Drama for Deckchair
Wed, 23 Feb 2000, 04:10 pmGrant Malcolm5 posts in thread
Drama for Deckchair
Wed, 23 Feb 2000, 04:10 pmThis item via Steve Shaw at Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance. Thanks again, Steve.
*************
Dear all,
Please find below the media release regarding the sale of our home,
Victoria Hall. We hope you can help us fight this sale and will pass this
on to anyone who might be interested.
Yours sincerely,
David Gerrand
MEDIA RELEASE MEDIA RELEASE
Fremantle's deckchair theatre, one of Australia's best known and acclaimed drama companies looks like being evicted from its home for the past eighteen months at Victoria Hall. "We have been trying to convince the State Government and the Fremantle City Council to either buy it outright and lease it back to us, or provide the company with an interest free loan so that we can buy it," said David Gerrand, General Manager.
The company has been operating for seventeen years in Fremantle and over the last ten years has been lead by Angela Chaplin, one of Australia's top theatre directors. Over this time it has never had a permanent home, rather it has produced shows in Old Customs House, warehouses, outdoors, the Round House, Fremantle Arts Centre, the Fremantle Prison and Victoria Quay.
deckchair has toured extensively intra and interstate and internationally, winning awards for direction and excellence for its productions. In 1999 they were rewarded with triennial funding from the Federal Government to match their triennial funding from the WA state government.
However as Fremantle has become more developed, there are less opportunities to find accessible buildings or office space which can cater for a theatre company. Heritage listed Victoria Hall was an obvious home for this innovative theatre company. It is sadly in need of major renovations but for the past two years deckchair has staged four world premieres, two festivals for people with disabilities, six cabarets, fundraising nights, CD launches and rave parties. Victoria Hall has also been the home of the Walalyup Reconciliation Group. Victoria Hall has proved to be a hit for our audiences even though it's hot in summer and cold in winter. It has great character, central location and a link with Fremantle's past.
The new owner wants to restore the theatre to its original glory however it will turn the space into a retail outlet and this will mean the eviction of deckchair theatre possibly as soon as next month. Potentially this means that the whole years programme may have to be cancelled.
The board and staff of deckchair theatre have all worked on and contributed to the various committees and reports which are moving the Fremantle Council closer to building a modern Performing Arts Centre. This proposed centre will eventually house deckchair theatre but it will be at least five years before it is built.
Fremantle City Council has not had the foresight to purchase Victoria Hall, although it did have first right of purchase, one of Fremantle's treasures could be lost to deckchair theatre, its patrons and the community. deckchair theatre had entered negotiations with the past Minister for the Arts, Peter Foss, in November 1999 to get Treasury to loan deckchair the money to purchase Victoria Hall. Mike Board, the current Minister for the Arts, has this same proposal on his desk.
Please contact your local Fremantle Councilor and the Minister for the Arts, the Hon Mike Board to get them to change this situation.
DECKCHAIR THEATRE
PO BOX 130
FREMANTLE WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6959
618 9430 4771
618 9335 4210
*************
Dear all,
Please find below the media release regarding the sale of our home,
Victoria Hall. We hope you can help us fight this sale and will pass this
on to anyone who might be interested.
Yours sincerely,
David Gerrand
MEDIA RELEASE MEDIA RELEASE
Fremantle's deckchair theatre, one of Australia's best known and acclaimed drama companies looks like being evicted from its home for the past eighteen months at Victoria Hall. "We have been trying to convince the State Government and the Fremantle City Council to either buy it outright and lease it back to us, or provide the company with an interest free loan so that we can buy it," said David Gerrand, General Manager.
The company has been operating for seventeen years in Fremantle and over the last ten years has been lead by Angela Chaplin, one of Australia's top theatre directors. Over this time it has never had a permanent home, rather it has produced shows in Old Customs House, warehouses, outdoors, the Round House, Fremantle Arts Centre, the Fremantle Prison and Victoria Quay.
deckchair has toured extensively intra and interstate and internationally, winning awards for direction and excellence for its productions. In 1999 they were rewarded with triennial funding from the Federal Government to match their triennial funding from the WA state government.
However as Fremantle has become more developed, there are less opportunities to find accessible buildings or office space which can cater for a theatre company. Heritage listed Victoria Hall was an obvious home for this innovative theatre company. It is sadly in need of major renovations but for the past two years deckchair has staged four world premieres, two festivals for people with disabilities, six cabarets, fundraising nights, CD launches and rave parties. Victoria Hall has also been the home of the Walalyup Reconciliation Group. Victoria Hall has proved to be a hit for our audiences even though it's hot in summer and cold in winter. It has great character, central location and a link with Fremantle's past.
The new owner wants to restore the theatre to its original glory however it will turn the space into a retail outlet and this will mean the eviction of deckchair theatre possibly as soon as next month. Potentially this means that the whole years programme may have to be cancelled.
The board and staff of deckchair theatre have all worked on and contributed to the various committees and reports which are moving the Fremantle Council closer to building a modern Performing Arts Centre. This proposed centre will eventually house deckchair theatre but it will be at least five years before it is built.
Fremantle City Council has not had the foresight to purchase Victoria Hall, although it did have first right of purchase, one of Fremantle's treasures could be lost to deckchair theatre, its patrons and the community. deckchair theatre had entered negotiations with the past Minister for the Arts, Peter Foss, in November 1999 to get Treasury to loan deckchair the money to purchase Victoria Hall. Mike Board, the current Minister for the Arts, has this same proposal on his desk.
Please contact your local Fremantle Councilor and the Minister for the Arts, the Hon Mike Board to get them to change this situation.
DECKCHAIR THEATRE
PO BOX 130
FREMANTLE WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6959
618 9430 4771
618 9335 4210
RE: Drama for Deckchair
Sat, 26 Feb 2000, 05:17 pmWalter Plinge
I comes as no surprise to me that yet again,economic rationalism has sparked the demise of yet another theatrical group and or venue.It seems the almighty dollar is more important than anything so puerile as fostering the pursuit of the arts. But then again perhaps it is an opportunity to look at where theatre is heading generally,I feel that the majority of amateur theatres are staying with "safe" or "bums on seats"
productions,personally I do not wish to spend time at the theatre watching an endless parade of British Drawing room comedies,Noel Coward or Agatha Christie,not to mention the 600th production of the Sound of Music or the Boyfriend (insert yawn here)
I know that at best the more established amateur theatres do run to a tight budget,but I see very little risk taking going on,I am sorry but I do not want to see plays that hanker back to an era long past,I want to see innovation and daring
come back to the theatre on a more regular basis
Quite frankly amateur theatre seems on the whole to be catering to a dying audience(that is,the blue rinse set)by all means present theatre from playwrights of the past,but remember it is by the standards of today that most plays will be judged,and if the work presented does not stand up to todays times,ultimately it should be left on the shelf to gather dust where it obviously belongs.
In the past 5 years we have seen the demise of a number of amateur theatres,funnily enough it was those that were clearly guilty of the abovementioned "sins".Perhaps that is how the situation with Deckchair Theatre(a theatre known for its forays into new ground )should be viewed,as an opportunity to examine that which needs to be re-examined and changed.
Having said that I do hope that this does not spell the end of Deckchair,I would be a great shame.
Respectfully
TBO
productions,personally I do not wish to spend time at the theatre watching an endless parade of British Drawing room comedies,Noel Coward or Agatha Christie,not to mention the 600th production of the Sound of Music or the Boyfriend (insert yawn here)
I know that at best the more established amateur theatres do run to a tight budget,but I see very little risk taking going on,I am sorry but I do not want to see plays that hanker back to an era long past,I want to see innovation and daring
come back to the theatre on a more regular basis
Quite frankly amateur theatre seems on the whole to be catering to a dying audience(that is,the blue rinse set)by all means present theatre from playwrights of the past,but remember it is by the standards of today that most plays will be judged,and if the work presented does not stand up to todays times,ultimately it should be left on the shelf to gather dust where it obviously belongs.
In the past 5 years we have seen the demise of a number of amateur theatres,funnily enough it was those that were clearly guilty of the abovementioned "sins".Perhaps that is how the situation with Deckchair Theatre(a theatre known for its forays into new ground )should be viewed,as an opportunity to examine that which needs to be re-examined and changed.
Having said that I do hope that this does not spell the end of Deckchair,I would be a great shame.
Respectfully
TBO