Independent Theatre Initiative
In November 2008, 18 independent theatre groups received a $420,000 funding boost for facilities, marketing and production from the State Government.
Funding applications closed on August 1, 2008 for activity commencing from December 1, 2008.
Applications to the Independent Theatre Initiative were peer assessed by members of the independent, community run theatre sector in Western Australia.
Independent Theatre Initiative grant recipients
21 applications were supported to a total of $420,497
Kwinana Theatre Workshop - Kwinana $14,865
The Kwinana Theatre Company program five plays, including one musical and Christmas performance, every year. This funding will allow them to replace their twenty year old flats and out of date lighting systems, increasing the quality of their productions and the enjoyment of their membership and audience.
Darlington Theatre Players Inc - Darlington $17,987
The Darlington Theatre Players, also known as The Marloo Theatre, have a membership of one hundred and fifty. This funding support will enable them to upgrade theatre flats and foyer facilities.
Northam Theatre Group - Northam $18,410
The historic one hundred year old Link Theatre in Northam is an old church building, unique for its gothic architecture and excellent acoustics. This funding will provide much needed repairs to the structure of the building which currently has rising damp and crumbling brick work.
Perth Diocesan Trustees - Gosnells $6,111
The All Saints Players are a community-church based theatre group who perform Old Time Music Hall in a church hall in Gosnells. This funding will enable them to purchase a fire retardant curtain which will also be used by other groups in the community, including a number of dance, seniors and school groups.
Roleystone Theatre Inc - Roleystone $29,910
The Roleystone Theatre is an eighty-six year old, heritage-listed theatre and the only venue in the City of Armadale which caters for live theatre audiences. This funding will enable the theatre group producing work in the venue to carry out much needed repairs to the stage floor, replace the stage curtain and purchase new screens.
Murray Music and Drama Club Inc - Pinjarra $32,736
The Murray Music and Drama Club Inc reaches a large cross section of the Peel Community, with club members ranging in age from seven to seventy three. A significant proportion of the audience are elderly and this funding will enable the club to provide comfortable seating. It will also be used to replace damaged curtains and purchase a new sound system for the stage.
Kalamunda Dramatic Society Inc - Kalamunda $10,950
Kalamanda Dramatic Society has a strong local audience base, including season ticket holders. To retain this audience, the club will increase the comfort level of the venue through the purchase of two reverse-cycle air conditioning units.
Goldfields Repertory Club - Kalgoorlie $10,000
The Goldfields Repertory Club is housed in a 90-seat theatre built in the 1930s. The venue is used by a number of clubs and community groups. The club will use the funding to install a disabled toilet and a ramp to allow wheelchair access to the auditorium, which is currently through a flight of stairs.
Harbour Theatre Inc - Fremantle $31,800
The Harbour Theatre, currently housed in The Princess May Building in Fremantle, was established in 1963 and has a committed membership. This funding will enable the group to install new lighting equipment and intra-theatre communications.
Playlovers Inc - Floreat $30,000
Playlovers are the only community club in metropolitan WA that do not have tiered seating in their venue. This funding will enable the club to purchase and install a retractable, raked seating system, which can be taken down for other community groups who use the Hackett Hall Venue.
Playlovers Inc - Floreat $10,000
Playlovers deliver an artistic program of six theatre productions a year. To develop new audiences for these productions the group will use marketing company Taz Entertainment to increase their database and improve the quality of their newsletters, flyers, post cards and programs.
Melville Theatre Company Inc - Melville $19,800
Melville Theatre Company is located in the Roy Edinger Hall in Stock Road and produces six shows each year. This funding will enable the company to install four split-system air conditioners which will control the temperature of the large venue and enable audiences to enjoy the productions in comfort.
Phoenix Theatre Inc - Hamilton Hill $40,000
Phoenix Theatre recently moved into the Memorial Hall, a venue which has been refurbished by The City of Cockburn. This funding will enable Phoenix Theatre to complete the refurbishment with the installation of technical and stage equipment, making the venue a fully functional theatre space.
Graduate Dramatic Society Inc - Nedlands $9, 950
The Graduate Dramatic Society is made up of University of Western Australia graduates and other community members. Productions take place in the Dolphin Theatre on the Nedlands Campus. The funding will be used to run an innovative marketing program, which will train its members in marketing skills through the mentorship of a high profile marketing agency.
Esperance Theatre Guild - Esperance $5,150
Audiences for Esperance Theatre come from a wide regional area which includes remote farms and communities. In order to stay in touch with its audience the Esperance Theatre Guild will develop a website and train its members to maintain it.
Esperance Theatre Guild - Esperance $24,175
The Esperance Theatre Guild owns and performs in the tiny Bijou Theatre, built in 1896. The Guild has provided entertainment to the community since 1969. Funding will enable them to restump the theatre, reinstall the floor and install new fire retardant carpets.
Narrogin Repertory Club Inc - Narrogin $48,000
The Thorton Theatre in Narrogin currently seats 45 people. The funding will allow Narrogin Repertory Club to carry out a major upgrade and refurbishment, which will increase audience capacity by 50 per cent and see the installation of new lighting, curtains and seating.
Narrogin Repertory Club Inc - Narrogin $3,750
This marketing funding will enable the club to set up a new website and electronic newsletter, install blue street signage on the main street and install a large event sign to attract visitors and direct them to the location of the theatre.
Bunbury Repertory Club - Bunbury $40,000
The Bunbury Repertory Club has been operational for over sixty years and currently presents five plays every year in the Little Theatre in Bunbury, as well as opening the venue to a number of community groups. The building is in need of urgent repair due to storm damage. Funding will enable the club to repair the structure above the stage and part of the auditorium.
Garrick Theatre Club Inc - Guildford $8,673
The Garrick Theatre has operated as a performing arts venue for over seventy-five years. This funding will be used to install theatre lighting which will increase the production quality of its performances.
Stirling Players - Innaloo $8,140
Stirling Players have been producing live theatre for the local community for thirty-eight years. This funding will be used to install lighting and audio equipment in the theatre in the Innaloo Community Centre, with a view to enhancing the quality of the audience experience.
For further information please contact the Senior Project Officer:
P: (08) 9224 7315
Freecall: 1800 199 090
F: (08) 9224 7311
Visit the Independent Theatre Association website
