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

Well said Jeff !!!!!!I have done a few of Effies productions and have found them to be top pros, especially Elizabeth and of Course Mr Ashton (Technician extraordinary). While they are small in number they were totally self sufficient and efficient, they would be of the few who would ensure you were supplied with all the information required to assist the Bump In, on the boards and bump out. Never a drama, down to earth, while being the top of the heap. They were totally flexible, unlike other Companys that we pour the big lolly into and did not come with a price tag of pretension. Unlike a few I could name, there was onc ....... something to do with dance and a parrot or was it something about pissi carrots ..... not sure now ...... but, what a !@#$%^& user and abuser!!!!!Surely ITA has some lobby voice (I think I am out of order - being a non coin member) to at least put the 'Minister for frozen ARTZ' in the picture.They tend to only load their vending machine's with frozen products (visit their website - no Community Theatre - but,lots of popsicles) the only problem being, it has no refridgeration and the Ice-lolly's melt and go down the drain.I am probably and totally out-of-order (my coin mechanism gets sticky some times) and I am sure the good officers of our Aunty ITA, have multiple head injuries bouncing of supa dence inani-mate machines.I know how it feels, everytime I find a vending machine that gobbles my money up or returns product that's off and/or past it's use by date, I aviod using it again! I have moved on from trying to do a 'Fonzy' on them these days.There must be a product slot we fit into, somewhere in these MacHines Y/N!?!?Joe "a penny's werf gu'v'na"

Re: Effie Crump to close!

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