Effie Crump to close!

It is very disheartening to hear of all the difficulies facing our local theatre groups.I am hoping Acorn will NOT become another fatality, and that we continue to prosper.Interestingly an article in the CDB Buisness Newspaper mentions that the Perth Concert Hall is being leased to the Ministy of Culture and the Arts for 5 years for a TOTAL of $5.00.The WA Government pays for most of the buildings maintenance.This was intersting to note, in relations to Acorns attempts at obtaining any form of long term lease with the City of Gosnells.I shall certainly keep this in mind when entering into negotions for Acorn!!!!Sue ThomasPresident Acorn Theatre Inc.The SMALLEST theatre in the World> In a week during which we've seen Acorn Theatre threatened with> demolition, Irish Theatre Players considering winding up and the Mandurah> Little Theatre doing goodness knows what, it's very distressing to> have to record that Ron Banks has reported in today's West Australian> (ArtsToday p.9) that Effice Crump is closing its doors. An inability> to afford to stage it's remaining schedule of productions is cited> as the principle reason.> I've no idea whether Effie's was ever a member of the ITA, but> it most certainly fitted the description Independent Theatre. The> unfunded company relied at the outset on the goodwill of actors and> directors paid at a special Equity-approved, below-award rate. Banks> notes that in its nine years of operation Effie Crump has survived> on a modest sponsorship from Telstra and a total of $136,000 - mostly> used to fund touring of regional centres.> Effie's Artistic Director, John Milson, is reported to be hopeful> that Effie Crump can rise again with financial assistance from the> government or a miracle sponsor.> This news also comes in the same week that the new Perth International> Arts Festival (PIAF), formerly the Festival of Perth, announces it> expects to double its size over the next four years. One month in> paradise to spend the rest of the year in a culutural desert?> Cheers> Grant

Just read the article in Arts Today about Effie's. A very sad event.Something Ron neglected to mention, Effie's was the major theatrical employer of WA actors. ( It would seem that for much of the year Effie's had two casts of actors employed, one performing and the other in rehearsal.)What does it say about our society's priorities when this event is reported on page 9 of the magazine section of the paper ? Do you think it will rate a mention on TV or radio ?Kim

EMAILNOTICES>no> What does it say about our society's priorities when this event> is reported on page 9 of the magazine section of the paper ? Do you> think it will rate a mention on TV or radio ?"Small-time" Theatre just doesn't rate a mention in "Big-time" papers, and it's a load of Bollocks, but what can we do?We don't let it get Us down firstly, we believe in ourselves and believe so strongly that it spreads like a rampant disease.Increase the general awareness through enthusiasm and sheer force of collective will. Get people interested through cunning and underhanded tactics. As soon as enough people demand theatrical reviews, the papers wil oblige. While we remain (as a collective) happy with the Status-Quo, they won't. This Web Site is and has been the first step towards this. I am happy to see that every week there are more and more names appearing on these News Groups. As our number increases,so will our strength.Jeff "Dream Lord" Watkins

EMAILNOTICES>noBut he did mention the majority of professional Perth actors had at one time or another treaded the boards at Effie's.Yes it's amazing a story about a theatre closing is on page 9 of the entertainment section when it could rank in importance above the Turkey tragedy, the forest debate, missing persons and other hugely important issues towards the front of the paper.***Detect sarcasm now.

In a week during which we've seen Acorn Theatre threatened with demolition, Irish Theatre Players considering winding up and the Mandurah Little Theatre doing goodness knows what, it's very distressing to have to record that Ron Banks has reported in today's West Australian (ArtsToday p.9) that Effie Crump is closing its doors. An inability to afford to stage it's remaining schedule of productions is cited as the principle reason.I've no idea whether Effie's was ever a member of the ITA, but it most certainly fitted the description Independent Theatre. The unfunded company relied at the outset on the goodwill of actors and directors paid at a special Equity-approved, below-award rate. Banks notes that in its nine years of operation Effie Crump has survived on a modest sponsorship from Telstra and a total of $136,000 - mostly used to fund touring of regional centres.Effie's Artistic Director, John Milson, is reported to be hopeful that Effie Crump can rise again with financial assistance from the government or a miracle sponsor.This news also comes in the same week that the new Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF), formerly the Festival of Perth, announces it expects to double its size over the next four years. One month in paradise to spend the rest of the year in a cultural desert?CheersGrant

Well said Jeff !!!!!!I have done a few of Effies productions and have found them to be top pros, especially Elizabeth and of Course Mr Ashton (Technician extraordinary). While they are small in number they were totally self sufficient and efficient, they would be of the few who would ensure you were supplied with all the information required to assist the Bump In, on the boards and bump out. Never a drama, down to earth, while being the top of the heap. They were totally flexible, unlike other Companys that we pour the big lolly into and did not come with a price tag of pretension. Unlike a few I could name, there was onc ....... something to do with dance and a parrot or was it something about pissi carrots ..... not sure now ...... but, what a !@#$%^& user and abuser!!!!!Surely ITA has some lobby voice (I think I am out of order - being a non coin member) to at least put the 'Minister for frozen ARTZ' in the picture.They tend to only load their vending machine's with frozen products (visit their website - no Community Theatre - but,lots of popsicles) the only problem being, it has no refridgeration and the Ice-lolly's melt and go down the drain.I am probably and totally out-of-order (my coin mechanism gets sticky some times) and I am sure the good officers of our Aunty ITA, have multiple head injuries bouncing of supa dence inani-mate machines.I know how it feels, everytime I find a vending machine that gobbles my money up or returns product that's off and/or past it's use by date, I aviod using it again! I have moved on from trying to do a 'Fonzy' on them these days.There must be a product slot we fit into, somewhere in these MacHines Y/N!?!?Joe "a penny's werf gu'v'na"

This Minister for the frozen ARTZ, we have been lumbered with, is a bit of a wombat (Try Wombat Popsicles they are real fruity).The article in Saturdays west stated; "The Government had sought to help the company to overcome those problems with a special grant of $30 000 some years ago but it was not able to overcome them."Thats not even amount to a teaspoon full in this fish pond, probably about 5 years ago and that would only be $6 000 a year - for a pro company this is petty cash - when you consider the amount in bucket loads that is poured in to prop up The meaning-full ARTZ" per year.They have just tendered out the Management of the Maj, Concert Hall, Playhouse and Subiaco Theatre Centre in March this year to Ogdens International Facilities Corporation. This will or should save them a few buckets of gold pressed latinium, they pour into that top heavy Perth Theatre Trust Emporium. It is yet to be seen if the Company can utilise these resources - I would say they will have to in order to survive!The opposition arts spokesman Tom Stephenson, has hit the nail on the head, as he blames the Minister for Effie's closure.I doubt if there would be many pro companies who can work on the tight shoe string that the Crump's have done for so long and less than an average parlimentry minister's postage account!The problem with fairy foss, I have found, it tends to be made of something less than a strong substance, becomes sticky, leaving crap everywhere and when its done "your only left with the stick"( apologises to the Max Bygraves song)Joe

There was an interesting areticle in todays West australian, by Art section editor, Ron Banks, regarding Effies and Mr Foss......>