LETTER FROM KICKSTART

Dear Supporter of Durban theatre,

IF YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN GET PLEASURE FROM OUR PANTOMIMES AND MUSICALS, PLEASE SUPPORT US!

The Playhouse Company has finally made it officially definite that no independent theatre practitioner may hire or use their Mayville production workshop space for the “creation or refurbishment of stage scenery or props”.

This is despite the fact that:

- The facilities are grossly underused by the Playhouse Company itself, which only produces one or two productions in a year, and in fact have been staffed but entirely unproductive for the past three months.

- The facilities are state funded and should be accessible to the people of this province, particularly those in the business of creating theatre independently, as The Playhouse has a mandate from the Department of Arts and Culture to be supporting grassroots artistic activity in the province.

- The facility is the only one of its kind in the province, where large scale backdrops can be painted, and scenery hung and stored.

- There is a precedent of accessibility established over 10 years, whereby private production companies have been able to hire the space and the staff for creation of scenery.

- The hiring fees paid by these companies to the Playhouse Company are a valuable source of income for the institution: KickstArt alone paid over R170,000 in 2009 for use of the facilities.

- The Playhouse Company cites that the question of liability is the reason for this decision, despite the fact that we have consulted a top independent Risk Assessor, WSP Risk Management, which cited that a signed indemnity form pertaining to Section 37 (2) of the OHS Act is standard practice throughout industry in South Africa, and could easily be in place in this instance.

- The Playhouse Company has offered to build sets and props on our behalf, but doesn’t employ anyone skilled enough to do so. It also doesn’t commit to what the costs of such outsourcing would be. And frankly, whilst one of the top designers and scenic painters is on our payroll, why should we pay for an inferior artist to execute our work?

- Space at The Mayville Complex is currently hired out to several independent, non-theatrical businesses, (including a judo studio in the workshop itself, a rope factory, and a magician’s workshop), as are the rehearsal venues.

Despite much negotiation and discussion the Playhouse Management refuse to enter into negotiation over this issue, which threatens the future of independent theatre production in the city. KickstArt could not have produced large, popular productions like Peter Pan, Cinderella, Little Shop of Horrors or The Jungle Book without hiring these facilities.

We believe that this decision is motivated by a desire to damage the operations of small independent theatre companies, and not in an attempt to protect the assets of The Playhouse Company.

We call upon all our supporters to please write to the Ministry of Arts and Culture, addressing the letter/email to Mr Themba Wakashe (themba.wakashe@dac.gov.za), and cc’ing it to our local arts journalists: Billy Suter (billy.suter@inl.co.za) and Sally Scott (sally.scott@inl.co.za). Please also send a copy to Ms Linda Bukhosini, CEO of the Playhouse Company: ceo@playhousecompany.com

Steven Stead - Executive Director: KickstArt