Replacement

Is it not too much to ask that Townsville City Council replace Riverway Theatre (now it is to be a library) after 3 years of uncertainty since the floods that wrecked the facility? We desperately need a replacement professional theatre space and this could be the opportunity to ask stakeholders what is needed in a smaller theatre (such as Riverway was) rather than build something which missed the mark in some areas (particularly lack of amenities for performers). A theatre half the size of the Civic would be perfect for smaller productions and school events and be used constantly, drawing good revenue for the Council. The Civic Theatre is booked out years in advance currently. The discussion about a Concert Hall is not going to cut it with most Arts types. A Concert Hall is not a theatre, but a theatre (a real theatre with wings, lighting and sound, dressing rooms and the ability to fly scenery) could be a Concert Hall. The idea of TPAC to be built around the current Civic Theatre has been tossed around for some time, but in reality, is it wise to build this in the middle of a V8 track? We all know that V8s take precedence when they are in town (and they draw great interest and people to the area) so any theatrical activity to be held at the Civic or associated proposed buildings around July, would be a no go. Please just

replace what is lost - don’t tell me about all the small ‘spaces’ at schools and community halls we could use. This community deserves quality (affordable) theatres for the multitude of amateur and school theatrical/musical events we have in this city and the hundreds of actors, singers, musicians and technical people who stage some amazing shows, usually for love- all without being paid a cent. The future of Arts in this city is dependent on some vision from our Council sooner rather than later.

NANCY NICHOLSON,

Kirwan.