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An extension to Goodwin Hall has given both the Warrnambool Theatre Company and the Holiday Actors more space to create award-winning sets and store a wide array of props, costumes and equipment.
The $110,000 extension to the building, located at Friendly Societies Park, was funded via the Warrnambool City Council’s Small Infrastructure Fund.
The 9x20m extension has allowed the Holiday Actors, who previously stored items at a site in Dennington, to cohabitate the space with the Warrnambool Theatre Company.
The connection of running water as part of the extension makes set painting and clean-up easier.
The pair have been working increasingly closely in recent years, with their first joint production in 2019, Les Miserables, followed by Cats and Shrek, with The Wizard of Oz set to take centre stage in July.
Warrnambool Theatre Company President and The Wizard of Oz Producer Ailiche Goddard-Clegg said that she was proud of the theatre partnership model in Warrnambool.
“In Warrnambool we have Primary Performers for primary school aged children, holiday actors for adolescents up to 21 and then Warrnambool Theatre Company for all ages,” she said.
“We see theatre as a theatre pipeline in Warrnambool and this infrastructure really supports all of those theatre companies to make great theatre.
“I want to thank Warrnambool City Council for all of their support. They’ve supported us in our Small Infrastructure Fund for this extension of Goodwin Hall and they’ve also recently supported us with the Community Development Fund with our production of The Wizard of Oz which is coming to the Lighthouse Theatre between July 15-22.
“We thank the Councillors and especially the Recreation and Culture team for shepherding this project for us and for giving us a lot of support.”
Holiday Actors Treasurer Lyle Russell agreed that both companies working in tandem made sense.
“The idea is to get a big enough space for both companies to fit in under this roof and share the space,” she said.
“It was to try and create enough space so that we could build a set that will fit on an 8x8 stage, but then you have to store all of the machinery, equipment and other pieces of set, props and costumes.
“It’s to have everything you need for a show under one roof.”
Warrnambool Deputy Mayor Cr Max Taylor said that the Small Infrastructure Fund was all about helping community groups continue their good work in enhancing the social fabric of Warrnambool.
“It’s great to be able to provide these funds to assist the Warrnambool Theatre Company and the Holiday Actors to come together and share this space,” he said.
“Both groups are an important part of Warrnambool and we are happy to help so many community members getting involved in theatre.”
Tickets for The Wizard of Oz are on sale now and can be purchased at www.lighthousetheatre.com.au or the Lighthouse Theatre box office.