Arts Theatre in Angas Street is crucial | Peter Goers

It might not the most beautiful building of its kind but Adelaide needs it desperately, writes Peter Goers.

We must support the arts and we must support the Arts.

The invaluable Arts Theatre in Angas Street is a 60-year-old Besser brick temple of Thespis and in urgent need of our help.

Arts is an acronym of the ye olde Adelaide Repertory Theatre Society founded in 1908 and which, for all its crimes and crushing conservatism, is the oldest theatre company in the Southern Hemisphere and, incredibly, one of the oldest continually running, theatre companies in the world.

The Comédie Française beats it by 228 years and the Savoy Company in Philadelphia beats it by seven years but neither have played continuously.

Theatre companies come and go, some change the world and some dissipate into limelight and the stuff that dreams are made on. Crushing conservatism and the work both stolid and starry of generations of troupers has secured the longevity of the Rep.

Arts Theatre 53 Angas Street Adelaide. Building only.

The Arts Theatre opened in 1963, seating 499. Medium sized theatres always sat 499 in that period such as Union Hall of blessed memory and The Playhouse, because with 500 seats an on-duty fireman was required.

The Arts is rarely dark and is in constant use by longstanding community theatre companies and is also invaluable for the Fringe and Festival.
We are losing more theatres than are being built and the Arts Theatre is crucial.

It ain’t a particularly beautiful theatre, inside or out, but its serviceable, comfortable, invaluable and noble.

The problem is that the disability access is appalling. Because of steps from the street into the foyer and then more steps from the foyer to the auditorium, the ingress and egress for people in wheelchairs is through a side door (like second-class citizens) and worse still, using a toilet (even if there were disability toilets) is impossible. Shamefully and embarrassingly, the non-ambulant must attend this theatre in nappies or be catheterised.

Something must be done.

This building is far from alone in its lack of disability access and it was built at a time when the needs of people with disabilities were, sadly, never considered. Retro fitting buildings is notoriously difficult and very expensive. The entire front section of the Arts must be redesigned and rebuilt at vast expense. It is to the credit of the current board of management led by David Sinclair, Linda Williams and Elizabeth Olssen that they are campaigning to finally and resolutely make their theatre fully accessible.

Therry Theatres production of Home, I'm Darling is premiering at the Arts Theatre in Adelaide on August 16, 2023. Source: Supplied

However, donations from the widow’s mite to the need for bigger angels – as philanthropists are called in the theatre – are sorely needed.

It’s beyond the resources of one amateur theatre company to fund this and audiences must help. A small levy on every ticket sold is being considered.

All donations are tax deductible.

The arts and the Arts must be physically and financially accessible to all.

Please help.

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I could easily tell you about every show I saw at the Arts Theatre and everywhere else as a younger person. I remember every film I saw and book I read when young. That’s good, though of limited use but, worryingly, my memory and comprehension for more recent experiences is slipping.

Recently I watched the 2019 TV TV series Morning Wars again and had completely forgotten it. Every couple of years I rewatch my favourite ever TV series Deadwood from 2004 and its completely new to me again.

Currently, I’m loving the audio version of the excellent Australian novel Invisible Boys by Holden Sheppard, brilliantly read by SA actor Nic English. I think I read this book when it came out four years ago but I can’t remember.

I seem to forget everyone but at least I forget everyone equally.

I’m not alone in this. Is the brain full? I wish I could delete stuff to create room for newer memories. I wish I were more impressionable.

I’ll probably end up watching one movie and reading one book over and over again – constantly surprised. I just hope they are as good as I don’t remember.

Peter Goers can be heard weeknights and Sundays on ABC Radio Adelaide

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