HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-02-12, Page 31Blyth Festiva/ looks at future
needs, gets council's support
Blyth Festival will be conducting
a survey to look into its needs for
more space for the next 20 years,
representatives of the organization
told Blyth Council February 4.
Marion Doucette, president of
the board of directors, Sheila
Richards, past president and
Katherine Kaszas, artistic direc-
tor, explained the study to council
as part of their annual presenta-
tion. Ms. Kaszasexplainedthat
the Festival has constant problems
getting enough space for its
operations even though it bought
the old Dougherty garage property
on Dinsley street east and this year
has rented office space on main
street. The study will look at
possible solutions to meet the
growth expected in the short and
long-term future, she said.
Still, Mrs. Richards pointed out,
the Festival is concerned about not
becoming too big. A recent visit to
Niargara-on-the-Lake by members
of the board made them award that
they never want to make the
theatre so big that it shapes the
whole community around it, she
said. She deplored the way Niagara
had been turned into a town
dominated by tourism. "We're
glad to be part of the village. We
don't want to overtake it," she
said.
Ms. Kaszas noted that the
Festival had toured its shows
farther than ever this year taking
Garrison's Garage across southern
Ontario, then to New Brunswick
and currently into Northern On-
tario and then on to Winnipeg (in
co-operation with James Roy's
Manitoba Theatre Centre). Tour-
ing would be limited in future
however because' `Although we're
functioning like a big theatre we're
still a small theatre in the number
of people running it." Too much
energy could be used in touring so
that the main summer season
would suffer, she explained.
She outlined some of the plans
for the Festival's 12th season
which will open June 20 with a
production of Another Season 's
Promise, a play on the current
crisis on farming in Huron County
and Canada in general. The play is
co -written by Anne Chislett (who
wrote the award-winning Quiet in
the Land soon to open in New York)
Affirmative
action
studied by bd.
BY RHEA HAMILTON-SEEGER
Carol Simons had been busy
researching and compiling data
about the inequalities and equali-
ties in our school system.
Simons was hired by the Huron
County Board of Education in
September 1985 to analyze and
review employment policies and
procedures, for women employees
and develop an action plan with
goals and timetables, aimed at
equality of employment.
Simons presented her report to
the board last Monday in Clinton.
She has been compiling data and is
now ready to begin the analysis.
Although she had no definite
figures for the board she did say the
county was behind in the elemen-
tary level and while there were
qualified women for more respons-
ible positions there was a question
about why they had not made the
move ahead themselves.
A questionnaire is being circula-
ted among academic staff which
will offer a pool of qualified people
for positions in the future.
and Keith Roulston. Guest at the
opening night dinner will be writer
and broadcaster Peter Growski.
Mrs. Richards outlined results
of a survey conducted by the
University of Waterloo last sum-
mer that looked at the impact of the
Stratford, Shaw and Blyth festivals
on their communities. The average
ticket buyer coming to the Blyth
festival spends $8.79 on top of his
ticket cost, she said which means
$260,000 is pumped into the local
economy besides the money spent
by the Festival itself in local
services and salaries. With ticket
prices that his year will be $8 on
weeknights and $10 on weekends
the Festival attracts people with
lower incomes that aren't able to
attend more expensive theatres.
The survey found the average
family income of a Stratford
Festival ticketbuyer was $80,000
compared to $30,000 for Blyth.
She thanked the council for their
financial support in the past,
saying it helps to convince other
government bodies they support i
the theatre when they see strong
support from the local level.
Reeve Albert Wasson congratu-
lated the theatre on a "fantastic
job" and said he hoped the good
rapport between the Festival and
the village would continue in the
future.
Council agreed to write a letter
pledging long-term access to
Memorial Hall for the Festival in
support of the Festival's applica-
tion for 50 per cent government
funding for the feasibility study.
Mrs. Richards said she under-
stood the council may be facing
some maintenance expenses on
Memorial Hall (a new roof may be
needed) and said the Festival
would help out with the costs.
Later council agreed to a grant of
$1300 to the Festival for 1986, up
$100 from last year.
PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA
THURS., FRI., SAT.
5P.M.-12A.M.
BLYTH INN
EAT IN OR TAKE OUT
523.9381
Blyth Figure Skating Club
Achievement Night
Friday, February 21/86
7:30 p.m.
GUESTS: Clinton Precision Team &
Peter MacDonald & Kerrie Shepherd
SPECIAL GUEST: "THE SMOOTHIES"
Come out and join the fun
DONATION BOX AT DOOR
A FAMILY
Valentine's Dance
Ethel Community Centre
Saturday, Feb. 15
8:30 - 12:00
Music by Steven's D.J.
$2.50 each .
Rate forfamilyoffive
$7.00
Snack booth free
Everyone
welcome
Friday Night Special
T -Bone Steak $6.95
Regular $7.95
INCLUDES SOUP OR JUICE, SALAD BAR & DESSERT c2
TRIPLE K
RESTAURANT
County Road 25, E. of Hwy. 4
Blyth
523-9623
HOURS: Mon.-Thurs.6a.m.-11 p.m.
Fri. & Sat. until 12:30p.m.
Sunday 7a.m.-11 p.m.
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1986. PAGE 31.
Valentine's Dance
Brussels, Morris & Grey
Community Centre
Saturday, February 15th/86
Music by
Dancing from 9:00 to 1:00
Admission $5.00
Lunch Served
SPONSORED BY BRUSSELS BROOM BALL TEAMS
Donations to Brussels Minor Hockey
"Designated Driver in Effect"
THATRE
WINGHAM
Phone 357-1630 for 24 hour movie information
Playing from Friday to Thursday,
February 14th to 20th
Showtimes: Friday and Saturday
at 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.
Sunday to Thursday
One show each evening at 8:00 p.m. only
iPARENTALI
lGUIDANCE
BARYSHNIKOV HINES
v r '✓
CUPID'S BALL
Saturday, February 15, 1986
Blyth & District Community Centre
Music by
Crippled Duck
DANCING 9-1
SMORGASBORD TO FOLLOW
Door prizes. Special occasions permit.
SPONSORED BY LONDESBORO LIONS CLUB
Proceeds toga to new ball park