However we now appear to have moved to a rather less than brave new world in which our leaders cannot distinguish between value and price.
TONY NICHOLLS
22/6/05
*********************************************
Would love to hear the thoughts of any ex-Haymanites out there or from any patrons who have come to a Hayman performance, on the demise of this course.
Perth's theatrical and cultural landscape will suffer as a result of the closure of this course. Hayman Theatre has been a testing ground for new writers, directors, performers and tehcnical crews who have gone on to successful careers in the local, national and international theatre industry.
Without the Hayman Theatre, the ladder to a professional career in theatre arts has just become longer.
Crispy.
Re: Confirmation
Thu, 14 July 2005, 10:09 amWalter Plinge
Better late than never.
This letter was an embarassingly late (too late, happy to say) response to the issue. very glad to see that all went well
Lance Twomey
Vice Chancellor
Curtin University
GPO Box U1987
Perth WA 6845
Email: Thursday, July 14, 2005
Dear Lance
I am ashamed to say that I have not reacted to the email I received regarding the sacrifice of the beloved Hayman Theatre and hence the possible dismantling of the theatre studies course at Curtin University. I believe though that a ‘better late than never’ address to this outrages plan is required.
I have been fortunate enough to be professionally involved with the performing arts on many levels for the past 20 years, my interest in theatre beginning a long time before that. Throughout my extremely satisfying time in the arts as young amateur, student of WAAPA, professional performer, producer, director and now Artistic Director of Urban Myth Theatre of Youth in Adelaide, Curtin University and WAIT Theatre Arts students past and present have been present in the communities I have associated with.
From a very early age I was inspired by a cousin attending WAIT, throughout my years at WAAPA I was in awe of past WAIT/Curtin students working in the profession. As a professional performer I rejoiced in working with graduates from Curtin and as a director I always enjoyed auditioning Curtin students/graduates.
I have lived and worked in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and now Adelaide and have constantly met ex Curtin students working in the profession in all of these cities. Your graduates are very much a part of the Australian theatre scene. If anything this should be the inspiration for further developing the Theatre courses Curtin offers.
We cannot let this trend of sacrificing the arts continue in Australia. Without culture and the arts a society cannot prosper, we know this to be a fact.
I urge you to do everything in your power to halt this outrages attack on the arts and to recognise the worth of the Curtin University Theatre program and the Hayman Theatre.
Yours truly,
Glenn Hayden
Artistic Director
Urban Myth Theatre of Youth
Adelaide, South Australia
Dylan Sercombe wrote:
>
> That's absolutely correct, Craig!
>
> Sorry for not posting earlier, wanted to hold back until it
> was all official, but there has very definitely been a battle
> won, and the continuation of the course, and the practical
> theatre component is guaranteed for at least the next few
> years. There are two real positives to be taken from this
> small but important victory:
>
> Firstly, the support displayed by all kinds of people, which
> had a huge effect on the outcome of the negotiations. It's
> easy to look at a big community and feel insignificant -
> after all, Hayman is only one little theatre in Australia -
> but the lengths people were willing to go to to help our
> cause were very encouraging. So basically, thanks for caring
> enough to save us. You've really shown me warmth in what is
> often considered a brutal industry, and for that, a thousand
> thanks.
>
> Secondly, the terms of the deal that was brokered have forced
> the powers that be to consider the importance of Hayman, and
> by implication, performance, in the wider community. The
> acceptance of the theatre as an important and relevant medium
> of expression and entertainment has been one of the implicit
> debates in this fight, and to have our art understood by
> people who deal in figures and logistics is incredible.
> Hopefully, these ramifications will be felt in the wider
> community, and theatre everywhere enjoys a little more
> appreciation.
>
> Thanks a million, guys!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Dylan.
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