Rechabites Hall- what's the story??
Wed, 29 Aug 2001, 12:27 amEliot McCann18 posts in thread
Rechabites Hall- what's the story??
Wed, 29 Aug 2001, 12:27 amJust come in from seeing Wolf Lullaby (yes I know!!! I'll shut up about it now- won't mention it again!!! Read my review) and I have a few questions, which maybe thems in the know can help me with:
Who runs the Rechabites' Hall? Can you please step forward so's we can beat you with strands of linguini?
Speaking as an audience member (never been onstage) This "venue" is DIABOLICAL. Dirty, messy, unkempt, ill eqipped to handle humans- god HELP you if you're on crutches or in a wheelchair! When one of the rats in the building is so disgusted with its abode that it DIES in one of the change rooms, you know the building has problems. It is a disgrace that a performance venue should charge people money to use such a hovel. In fact, when was the last time an officer from Occupational Health and Safety went over it with a fine-tooth comb?
It is hard enough for independant theatre groups to produce their work, without having to resort to "putting up with" conditions that verge on the unsanitary. And HOW DARE YOU expect people to blindly fork over the money to sit in a uncomfortable dust-filled BARN and call it a "nice night out".
It is NOT good enough- it is laughable. The building has cancer. Either funnel some money into it or knock it down.
Must "independant" and "co-op" ALWAYS be synonimous with "ramshackle" and "half-assed"??
Eliot
Who runs the Rechabites' Hall? Can you please step forward so's we can beat you with strands of linguini?
Speaking as an audience member (never been onstage) This "venue" is DIABOLICAL. Dirty, messy, unkempt, ill eqipped to handle humans- god HELP you if you're on crutches or in a wheelchair! When one of the rats in the building is so disgusted with its abode that it DIES in one of the change rooms, you know the building has problems. It is a disgrace that a performance venue should charge people money to use such a hovel. In fact, when was the last time an officer from Occupational Health and Safety went over it with a fine-tooth comb?
It is hard enough for independant theatre groups to produce their work, without having to resort to "putting up with" conditions that verge on the unsanitary. And HOW DARE YOU expect people to blindly fork over the money to sit in a uncomfortable dust-filled BARN and call it a "nice night out".
It is NOT good enough- it is laughable. The building has cancer. Either funnel some money into it or knock it down.
Must "independant" and "co-op" ALWAYS be synonimous with "ramshackle" and "half-assed"??
Eliot
RE: Rechabites Hall- what's the story??
Thu, 30 Aug 2001, 06:45 pmWalter Plinge
At the risk of putting myself in the firing line:
I cannot believe someone involved in the arts scene in Perth is suggesting an occupational safety & health officer look at an inner-city venue!! Very useful! And are you really suggesting that a venue be closed down because it isn't wheelchair accessible? Perhaps you'd like to share this view with Artrage:) Welcome to the real world: the money is not out there, and cheap venues close to public transport are rare. 'Funnel some money into it or knock it down'?! How's that for a naive dichotomy?
How about funnelling that time/ angst/energy into a few emails lobbying the government for more funding? Or a slightly more constructive letter to an editor or three? Or perhaps even mobilise some people into some kind of 'working bee' on Rechabites if you're so offended.
If artists are happy to perform in an accessible venue that they can afford, then that is their choice. It would appear to be a choice that many are happy to make. If audience members have a problem with cheap venues then they can choose to stick to mainstream theatre and miss out on the kind of cutting edge performance that Rechabites can offer.
I hardly think audiences are being conned into 'blindly forking out money' - what exactly did you expect as you walked into the foyer? Plush seats and scented airconditioning? I am one of the many who love Rechabites for exactly that atmosphere, and I hope that by supporting shows there, in every way I can, I'm doing my bit to keep it operating as a theatre.
IndependEnt theatre is about working with what you have, not knocking down buildings that don't meet your refined standards. Most people come out of Rechabites grateful that someone has resisted the urge to cash in on prime real estate by selling the land, and chosen to make it available to those with tiny budgets but great ideas.
Thinking that Rechabites could be better is fair enough. Ranting in this tunnel-visioned and negative way is pointless. Here endeth the lesson.
I cannot believe someone involved in the arts scene in Perth is suggesting an occupational safety & health officer look at an inner-city venue!! Very useful! And are you really suggesting that a venue be closed down because it isn't wheelchair accessible? Perhaps you'd like to share this view with Artrage:) Welcome to the real world: the money is not out there, and cheap venues close to public transport are rare. 'Funnel some money into it or knock it down'?! How's that for a naive dichotomy?
How about funnelling that time/ angst/energy into a few emails lobbying the government for more funding? Or a slightly more constructive letter to an editor or three? Or perhaps even mobilise some people into some kind of 'working bee' on Rechabites if you're so offended.
If artists are happy to perform in an accessible venue that they can afford, then that is their choice. It would appear to be a choice that many are happy to make. If audience members have a problem with cheap venues then they can choose to stick to mainstream theatre and miss out on the kind of cutting edge performance that Rechabites can offer.
I hardly think audiences are being conned into 'blindly forking out money' - what exactly did you expect as you walked into the foyer? Plush seats and scented airconditioning? I am one of the many who love Rechabites for exactly that atmosphere, and I hope that by supporting shows there, in every way I can, I'm doing my bit to keep it operating as a theatre.
IndependEnt theatre is about working with what you have, not knocking down buildings that don't meet your refined standards. Most people come out of Rechabites grateful that someone has resisted the urge to cash in on prime real estate by selling the land, and chosen to make it available to those with tiny budgets but great ideas.
Thinking that Rechabites could be better is fair enough. Ranting in this tunnel-visioned and negative way is pointless. Here endeth the lesson.
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