Theatre needs money

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 1

Theatre needs money

Unless The Court Theatre is granted a substantial sum by the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council, actors’ contracts will have to be terminated and it will signal the start of a downward spiral of the theatre that will be disastrous.

The secretary of the Christchurch Theatre Trust (Mr D. J. Hargreaves) gave this warning to the seventh annual meeting of the trust at the Arts Centre last evening. Mr Hargreaves said that the Court Theatre had suffered a loss last year of $23,596, the first loss it had incurred since its inception. A certain level of activity had been established at the theatre over the years which depended on the efficient interaction of several parts, such as public support, grants, and other forms of income.

“At present we are going through a period of expansion in terms of the demands made on us by the public, but as we are expanding in this area other pans are falling behind,” said Mr Hargreaves. Mr Hargreaves said that while box-office receipts last year had risen by 37 per cent, the Arts Council grant had increased by only 24 per cent. The gap was widening. Theatrical wages and salaries had increased by 42 per cent.

“We have reached the stage where we need more funding urgently,” said Mr Hargreaves. “At the moment I am somewhat apprehensive about the grant which, if it is to be merely held to the level of inflation will be absolutely disastrous." Grants received from four of the five local bodies in Christchurch — a total of $3708 came from this source

in 1978, with the Heatcote County Council making no grant — came in for criticism. It was felt that these bodies could make available more money. But Mr Chris Mangin, the out-going production manager of the theatre, defended the contributions. He said the theatre was one of the few metropolitan theatres in New Zealand to receive funds from local bodies.

Mr Elric Hooper, artistic director of the theatre, supported the secretary’s plea for more Government assistance.

The public response to the theatre had been “absolutely remarkable” but the stage had been reached where public support could do no more for The Court. Admission prices were near to what the market could bear. If they were increased further some patrons would prefer to go to cinemas.

Mr Hooper said The Court Theatre was the best in the country but warned that the artistic standards achieved so far had to be maintained if it was to keep this position.

The theatre could nq afford to bring in other Neq Zealand artists “of any emiq ence,” which was one w» of keeping the compare healthy. Nor could it corq mission local playwrights q encourage local directors. “We will not progress wiflj out more help and suppor from the Government,” san Mr Hooper

The chairman of the trug (Mr J. C. Garrett) said th| theatre had received an at surance from the Govemmeq last year that additional sup port would be forthcoming

The Queen Elizabeth I Arts Council grant wai $72,125 and the theatre als« received $12,000 from the In temal Affairs Department.

"I sincerely hope that whe| the council is slicing uj whatever financial cake i may have, it remembers ib promise of last year,” sail Mr Garrett.

New trust members electee for the coming year an Messrs R. Corballis. P. H Hadley, and D R. Hindin an| Mesdamea H. Holmes and Y Bromley.