Future of Queensland theatre a race on sidelines of Queensland election

The future of Twelfth Night Theatre, whose owner wants to gift it to the people of Queensland for prosperity, has become a race, alongside the uninspiring state election.

Twelfth Night Theatre owner, Gail Wiltshire, holding the wedding photo of Emmanuel Raymond and Lucy Cossart. Picture: Lyle Radford, The Fassifern Guardian

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In a mix of drama and farce, the future of Twelfth Night Theatre, whose owner Gail Wiltshire wants to gift to the people of Queensland for posterity, has become a race alongside the uninspiring Queensland election race.

At this stage, as in the main campaign, the frontrunner in a role in the future of the theatre is the Liberal National Party Opposition, with Shadow Treasurer David Janetzki, who has met Mrs Wiltshire and her associates about the matter, telling The Australian: “We will continue to engage with the Twelfth Night Theatre and the arts and cultural sector about what is needed to build Queensland’s artistic future.’’

Two months ago, in Review, The Weekend Australian revealed that Mrs Wiltshire, 78, who has knocked back offers of $10m or more for the building, on a prime site in Brisbane’s booming inner northside, wants the theatre heritage listed and preserved and gifted to the people of Queensland, through a state government, for ongoing arts, entertainment and education. “If either party wants to come to the party I’ll meet them,’’ she said.

Twelfth Night is under the spotlight in the seat of McConnel, held by State Development Minister Grace Grace, who is facing a push from Greens candidate, local engineer Holstein Wong.

“The first encouraging response I had from any party was from the Greens when Holstein and local federal member for Brisbane Stephen Bates came in to offer their support,’’ Mrs Wiltshire said. “They realise Brisbane has not got enough theatres and were horrified at the idea of demolition.’’

“The next approach was a phone call from one of Grace Grace’s secretaries to arrange a meeting. To my astonishment, when I arrived, Ms Grace introduced me to an entrepreneur who owns multiple, major theatres in Sydney and is looking for a Brisbane base.’’

The next call left the articulate Mrs Wiltshire speechless. It was a real estate agent, phoning for the second time, on behalf of a major trade union interested in buying the theatre.

“Again, the answer was ‘this theatre is not for sale’.’’

‘It’s a highly talented company in search of a platform’, said owner Gail Wiltshire. Picture: Supplied

Slower to the party but with a grasp what Mrs Wiltshire is proposing was Mr Janetski, whose secretary arranged a meeting at Parliament House. There, Mrs Wiltshire outlined her plans, including a trust she has already established including an international venue manager, a barrister who represents major Australian actors around the world, an accountant and a provincial newspaper owner.’’

Mrs Wiltshire, who has run the theatre profitably for 37 years without taxpayer subsidy, envisages chairing the board which would include government representatives, emphasised she is not looking for a financial contribution from government, but artistic collaboration.

Mr Janetzki said TNT was important to Queensland’s cultural fabric. “It plays a significant and invaluable role with respect to productions, live performances, education and training.’’

The theatre’s technical wizardy will be on display in its next show, Mary Poppins, to be staged by community group Queensland Musical Theatre in November.

“This encapsulates the point,’’ Mrs Wiltshire said. “It’s a highly talented company in search of a platform. What other stage in Brisbane can accommodate a community group in a show with huge technical demands at a price that the public can afford? It’s about democratising the arts.’’ Seats will be about $60, whereas prices in major venues across the country for a similar show would start at $150.

As “a girl from Boonah’’, whose father James Raymond, drove his father, Emmanuel Raymond and Samuel, the brother of his mother, Lucy Cossart, who employed 300 people at the local sawmill, down the New England Highway to Melbourne in the 1930s to support a young Robert Menzies in building up the original United Australia Party, Mrs Wiltshire feels comfortable working with the LNP. In 1971, former Liberal Treasurer Sir Gordon Chalk, who represented the seat of Lockyer, opened the theatre and was a driving force in rallying government and community financial support.