An Update on the New Theatre
Things have been screaming along with the New Theatre and so we
thougt it was about time to let you all know what has been
happening so here is a brief update:
Our patrons are: Roger Hall, John Gow, Dame Catherine Tizard, Witi
Ihimaera, Christine Fernyhough and Judith Tizard
Executive: Justin Lewis, Heather Lee (secretary), Craig Anderson,
Carl Bland, Peta Rutter, Andrew Caisley (chair), Danielle Cormack,
Ben Crowder, Peter Elliot, Gary Gunning (secretary), Ian Hughes,
Chris Jannides,
The executive has been meeting weekly or fortnightly and working
on a number of fronts. Here is some of what we have achieved.
1. Site: We have moved our focus to the Aotea
precinct and are focused on realising the Garage proposal as designed
by Jasmax. Situated on the back of the Town Hall facing the
square and The Silo this site is owned by council. We are lobbying
the City to partner us to develop this site.
Auckland City have identified us as a stakeholder and are consulting
with us to include the flexiform theatre in the design brief for
the redevelopment of the Aotea Precinct. This is a major development
in our relationship with the Council and signals a real desire to
support the theatre.
Jasmax have very generously offered to develop the designs for the
garage to the next stage for free in recognition of the fact that
we are all working voluntarily to make this theatre happen.
However we are continuing to explore other possibilities and to
keep our options open including partnerships with private developers.
2. Membership - we are working hard to increase
our membership and to date have around 100 paid up members. We have
many more people who have returned their supporters forms and we
now need you to join. Our membership is our greatest strength
and will give us the political weight we need to make this happen.
The membership committee is organising our first newsletter due
out in 3 weeks time. We will be mailing this to over 1,000 people
connected with the industry and if we don't have your postal address
and would like to receive one please send us your detail or better
still if you haven't already - become a member
We will hold a public meeting at The Classic on Tuesday 26 Sep,
7 - 9 pm. This will be an opportunity to hear what we have achieved,
have your say and get more involved if you so wish. We will hold
these public forums every 6 weeks or so.
We are also in the process of developing a web site with the generous
support of Tradewinds publishing and Annabel of Talent on Line who
has offered to host the site for the time being.
3. Business plan: We have developed a draft business
plan and presented this to Councillor Victoria Carter of Auckland
City. We will continue to develop this and it will form the basis
of our fundraising and partnership efforts Contained in this is
a lot of work on our artistic policy, some possible business structures,
governance and other matters that will be of interest to you. We
will tell you more in our newsletter or at the meeting at the Classic.
4. Hoopla: The Hoopla committee are hard at work
organising a fabulous party for October / November
5. Arts Development: we are establishing an arts
development programme beginning with a series of workshops of new
scripts, devised works, dance or other creative development projects.
We will invite applications from interested people in the near future.
We aim to expand this programme in the future to include Masterclasses
and other activities designed to grow the level of skill and excellence
in the art, artists and arts managers. We anticipate that this will
remain an ongoing function of the theatre
People interested in this developing this aspect of the theatre
can contact Anna Marbrook .
6. Consultant: We have contracted
Rachel Lorimer to work 8 - 16 hours a week on
administration, publicity, membership and related areas.
We will go back to circulating the minutes of our meetings so people
can have a better understanding of what we've been doing and see
how quickly things really are moving. If you don't wish to receive
these please let us know and we will take you off our list.
Attached is another membership form and we urge you to join up if
you haven't already done so. This is sure way of showing your
support and a very real way of increasing the speed at which this
theatre comes to life. The more members we have the more politicians
and other key partners are going to take notice of us.
Not only that, we want to do this right. The country is littered
with too many ill -conceived venues already and we don't want to
create another. If you do think we're on the wrong track please,
please tell us. We only want to move ahead with this project
if there is a real demand from the industry. Similarly if you think
it is a good idea then make your support known now rather than waiting
for it to just happen.
THE NEW THEATRE INITIATIVE
Our vision is to open a dynamic and innovative theatre that meets
a clearly identified need in Auckland.
- A 350 seat theatre that is home to the most exciting performing
arts from Auckland, New Zealand and the world.
- A theatre that celebrates creative possibilities by having
movable seating blocks and a flexible stage.
- A theatre that captures the Maori, Pacific and multicultural
flavours of Auckland and reflects its vital, new and confident
energy.
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This vision will succeed if the New Zealand performing arts community
and public demand it. We have identified some possible sites
and are lobbying and fundraising to secure and equip this new theatre
You can show your support and become part of our new theatre by
becoming a member of The New Theatre Initiative Incorporated Society.
This is your theatre.
Thank you for your support.
If you require any further information please contact:
Justin Lewis or Ian Hughes or Heather Lee