Darlinghurst Theatre does an about turn

It is just a proposal, but it looks as though the Darlinghurst Theatre Company are reversing the way they programme and manage their theatre productions.

In an email to the local industry today, Company Director Glenn Terry has asked for feedback on a number of proposals that they are presently considering.

The email declares that Darlinghurst Theatre Company is "moving more and more towards becoming a Production House producing the work of Independent Artists".

Terry goes on to explain that "over the next three to five years, we will evolve into a Production House that will provide budgets for productions, fully production manage shows and pay artists at industry rates".

The proposals could be a sign of things to come for the thriving independent sector in Sydney. At present, the four main indie theatres (Darlinghurst, Stablemates, Downstairs Belvoir and the Old Fitzroy) do very complicated, time wasting and expensive submission and production processes.

They all usually involve a written submission that grandly states the intention of the production, the marketability and the usual explanation of the magnificent attributes of each of the creative team.

Once selected, companies usually pay through the nose for stage space (often over $2000 per week), plus additional costs in booking fees, credit card fees, technical fees, front of house fees, printing fees, advertising fees, mailing fees... fees, fees, fees.

As a consequence, most people involved in theatre productions in Sydney never get paid. It's great for experience, but is as good as sweatshop labour when questions of industrial relations are concerned.

Darlinghurst Theatre Company look like they are trying to reverse the trend;

In 2009:

Artists will still submit projects that will include a team of creatives, but their producing role will be to focus on the creative side of the production: directing, design, performance and artistic outcome.

Darlinghurst Theatre Co. will undertake all practical production matters including production management, publicity, all marketing, sales, graphic design, tech support, rehearsal space, stage management, bump in and out, and all production practical matters.

Artists will no longer need to put up cash for their production.

Production cost budget: Darlinghurst Theatre Co. will allocate each production a budget of roughly $20,000: which will cover royalties, a budget for the set, a budget for costumes, printing costs posters, flyers, programmes and graphic design, designer fees for lighting designer, sound designer, set and costume designer.

Artists split: the producing team of artists will be given 20 to 25% of box office which must only go to, and be split amongst the performers and director. Darlinghurst Theatre Company will guarantee that this percentage is a minimum of $9000.

Our show runs will be longer and be five and half weeks.

Financially, it is a much sounder plan that will allow production teams to concentrate on creating the work. It would also put tight reigns on over-enthusiastic and naive designers and producers from spending too much money.

Creatively, however, I think that it could be a bit of a black hole. Darlinghurst has already found a niche with its audiences and programming that concentrates on crowd pleasing comedy and drama. The proposal to put up the money will mean that Darlinghurst will want even more stringent guarantees on the commercial viability of the productions. Which, of course, isn't always a bad thing. But sometimes it's nice to take a journey into the dark.

Nevertheless, it's a brave and long over-due move which rewards independent theatre groups and individual artists that have been working their butts off in creating theatre and attracting continuous audiences. Above all, it raises the bar for indie venues to re-examine the way they manage the flow of their finances. And that's a breath of fresh air.