June 23, 2018

Free Theatre Christchurch

James Levy          posted 21 Jun 2018, 05:26 PM

The Free Theatre Christchurch has been told to vacate from its Arts Centre premises in the restored Gymnasium. If anyone here can expand further than what has been already released in the media that might be instructive. This irrevocable divorce is apparently over the financial inability of the company to pay the lease and future rental costs.

Editor    posted 23 Jun 2018, 09:52 AM

Here is the email sent out by Free Theatre Christchurch on 13 June 2018

FREE THEATRE CHRISTCHURCH

Free Theatre Christchurch (est. 1979) is New Zealand’s longest running producer of experimental theatre. The professional company serves as an interdisciplinary performance laboratory where artists work together to create innovative, high quality, performance work.

Hi everyone,

Last week we announced we were unable to renew the lease of our venue The Gym in the Arts Centre due to cost but that we would continue our programme here. Unfortunately, the Arts Centre has made it clear that the equipment that we would need for the programme must all be stripped out by June 25 making our presence in the Arts Centre no longer feasible. We have continued to try and seek a rethink with the Arts Centre, proposing a new solution. We are hoping that the Arts Centre Board will see the value of keeping a proven venue for the arts that also provides flexibility for multiple users – festivals and events – as well as a company with such significant history.

Promoted by members of the arts community and our supporters the letter at the bottom of this email will be sent to the Arts Centre Trust Board to try and reverse their decision. If you would like your name added please let us know at admin@freetheatre.org.nz. Alternatively, you can contact the acting Arts Centre Chief Executive directly: Jane Parfitt – jane@artscentre.org.nz or incoming Chief Executive Philip Aldridge: philip.aldridge@courttheatre.org.nz.

This is less an argument about Free Theatre and more a debate over the arts in the city and the Arts Centre as a key site for this. To see the restoration of this special site becoming more about buildings and using retail and corporate hires to make it work, it loses its reason for being and the very reason it was gifted to the city by the university for “arts, education and culture” (see Trust Deed here). And it loses the key point of difference that will inspire key stakeholder investment in the site and see it continue.

Dear Arts Centre Trustees

We are writing to ask you to reconsider your decision regarding Free Theatre and The Gym. We appreciate the Arts Centre has a challenge to meet the restoration costs of the entire site ($35 mil for outstanding restoration). However, expelling a key arts organization that has spent considerable time, money and goodwill establishing a high-quality arts space and innovative programme in the city is counterproductive. It is this kind of facility and activity that should be used to inspire investment in the Arts Centre as a key, distinct site in the city’s regeneration.

Over three years, this venue has become a much-loved space for the arts, providing excellent facilities within a beautiful and inspiring building. The dimensions of the building and facilities including the light, sound and curtains combine to create an intimate venue that is unique in the city. The addition of bar facilities and the ability to be flexible means a range of users have enjoyed the space. It excites people about the future of the Arts Centre and the city.

It is wasteful in the current environment of Christchurch to strip this beautiful space of the facilities that allow it to be a performance and event space for a range of users. The rationale that festivals and events would sooner hire in equipment is incorrect. Without the availability of the current high-quality facilities in terms of light, sound, blacks and bar, this venue loses its appeal. It should also not be underestimated how appealing it is to work in a venue with a resident company that has proven expertise to maximize the potential of the space. Free Theatre have proven a successful host for numerous events and festivals.

The proposed partnership between the Arts Centre and Free Theatre sounds excellent with the Arts Centre arranging hires and Free Theatre able to continue to present the work and education opportunities that maximize the benefits of this space. If revenue from corporate and private events can help lower the costs of hire for arts organizations and festivals, this space can be a key site within the wider Arts Centre for the contemporary arts in accordance with the Arts Centre trust deed.

Free Theatre have worked extremely hard to provide something that can be enjoyed by the wider city. This respected company is one of the country’s longest running arts organisations and has been a consistent and energetic presence in the Arts Centre since 1982. We hope you can reconsider your position and work towards an agreement that will allow this company and this space to continue in the Arts Centre.

Signed, (Please let us know admin@freetheatre.org.nz if you would like your name added to this letter.)