Effie Crump to close!

In a week during which we've seen Acorn Theatre threatened with demolition, Irish Theatre Players considering winding up and the Mandurah Little Theatre doing goodness knows what, it's very distressing to have to record that Ron Banks has reported in today's West Australian (ArtsToday p.9) that Effie Crump is closing its doors. An inability to afford to stage it's remaining schedule of productions is cited as the principle reason.I've no idea whether Effie's was ever a member of the ITA, but it most certainly fitted the description Independent Theatre. The unfunded company relied at the outset on the goodwill of actors and directors paid at a special Equity-approved, below-award rate. Banks notes that in its nine years of operation Effie Crump has survived on a modest sponsorship from Telstra and a total of $136,000 - mostly used to fund touring of regional centres.Effie's Artistic Director, John Milson, is reported to be hopeful that Effie Crump can rise again with financial assistance from the government or a miracle sponsor.This news also comes in the same week that the new Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF), formerly the Festival of Perth, announces it expects to double its size over the next four years. One month in paradise to spend the rest of the year in a cultural desert?CheersGrant