Carterton’s Phoenix Theatre has put its money where its mouth is by donating $2,000 to the Carterton Events Centre, half of the proceeds from its hit show Ladies Night which played last month at the Freemasons Hall.
The sell-out show ran for eight nights and attracted audiences from throughout Wairarapa and from Wellington and the Kapiti Coast.
“We ended up with a large waiting list and could easily have sold another four nights of the show,” said Ladies Night Director Lynn Bushell.
“It’s become patently obvious through this experience that we need the events centre which includes a new theatre,” said Ms Bushell. “Seating for Ladies Night was very limited and we had to bring in everything – stage, sound and lighting. While we were very grateful for the venue we had, it was a logistical nightmare. We had eight cast members and three backstage hands all operating out of a kitchen.”
Ms Bushell said a facility was needed to perform quality shows and attract professional groups from out of town. “The response to this show demonstrated clearly that Wairarapa people want to come to shows and are prepared to support local performances, not to mention outside groups.”
Ms Bushell said tickets for the show sold out after word spread quickly following the first couple of night when people said they ‘laughed all the way home’. “Some groups even booked to see the show for a second and third night.”
The idea to perform Ladies Night came from a teaching practicum Ms Bushell was required to complete as part of her Advanced Certificate in Adult Teaching. It was decided to make it a charitable show with proceeds being halved between the Events Centre and the Carterton Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Lynn said as a result of his involvement in Ladies Night, one of the back of house hands had enrolled to study stagecraft at the NZ Drama School. “This is the sort of benefit that can come from creativity in small communities – it has many spinoffs.”
In another fundraising effort, Carterton woman Alison Underhill presented a cheque for $1,000 to the Carterton Events Centre Trust last week– the proceeds of selling her homemade jams and chutneys in the town, mainly from the library.
The local donations follow the centre’s first major grant of $432,000 from the Lottery Community Facilities Fund, confirmed last week.
Carterton Events Centre Trust chairman, John Greenwood, said work was intensifying to attract large grants and donations. “The Phoenix Theatre and Alison’s donations are wonderful efforts which are every bit as important,” said Mr Greenwood. “We will certainly be involving the community further down the track once we have secured more funding.”
The flagship of the multi-purpose, environmentally-friendly centre will be an upgraded and extended library. A new public auditorium/town hall will be able to host shows, cultural and community activities, exhibitions, conferences and social events. A youth centre will provide a dedicated space for young people and children will benefit from proposed new Plunket rooms and the Toy Library. Modern meeting rooms will provide warm, comfortable places where local and visiting organisations can gather. |
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