Victoria Hall in Fremantle

Victoria Hall is one of those classic Victorian era halls that are dotted around Australia. The short history (as I understand it) is that Deckchair Theatre took up residency and did some great stuff. The City of Fremantle (good one them) backed them and spent several million dollars on renovations and installing lighting grid, FOH bar etc. Deckchair Theatre unfortunately lost their state gov funding and closed last year. Since then, the theatre has been barely used. The venue can be hired via what's left of Deckchair Theatre (see their web-site for details) but I suspect that it is effectively managed by Fremantle Council. There are some specs on this web-site. The venue is available for hire. There is no such thing as a perfect theatre, this venue wont suit everyone. Deckchair and Fremantle Council need to come up with a more realistic cost structure. (They seem to have modelled it on A.E.G. Odgens pricing policy) However, it seems that every 6 or so months there is someone on this web-site imploring us to get behind the creation of a new theatre. Admittedly I did this with Montgomery Hall in Mount Claremont a few years ago. But Victoria Hall is a functioning, working theatre sitting pretty much empty. The bit that I find galling is that Harbour Theatre is making do in a venue that is highly problematic to put it mildly. Everyone: the venue is there. Use it or lose it.