Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Theatre in Thornbury

Having recently seen Jeremy Hardy at the Sundial Theatre in Cirencester, I was convinced that the word theatre is more to do with the performance than the surroundings so I checked in the dictionary:

  1. building designed for the performance of plays, opera, etc.
  2. plays regarded collectively as a form of art
  3. world of actors, theatrical companies, etc.
So why should Thornbury need a new theatre (the building) to stage theatre (the performance)?

The Sundial Theatre and the Armstrong Hall seem to be treated differently in their respective communities. They are very similar, both seating just over 300, offer raised seating and both have a bar, although I prefer the one at the Armstrong Hall.

There is a different atmosphere at the Sundial where the volunteers who run it seem totally dedicated to bringing performance to Cirencester at every opportunity. Their focus is on performances not the venue.

Perhaps the names of the buildings constrain their use? The Armstrong Hall was built at a time when Thornbury didn't have a sports centre and many of the smaller venues had yet to be built. It was logical then to call it a 'hall'. Perhaps we need a simple rebranding, for example by changing the name to Armstrong's?

If live theatre is viable in Thornbury someone needs to demonstrate it by hosting more entertainments. Perhaps introduce regular Saturday night performances? Or introduce a week in Autumn to counterbalance the Arts Festival in the Spring?

We already have a team of volunteers with the energy, enthusiasm and skills to stage professional shows on a regular basis - ACT - it's just that they are directing their talents towards theatre (the building) rather than theatre (the performance). How much better if they were to direct their efforts towards demonstrating that there is a future for frequent professional theatre performances in Thornbury?

That brings me to the key issue - financial viability. Operation of the Sundial seems to be financially viable and that will be the key to its long-term success. I don't know the extent to which it relies on grants from Cirencester Town Council or subsidies from Cirencester College. What I do know is that the people of Thornbury deserve to know the factors underlying its viability and understand the context and extent to which they might be asked to underwrite new theatre (venue or performances) in Thornbury.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Policing Thornbury

Sale of Thornbury's police station is imminent so the police will be looking for somewhere to host their face-to-face contact with the public. Perhaps they'll follow the lead set by the Metropolitan Police who are closing front counters at police stations and opening access points in places of worship, coffee shops and football grounds.

Thornbury is very well endowed with coffee shops and churches so perhaps, even as I write, one of these is being considered by Avon & Somerset Police. A church would offer the possibility of prayer, and in some cases confession, while waiting to be seen. A coffee shop would be less private but would have the edge when it came to whiling away the time.

While I'm on the subject of the police presence in Thornbury, I note that the South Yorkshire Police are deploying cardboard cut-outs of uniformed police officers in order to deter thieves...... Coming soon to Thornbury on Friday and Saturday nights?