PLAYHOUSE RESPONSE TO KICKSTART

Playhouse CEO responds to KickstArt re the Playhouse Company’s Workshop facility.

It is most unfortunate that Steven Stead continuously refuses to align himself with reasonable business opportunities that are available to him and other arts practitioners who do business with The Playhouse Company. This is a case where an individual who has been receiving a lion's share of our workshop resources is unduly inciting the public with gross misrepresentation of facts.

* The facts available to us indicate that in 2009 only two independent producers used our workshop facility to construct their sets and or props. Kickstart has had the largest share of our facility and skilled artisans working at the workshop to construct sets, props, etc for its own productions. On record we have received a total income from Kickstart during this period, 2009, of R36,812 and not R170,000 as stated in his correspondence. The said income was for "creation or refurbishment of stage scenery or props" on our premises. The income received from the other producer amounted to less than R200 for similar purposes.

* It must be noted that The Playhouse Company operates in a strictly regulated environment with extremely limited financial resources. It is therefore standard practice for us to review from time to time, our procedures and policies accordingly in order to ensure that strict measure of control and risk management are in place.

* The grants received by this public entity for staging of productions is in the region of R8million per year. This is augmented by internally generated sources. We are therefore very limited in producing shows that require large scale and elaborate sets, props, costumes, etc. In most instances we use existing stock that is still in good condition. Given this body of work people should not conclude this to mean that the workshop is underused and unproductive. As stated, there are various activities that require the daily attention of our staff at the workshop. To put correct perspective on the issue of "grossly underused and unproductive facilities", the workshop has five personnel working on full-time basis. As and when needed, adhoc staff is hired. During the months of mid-January 2010 to date the workshop staff has been primarily focussed on maintenance of the physical building, refurbishments of backdrops, scenery and props.

At its disposal Kickstart still has access and use of our workshop in the same manner that other independent producers have; namely to either hire existing sets, props, costumes or if they want something new, engage The Playhouse Company to construct sets and props on their behalf. We have the necessary stock, skills and expertise to offer quality service. Where necessary we will engage external services on short term basis.

Unlike independent producers like Kickstart that serve only a niche market of primarily white audiences, The Playhouse Company is mandated to utilize the scarce resources it has in its disposal to serve wide-ranging needs of diverse artistic and cultural needs and demands of our society. We are faced with a situation where the needs and demands far outweigh the resources available to this institution. This is a reality that some arts practitioners either do not understand or refuse to accept. We are continuously committed to equitable distribution of available resources to address the varying artistic and cultural needs of our society and to maximize on possible income streams. Added to this, is the imperative for this institution to comply with Health and Safety regulations, and this includes the liabilities we have to outside parties. At the end of 2009 we came to the decision that ALL independent producers/event managers will have to either hire existing props and or sets which will be refurbished as needed, or engage the services of our institution to construct these. Kickstart was duly informed by the Manager responsible for the Workshop before the end of 2009.

Here lies Mr Stead's unhappiness as the largest beneficiary of the previous practices which have now been reviewed because of perfectly normal business practices.

In comparison, the institutional adherence to strict measures of health and safety as well as good practices of risk management far outweigh personal gains that benefit one individual.

In conclusion it is our hope that the allegations being made by Kickstart will be put into the proper context of the realities of good governance practises that this public institution is expected to comply with. We remain committed to equitable distribution of available resources for the benefit of arts practitioners and not to one individual.

Linda Bukhosini - Chief Executive & Artistic Director, The Playhouse Company. (Monday, 29 March 2010)