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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-03-31, Page 193i the (tioner,ith SlGNAL- grant 'etpati t7.b Iter el xPec 8Q rants by ley sal t of th two` out eq resid rded tch. z 9 I Scale 0 5 10 15 North oI board attempt ►4 9 t public opi� ARONDIETZ , for a theatre. In the past, the AN COLLEGE Little Theatre has considered ents of Goderich renovating MacKay Hall but my of Huron will the plan for the gaol theatre pportunity to ex- would allow the group its own comments and home and an opportunity to' the proposed plan extend its season. he Huron Historic She said that the Little Theatre is looking forward to oll, chairman of meeting with the gaol board Gaol Board, said to discuss their needs and the tent to generate proposals of the board. ocally especially Gord Crabb, a member of ntroversy has Friends for the Library, said about the plan to that this group's intention to eatre complex for renovate the third floor of the ing arts proposed library does not conflict with courtyard at the any plans for a cultural centre at the gaol. ends to approach "There is a large amount of ch Little Theatre space at the library which is nning committee not being used," said Crabb, re Goderich Arts "and because the library is eet with the Gaol extending its children's an informal programs this space is now ()settle the needs required." ofeach group. During the spring term is no sense in break, over 100 children facilities," said attended the library sessions e need to 0- for the holiday happenings refforts through a each day. ith the groups "Friends for the Library `. are Concentrating on creating al publicforum ed after the Gaol Interest in the library,' said discussed the with the Little the Arts Council The public will be opportunity to it suggestions, and " reaction aol Board. e Tots of problems a project of this Carroll, "but we termine the best ide optimum use to restore the original historic t we feel that we beyond this` because the gaol of a need for an tithe community, that the gaol has. a! to serve this'- explained. the 'planner who study, "Rtiron 01; .a plain for has said that Sharon Dietz, formerly of RR Will be made I 1)ublin, is a graduating the public library student at Sheridan College in. he is interested. Oakville.: Ms. Dietz spent her Slack- of the "lit week at the Signal -Star title, Theatre has ' and is responslblc.for many of enthusiasm- aced the special featureir tt ilshed gaol proposal i Ini the ►►nneewspaper. this .week ,.' and in the weeks to come. vfu eit writer` Crabb. "The library is under- utilized through a lack of interest and we want to change this." The renovation of the third floor would provide space for groups and organizations to meet in a committee room atmosphere. There are groups in town who meet in 'homes who would appreciate this space, said Crabb. The chess club which meets at GDCI has expressed an interest in a meeting room of this type. Crabb also suggested that a stamp club or photographic °society might be other possible examples of ' groups who would use this facility. The planning committeefor the future Arts Council and the Friends for the Library are two groups who now meet' in homes who would enjoy a committee meeting room at the library. The space could also be made available to artists for exhibits and demonstrations. Crabb stressed that while artists would be allowed to use the space for workshops on a temporary basis, the idea was to create ,a com- mittee room which would also be used for the expansion of the children's activities at the library. ARTGALLERY AT GAOL The Hill study points out that an art gallery should be a highly flexible space for participation in the ^visual arts as well as exhibition. No ° interior areas that have been designated for new uses of the size necessary for a gallery exists in the gaol comples. ° The only alternative would be to close in a small exercise yard in a similar manner as proposed for the theatre. All four exercise yards are an integral part of the,saol plan because they are accessible to the cell blocks. To separate one small exercise yard would mar the clarity of the design and plan for the gaol, concludes the report. Hill advises in his report that an art gallery should be found elsewhere in town. He suggests that a concourse area in the proposed theatre (continued on page 2A) 130 YEAR --13 rLn THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1977 SECOND SECTION No project 'for the weak minded Feel gaol theatre feasibl IVY SHARON DIETZ SHI'.RIDAN COLLEGE The proposal to restore the Huron Historic Gaol which includes a theatre complex for the performing arts and a cultural centre is "one of the most exciting projects in this part of the province" says Nick Hill, the planner who prepared the study. "The project isnot for the weak-minded," he stressed. "The gaol' is of national importance not only for its intrinsic architectural design, but because of the concept of human prison reform it embodied it has a social value as well as its historic value," he feels. "We must not overlook the mystique value either," adds Hill, "which is emphasized by the numbers of people who have toured the gaol since its opening to tourists as an attraction." Hill does not believe that the only value to restoring the gaol is the preservation of its uniqueness as a "static, historic artifact". This ap- proach achieves a high degree of perservation of authenticity -but it "fossilizes" the building and misses the opportunity to use the gaol in a wider and fuller sense. To restore the gaol and include a theatre complex and cultural centre will allow the Jail Board to re -use the building in a "dynamic, viable and profitable" manner for the community, notes Hill. The plan recognizes the unique ar- chitectural attributes of the building and allows for change and new uses while preserving these attributes. At present the in- terpretation of the building is by self -guided tour. More creative approaches could and should be adopted, says Hill in his report, including an interpretive centre which could combine a variety of suitable visual and audible media to describe the history and building of the gaol and its position in the settlement of the community. The theatre would be designed for a variety of purposes, including theatre, music, film and general assembly. The layout follows closely the geometry of the wedge shaped courtyard, with a converging raked auditorium focusing on a grocedium arch stage. To either side of the auditorium is a concourse area and scenery preparation studio. Public entrance to the theatre is through an existing entrance on the west wall while the new actors and service entrance is located on the south wall which also serves as a fire exit and for stage proierty moving. Beneath the auditorium, at a lower level, are public washrooms, cloakrooms and the stage dress rooms and. offices. NI'.I'.1) DECENT FACILITY The capacity of the theatre is about 350 people which guarantees a full house, says Warren Robinson, drama - coach atGDCI. "It is depressing to play to about 200 people in the school gymnasium which has ; a capacity of 600," he claims. Large crowds at the school are few and far between. Usually they fill the gym only for musicals such as Brigadoon last year. The alternative is to run longer and play to a full house at each performance which is more desirable. The chances of establishing a performing arts centre in the town are remote says Robinson, in the light of the athletic complex proposed two years ago which never got off the ground. "Goderich needs a facility and the proposed gaol theatre is as close to a decent facility as we are going to get," he says. Robinson feels that the school productions must be twice as good to overcome the two inherent problems in the gymnatorium. The audience cannot hear properly because the accoustics are bad and they cannot see properly because there is no raked seating and the chairs are uncomfortable. "Another challenge is not just making available the physical r,psourcement but also the creative human resource," says Hill. "There will be a need for an able manager for the theatre complex and a small staff to operate the centre, initiate programs, and co-ordinate the groups and organizations who will use the facilitie's," "We also have one of the leading drama teachers in the province at GDCI in the person of Warren Robinson (continued on page 2A) Old jail the centre o more controversy in Huron County Reach out - you may not get star but you won't get a fist of mud. BY SHARON DIETZ SHI:RIDAN COLLEGE "There is an audience for theatre in Huron County," says Jennifer Black, president of the Goderich Little Theatre. "Theatre is becoming one of the most accepted things and it has reached a peak in Canada." Mrs. Black is anxious that people who cannot get to the city to see theatre be. able to see it in Goderich. She is also concerned that the children ' of this community be exposed to theatre as an alternative to"all that canned stuff on television". A theatre complex at the Huron Historic Gaol would allow groups in the town and the area to bring in concerts, orchestras, mime theatre, story -time theatre, television shows, folk dancers. and musicals, the GLT president thinks. She is very pleased with' the restoration plan prepared by Nick Hill and is interested in meeting with the Gaol Board to discuss the needs of the Goderich.•Little Theatre. She believes ,the cost -to be reasonable when" the historical and Wintario grants are considered. Amilloomproriiimmiumaula "I am so enthusiastic about the Hill study and the opportunity it will provide for non-professional drama in Goderich,'" says Mrs. Black, "So many people do not realize the potential we have in this town, which is waiting for us to use creatively. "Why is it that Blyth has a theatre for performing arts and the tow7n has only 800 people? Goderich has nine times as ninny people," she said. Goderich Little Theatre could extend its season to ten, possibly twelve months of the year if it had a permanent home. The group is bridging the gap in the months between the Blyth and Huron Country Playhouse seasons in the summers. The winter months are a time when it is not always possible to get out of town to a show or production and people need a laugh during the winter depressions, comments Mrs. Black. Should Goderich have its own theatre complex the GLT could host a drama competition such as the Western Ontario Drama League Festival where non- professional groups bring plays to compete in a week-long festival of drama. A professional adjudicator offers constructive criticism and awards are presented to the individual actors and the groups. Drama groups from Woodstock, Sarnia, Guelph, Stratford and Owen Sound and other southwestern areas would participate. Mrs. Black has contacted Sam Hunter of Corruna, president of the Western Ontario Drama League who will be informing her about the kind of grants available to little theatre groups. She hopes that GLT will be competing in drama festivals next season, She talks about the theatre proposal at the Gaol in a very positive way because she feels it is right for Goderich, and the opportunity to use the gaol adds even more appeal. She ' remembers an old proverb which she thinks applies in this respect. "When you reach for the stars, you may never get one but neither will you come up with a handful of mud." 45 ':l