Theatre decision is about better access, not just about finances

Re: “Theatre society abandons its community partners,” comment, Dec. 9.

Has it? That’s a very strong accusation, bordering on fear-mongering. Some facts: Recent changes to the calendar and rent at the Royal Theatre will not affect most local arts groups. If anything, access to dates at the Royal Theatre will improve. One of the reasons for this is, itself, the impetus for some of the changes.

The Symphony, Pacific Opera and Dance Victoria occupy 90 per cent of the weekend evenings during the prime theatre season, leaving little room for other nonprofits to use the Royal Theatre. Arrangements are unchanged at the McPherson Playhouse, where Kaleidoscope Theatre, Victoria Operatic Society and others primarily perform (including Dance Victoria).

The Royal and McPherson Theatres Society is responsible for the operations and management of the Royal and McPherson theatres. This includes ensuring that they are used efficiently and effectively, offering diverse programming for the entire region. The discussions that have resulted in recent changes to calendars and rents at the Royal started years ago, while I was president, in particular about dark nights.

For example, Pacific Opera’s series in April will occupy 21 days at the Royal, including three weekends. Only four of these evenings are public performances. Some of these days are required for technical work and rehearsals, but there are at least nine nights where the Royal Theatre is simply dark — unused and unavailable — including one long stretch of five days.

Previous attempts to co-ordinate scenery that can be moved, or discussions about condensing the period of the series went unaddressed. Contrast this with the Victoria Operatic Society’s anticipated presentation of Shrek, the Musical in the McPherson Playhouse, which will include six quality performances, requiring only 15 days, including two weekends.

Marcus Handman is misguided if he truly believes that the recent decisions of the theatres society are entirely financial. The issue is one of access, diversity and sustainability. I, for one, would be surprised if Handman could agree with the symphony that it should trump the needs of all other organizations, that these three groups have an overwhelming entitlement to occupy the Royal Theatre, booking long periods of dark days and claiming weekend evenings ahead of all other groups, for nominal rental fees.

The board of directors and the staff of the RMTS have always valued the longstanding relationships with those talented organizations and continue to do so. Further, the society is no less committed to broadly supporting its performing-arts community partners. I applaud these decisions that have come about from hard conversations and deliberations.

As responsible custodians of the two civic theatres in downtown Victoria, the RMTS is working carefully to balance the needs of those three arts groups, which determine their calendars years in advance, as well as to ensure the viability of these public spaces as resources for the region.