Summer Shakespeare succeeds despite funding cuts
Producers of Manawatū’s Summer Shakespeare performances are determined to continue “the beloved event” without charging audiences an entry fee.
This year’s performances based on Much Ado About Nothing continued at the Victoria Esplanade rose gardens despite Massey University pausing its funding this season, and would seem to have at least broken even.
Creative producer Rachel Lenart and director Rhian Firmin presented draft financial and attendance figures to the city council’s culture and sport committee on Wednesday.
The six performances attracted a total audience of 1600 people, with nearly all of the 300-plus people who filled in surveys rating it as a “very important” event.
The shows cost nearly $118,000 to put on, with about $39,000 of that value being received as “in kind” support from Massey University.
There was $31,000 from the city council, $11,000 from a creative cities festival fund that would not be available next year, some $7000 from crowd funding, and the balance was from grants.
Entry to the outdoor shows was by koha only, which raised about $6400 this season.
Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith suggested that in order for the show to survive in future, an entry fee could be considered.
But Lenart firmly discounted that idea. “Not on my watch,” she said.
Lenart said part of the joy of Summer Shakespeare was that some visitors to the Esplanade simply stumbled upon the performances, and stayed and returned.
She said it had become a tradition for many households to attend every year, and she did not want to see entry fees that would make it difficult for some people to afford to enjoy the “beloved event”.
Also, fixing a charge could discourage those who made a more generous donation by way of koha. “We would rather work extra hard than bring in barriers to access.”
Lenart said a way to keep costs down might be to have a smaller cast and crew.
This summer there were 25 community actors, 18 paid production crew, and 15 volunteers.
A cast that large was expensive to costume and feed, she said.
Committee chairperson Rachel Bowen said every year she felt the Summer Shakespeare performance was the best ever.
But she acknowledged it was in a difficult financial position.
The city council’s contribution would be $35,000 next summer, which she hoped would be a decent foundation for seeking external funding for the balance of the likely $120,000 production costs.