New theatre’s first show
The first performances in Katikati’s newly established performing arts centre were a success. Katikati Theatre presented four performances of the play A Walk In the Woods last week to near sellout crowds at the new Junction Theatre, inside the Arts Junction in mainstreet.
Katch Katikati in conjunction with the Arts Collective took over the old library and service centre facility on September 1. When the Arts Junction opened on September 15 the old library was a large empty space as there was no funding or time to refurbish it. By November 27 the first stage of the theatre was complete.
“We’re here to open that portion of the Arts Junction and turn it into a fully functioning arts centre,” said Bob Baunton, convenor of the Arts Collective, to which there was a loud shout “yay” from actor and director Diane Logan. The committee decided to call it the Junction Theatre.
Bob spoke at an informal opening with guests at the Arts Junction, where two foundation members of Katikati Theatre, Julie Thomas and Diana More, pulled the ribbon to open the refurbished Junction Theatre.
“Both have worked extremely hard with all sorts of proposals to try and get performance space within Katikati. Part of their work has now reached fulfilment and we will be able to do so,” Bob said.
“We know we’re sharing this theatre with other groups, but I never thought this day would come,” Julie said.
Since the first discussion with OpenAir Art in 2010, and putting an advertisement in the Advertiser to gauge interest in forming a drama group in Katikati, and a month later forming Katikati Theatre, a lot has happened. Their first production, Barry, A Day in the Life, with a cast of 22, was performed in an empty shell in what was to become Ambria Restaurant.
They have gone on to do eight seasons of Dinner Theatre at Forta Leza, nine other productions, six written or devised by theatre members, two free seasons at the Talisman, and taken A Christmas Carol to O¯ mokoroa after a successful run in Katikati.
“I am so proud of this group and of all it has achieved and will continue to achieve,” Julie said. “None of it would be possible without the passion, enthusiasm, commitment and involvement of so many, both on stage and off.”
In a similar vein this is how the Arts Junction evolved. Almost 14 months ago an informal meeting of arts groups was called to see whether there was sufficient interest to put an application into Western Bay of Plenty District Council to convert what was then the vacant library building into an arts centre.
The requirement was that they had to accommodate the Visitor Information Centre and Katch Katikati.
Led by Katch Katikati, Open-Air Art and Katikati Theatre they put out invitations and got over 20 responses from various arts groups.
“Many of you who put in those submissions are here tonight and I thank you for your support. Council looked favourably on the application because they could see the community was involved. We now have — not an old library — we have an Arts Junction.”
There had been a lot of work going on with the fit-out of the theatre, with contributions from several groups and funders. The Lion Foundation gave a grant to assist with funding, Katikati Theatre provided the furnishings and a series of platforms to be put into different configurations to form a stage, along with stage lighting and controls and wiring to that, a ceiling mounted piping system to allow lights or sculptures to be suspended from any part of the space, and a variety of curtains to allow different areas to be defined where functions will take place.
The group provided moveable platforms with theatre seats on them which are on rollers and can be moved around.
Katikati Folk Club agreed to use the space on a regular basis and provide their sound system.
The More family donated a retractable theatre screen to be permanently installed to enable films to be shown, and the Twilight Concert Committee provided stackable theatre chairs.
“Many other people have provided support.”
The Arts Collective will be looking for additional support for funding further improvements.
Bob said they want to use the space for a while to see what works and what’s needed, then go on to the next phase.
He said that while it’s called the Junction Theatre, it is not a space for providing shows just on a stage.
It is intended that the space be used for a wide variety of functions.
They envisage that dance and music groups will use it, people touring with small shows, for public lectures, meetings, and for displays of large art or sculptures.
Barry More said what they need now is maximum use of the space.