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PRESS RELEASE
Toowoomba Repertory Theatre (TRT) is expanding its premises
and hoping for local community and business support.
Theatre president Mr Adrian Smith said the old theatre would be extended at the rear out towards Austral Lane. “The extension upstairs will provide us with more stage space and also allow greater and safer storage space, and downstairs the dressing rooms will be enlarged with toilet facilities for male and female.” Smith said.
A lot of people will find this hard to believe, but during a play actors are unable to flush the one toilet they have downstairs as the sound in the pipes can be heard in the theatre!
“As part of government regulations we must also fire proof the dressing room and build a disability ramp for theatre goers at the front entrance. Most importantly, we would like to install a disability toilet for public use and this is a considerable cost that we may not be able to afford at the moment.”
TRT’s Patron Mr Brian Carter said Toowoomba Repertory Theatre had been a long standing part of Toowoomba’s social fabric over the last 80 years. “Repertory is totally dependent on the public spirit for its continuing existence,” Mr Carter said. “The theatre can seat 100 people. The best measure of how Toowoomba people feel about this amateur theatre is that there are seldom seats available soon after tickets go on sale.
A member of the public can purchase a ticket to any play for only $20 at the most for a ticket. “Repertory is reluctant to change their price structure as they do not want to prevent people purchasing tickets for their plays, therefore, they need public support to modernize their facilities. “Toowoomba people when offered should support TRT in its move to improve facilities,” Mr Carter said.
Mr Smith said the theatre puts on 48 performances a year and on average raises approximately $55,000 for the community groups that use its plays as a fundraiser. “Toowoomba Repertory Theatre actors, directors, backstage crew and general members do all this out of love. Nobody is paid,” Mr Smith said.
“It would be wonderful if the community we support and local businesses could find it in their hearts this one time to support us.
“We need to raise $30,000 to cover all the important extras. Anything from fitting out the dressing rooms, to tools for our tool cabinet, to money for the disability toilet construction and modern heating throughout the building would be greatly appreciated.”
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