Where it all began...

In light of Rob Brookman's email, I have had a few people this weekend asking me where the quote at the top of my site comes from.

In December 2005, I penned an article entitled Sydney Theatre Company - Not for profit even with a Hollywood star. The origins of the article arose out of a small news item in Sydney's Sun Herald newspaper which was publicising the fact that the STC were seeking an additional $20,000 to tour their production of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler to New York.

At the time, I was applying for a New Work grant through the Australia Council for the amount of $20,000. For anyone that has been through a New Work application form, you will understand the gravity of the situation.

Primarily, however, I didn't understand why the Sydney Theatre Company was taking a Norwegian play to New York. And secondly, I didn't understand why they were touring it if they couldn't afford to do it.

So I decided to do some research into exactly how much money the STC receives. I ordered their financial reports for the previous three financial years, researched the allocation they received through AMPAG and I went through Australian Associated Press and Sydney Morning Herald archives to see company announcements and financial statements.

Eventually, I wrote an opinion piece questioning the tour of Hedda Gabler, based on two beliefs; it should have been an Australian play they were touring and secondly that with the funding, subscriber base and sponsorship partnerships, they should be able to co-ordinate a tour that breaks even.

Within 24 hours of publication, Rob Brookman responded to my piece.

I opened his response up, which was published on the same website. As General Manager of the STC, he has every right and responsibility to defend his company's actions, but what was most amazing about his response was the tone he used.

I have worked for a lot of media organisations, read statements, defences, press releases, but never had I read the type of response that Rob Brookman had given.

His tone was bitter, sarcastic and cynical. His opening paragraph really set the mood:
I am sure that the Sun Herald will be delighted to see that Nicholas Pickard clearly regards it as a concise and reliable source of information as it would seem that their brief report on our fund-raising drive for the New York season of Hedda Gabler is all he needs by way of research in order to reel off a couple of pages of misplaced and divisive assertions.

And of course, the response also included the now infamous response sitting at the top of this page.

As you can see from his other correspondence to me on Friday, nothing much has changed. Is that the type of behaviour expected of a man who represents a state funded cultural institution? Is he really representing his organisation in the most appropriate light? Would you expect Geoff Dixon to behave like this publicly?

Interestingly, I have written three articles about the STC. The first one was about Hedda Gabler, the second was about their Wharf2Loud programme and the third was about Earth Hour.

The one about Hedda Gabler elicited immediate responses from Rob Brookman who accused me of being 'unqualified'. The article about Earth Hour elicited the sarcastic response 'great to see that you're keeping up your impeccable journalistic standards by failing to contact me about Earth Hour...'

The article I wrote about Wharf2Loud which was extremely complimentary about the STC elicited absolutely no response. No questions about journalistic standards. No sarcastic remarks and no retribution from him.

What is even more amazing is that Rob Brookman and I have never met and this is only the second contact we have ever had.

The question really is, what on earth is going on down at the Wharf?

It is my belief that the answer can be found at the end of his response to my Hedda Gabler story:
To paraphrase that favourite street-march cry: "The theatre, united, will have a slightly smaller chance of being defeated."

What ever you do, don't rock the boat, don't question the STC and whatever you do, don't question their decisions - creative or otherwise.

It's extraordinary behaviour really.


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You can read my article Sydney Theatre Company- Not for profit even with a Hollywood Star here.
You can read Rob Brookman's response here.
And my article about Wharf2Loud here.

Theatre Industry Ignores Earth Hour part 2

UPDATE:

We have had some success since posting Theatre Industry Ignores Earth Hour.

The Technical Manager at the Darlinghurst Theatre Company contacted us. They are now turning off non essential power and using the evening to provide information to audiences about green power.

It's great to also hear that the STC is also getting involved.
I received the below email from Rob Brookman, General Manager of the Sydney Theatre Company.

----Original Message Follows----
From: "Rob Brookman"
To: "Nicholas Pickard"
Subject: Earth Hour
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 13:39:20 +1100

Dear Nicholas,

Gosh how flattering that you have chosen to quote me out of context on your mast head. Famous at last!

And great to see that you're keeping up your impeccable journalistic standards by failing to contact me about Earth Hour before springing into print suggesting that we are not participating (which we are).

Among other things we'll be delaying the start of The Season At Sarsaparilla until 8.30pm so that we may observe Earth Hour which we fully and enthusiastically support.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you would ever like accurate information about the STC and its activities in the future.

Feel free to publish this on your site if you so choose.

Regards,

Rob Brookman

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I thanked the General Manager for his email, and expressed delight that the STC were getting involved in Earth Hour.

For the benefit of my readers, my research for the Earth Hour story included ringing each of the theatre companies and venues. In each case I contacted the Box Office, assuming that they would be providing the appropriate information for subscribers, patrons and members fo the general public. I also went through the Earth Hour website to see whether any theatre had registered on the website.
None had done so, apart from the Sydney Opera House.

I contacted, as well as the Sydney Theatre Company, Company B, Sydney Opera House, Glen Street Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Darlinghurst Theatre, Capitol Theatre and Parramatta Riverside.

I took the liberty of typing their responses to the question which I produce below:

Question - Is your theatre involved with or doing anything on March 31 for Earth Hour?

Company B - We are in the process of working something out.

Sydney Opera House - There have been no instructions and there is nothing on the system, so you can assume that they won't be.

Seymour Centre - No, not that I am aware.

Glen Street - No we are not.

Sydney Theatre Company - No. No. They wouldn't do anything like that.

Ensemble - Our present show is starting at 8.30pm.

Darlinghurst Theatre Company - We are in the process of discussing it and working something out.

Capitol Theatre - No, our Chinese New Year Spectacular starts at 7.30.

Parramatta Riverside - Because we are in the middle of the Comedy Festival, we are turning off all non-essential power including outdoor signage, computers and any non-essential lighting.

Theatre Industry Ignores Earth Hour

Theatre has always had a strong belief in social inquiry and change. Plays and performances, particularly in the post-war era, have often been centred around social justice with issues of racism, poverty and equality.

The industry even criticises itself when social justice performances are staged and call it 'preaching to the converted'.

When it comes to Earth Hour, however, hardly any theatre in Sydney is participating. The event which asks 'Sydneysiders - individuals and businesses to turn off their lights for just an hour on March 31' is being ignored as an inconvenience.

The Sydney Theatre Company is one of those venues not part-taking in the event. This is despite the fact that their future Artistic Director Cate Blanchett has done the voice-overs for Earth Hour advertisements and who called for the greening of the theatre at the announcements of her tenure.

The problem is that the hour is 7.30-8.30 in the evening, the time when most productions start. It could, however, be seen by the community as a wonderful gesture of goodwill by the industry. Performances could start at 8.30 and audiences could arrive to find the ambient candle lit foyers of theatres to have a drink and share in the excitement of this one-off event.

The only venue acknowledging the event is Parramatta Riverside Theatres who are turning off all non-essential power including outdoor signage. Belvoir Street Theatre and the Darlinghurst Theatre Company are presently in the process of working out a strategy.

Beside these three venues, no theatre contacted have any intention of participating. This includes the Sydney Opera House*, Glen Street Theatre, Capitol Theatre or Seymour Centre.

The performing arts, who use some of the most wasteful lighting systems for productions, are not immune from the hazards of global warming.

The strong history of the industry in their activism makes this the most disappointing element. Actors and artists have been side by side, marching with women for equality, with workers, protesting against apartheid and seeking action of indigenous rights. What the industry does do is bring people together in a unique way. It would make sense that they actively participate and utilise their role for community and share in this most important issue.


Go on, send them all an email and tell them to sort it out.



* The Sydney Opera House is registered on the Earth Hour website.