Powering the Performing Arts
Wed, 16 Aug 2000, 12:08 amGrant Malcolm16 posts in thread
Powering the Performing Arts
Wed, 16 Aug 2000, 12:08 amIt's been exciting to follow the suggestions for re-developing the old East Perth Power Station and turning it into a cultural centre with performing arts facilities.
While I'm not too sure about the obsession with blindly following the lead of other capital cities in pushing for a performing arts venue situated on the water's edge - can't we come up with something original? - the Power Station represents a stunning opportunity.
The building itself is beautifully situated and the huge structure is most impressive when view from either the railway or the new tunnel bridge. The proximity to both the casino and Northbridge lend the venue a centrality that would be invaluable in attracting new audiences.
I'm not sure that i share Geoff Gibbs' enthusiasm - reported in The West - for housing two theatre venues seating 400 and 600 respectively. Only a couple of weeks ago in the same paper, Ron Banks was bemoaning the fact that our larger venues will be returning to extended periods of darkness after an unprecedented run. And Gibbs' is suggesting we need two more medium sized venues?!?!
The two busiest theatres in town - the BlueRoom and Effie Crump - each seat less than 100. Do we really need another two venues seating four times that number that will be empty nine months of the year except for when we have imported products showing?
If Geoff Gibbs and Arts Minister, Mike Board, are serious about supporting local industry, I hope the venue will house at least one much smaller studio space. The space can easily be filled by local productions on less than stellar budgets.
What does everyone else think?
Cheers
Grant
While I'm not too sure about the obsession with blindly following the lead of other capital cities in pushing for a performing arts venue situated on the water's edge - can't we come up with something original? - the Power Station represents a stunning opportunity.
The building itself is beautifully situated and the huge structure is most impressive when view from either the railway or the new tunnel bridge. The proximity to both the casino and Northbridge lend the venue a centrality that would be invaluable in attracting new audiences.
I'm not sure that i share Geoff Gibbs' enthusiasm - reported in The West - for housing two theatre venues seating 400 and 600 respectively. Only a couple of weeks ago in the same paper, Ron Banks was bemoaning the fact that our larger venues will be returning to extended periods of darkness after an unprecedented run. And Gibbs' is suggesting we need two more medium sized venues?!?!
The two busiest theatres in town - the BlueRoom and Effie Crump - each seat less than 100. Do we really need another two venues seating four times that number that will be empty nine months of the year except for when we have imported products showing?
If Geoff Gibbs and Arts Minister, Mike Board, are serious about supporting local industry, I hope the venue will house at least one much smaller studio space. The space can easily be filled by local productions on less than stellar budgets.
What does everyone else think?
Cheers
Grant
RE: Powering the Performing Arts
Fri, 18 Aug 2000, 08:10 amHi Ian
Ian Ashton wrote:
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> The issue here is not one of size but of funding.
I'm inclined to agree to a point. We certainly have a plethora of facilities of many shapes and sizes. Some of the recent private school acquisitions border on the obscene in their excesses - but that's another topic.
Providing a focal point for the performing arts in an area such as the old power station is likely to do very little to revitalise our local performing arts industry.
At least, not if the venues are of the type described. What's really required here is some vision and daring, not duplication of models from other states and countries. If it's going to happen, we need to develop a place that reflects the particular needs of western australians. Sanitised, cavernous spaces cloned to accommodate imported productions do nothing to reflect our local culture and identity.
The most memorable performance spaces i've visited and some of the most historically significant in terms of their contribution to our theatre heritage have been smaller spaces that offer something distinctive - not spectacle on a large scale for the mass market. Some of the space, like the Stables and the old Pram Factory have become cultural icons in their own right.
In this sense, i think size and funding are inextricably intertwined. The power station represents an opportunity. We could do things on a lavish scale, creating performance spaces not dissimilar to plenty of others around the metro area and then struggle to fill them all year round with imported product. Or we could take the same funds and minimally outfit several smaller spaces, using the remaining funding to foster and support the development of local arts companies.
Cheers
Grant
Ian Ashton wrote:
-------------------------------
> The issue here is not one of size but of funding.
I'm inclined to agree to a point. We certainly have a plethora of facilities of many shapes and sizes. Some of the recent private school acquisitions border on the obscene in their excesses - but that's another topic.
Providing a focal point for the performing arts in an area such as the old power station is likely to do very little to revitalise our local performing arts industry.
At least, not if the venues are of the type described. What's really required here is some vision and daring, not duplication of models from other states and countries. If it's going to happen, we need to develop a place that reflects the particular needs of western australians. Sanitised, cavernous spaces cloned to accommodate imported productions do nothing to reflect our local culture and identity.
The most memorable performance spaces i've visited and some of the most historically significant in terms of their contribution to our theatre heritage have been smaller spaces that offer something distinctive - not spectacle on a large scale for the mass market. Some of the space, like the Stables and the old Pram Factory have become cultural icons in their own right.
In this sense, i think size and funding are inextricably intertwined. The power station represents an opportunity. We could do things on a lavish scale, creating performance spaces not dissimilar to plenty of others around the metro area and then struggle to fill them all year round with imported product. Or we could take the same funds and minimally outfit several smaller spaces, using the remaining funding to foster and support the development of local arts companies.
Cheers
Grant
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