City theatre pros: shows must go on

PROFESSIONAL theatre practitioners say they will continue quality productions in Dunedin, despite the closure of the Fortune Theatre.

A group of 40 got together recently to consider the future of theatre in the city.

Spokeswoman, director, actor and writer Karen Elliot, said the group’s main undertaking was not to get a new theatre.

But it was keen to let people know ‘‘we’re here, we’re staying, we’re going to produce theatre.

‘‘We have to now find a way to do it, that’s it.’’

Early this month, the Fortune Theatre announced its immediate closure, meaning its 11 employees and one contracted staff member lost their jobs and no further shows would be performed at the venue.

The trust that ran the theatre said the model under which it worked was no longer financially viable. Ms Elliot said finding a building for theatre was not something the group could control.

‘‘The city needs a midsized space.

‘‘Obviously, with the Fortune’s demise, there isn’t anything in the city that’s around 250 seats.’’

The group did not know the future of Sammy’s, which the Dunedin City Council is still considering.

Ms Elliot said there was a need for a ‘‘purposebuilt, mediumsized flexible space in the city’’.

The idea of a flexible space meant something like a black box theatre, which could be easily reconfigured, more like Allen Hall at the University of Otago.

The meeting had organised a steering group of 11, who would would talk to the city council and other stakeholders, including audiences, ‘‘just to see what we can all come up with together.’’

‘‘Obviously we’re going to have to come up with a new model. Who knows what that will be?’’

Ms Elliot said theatre professionals’ earning power had taken a blow with the theatre’s closure.