Site Visit: New Theatre

When we went to visit the New Theatre, it was closed. It only opens for shows, and for its Kids Club events held on occassional weekends throughout the year. As a cultural institution, then, the New Theatre is not readily available to the community - despite the fact that it is and always has been community-run. Irony!

We did however notice a little sign on one of the noticeboards: an 'access savings here' sign. These signs are like the little paper enemies of UTS students, for they benefit University of Sydney students with their access cards. The New Theatre isn't the only one that offers discounts to Univeristy of Sydney students, though. Other cultural institutions such as Dendy cinemas also have special offers for access cardholders.

Even though we were not able to fully explore the site on this particular day, we have visited the New Theatre before. I went to see King Lear there in year 12, as it was one of the HSC texts. Indeed, each year the New Theatre chooses its playbill according to the HSC English and Drama syllabus as part of its education program. Major productions, staged readings and a Brecht workshop are all offered to students and their teachers.