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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-10-23 Daily Xml
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ODEON THEATRE

Ms CICCARELLO (Norwood) (15:32): If you mention Norwood or The Parade to anyone, they immediately think of such icons as the Norwood Oval, the town hall, Clayton church and, of course, my office. However, there is another historic landmark quietly located on the corner of The Parade and Queen Street and, of course, I am talking about the Odeon Theatre which, when it was first opened in 1923 by Dan Clifford, was considered to be the most beautiful state-of-the-art theatre in the Southern Hemisphere.

Last month, I was delighted to be a guest at the celebration of the theatre's 21st birthday and to toast its continuing success as the only professional performing arts facility in South Australia dedicated to children and young people. In its 21-year history as a theatre for youth, the Odeon has been home to many thousands of young people. It has provided them with the unique opportunity and experience of participating as performers, technicians, theatre workers, artists and audience in a professional theatre setting and with the assistance of professional theatre staff. It is for that very reason that many South Australians hold the Odeon Theatre close to their heart. Whether they have performed there or watched their children and grandchildren on stage, we can all appreciate the confidence and skills that the theatre inspires and nurtures in our youth.

I am a regular patron of the theatre. In fact, I have been attending that theatre since I was eight years of age when it was a cinema. I am constantly amazed at the strength and diversity of performances that I see. Whether it is professional theatre, community not-for-profit theatre, primary and secondary schools or youth companies, it is exciting to watch young people take charge of their lives and believe passionately in what they are doing. It is therefore critical that the Odeon Theatre continues to remain a venue which is affordable to schools, youth arts companies and young emerging artists.

I am delighted the state government remains committed to investing in the future of the theatre and our young people. The government's ARTSsmart strategy is directed towards achieving three key outcomes: engagement, partnership and lifelong learning. Our partnership with the Odeon Theatre richly embodies those qualities, giving young people the opportunities to learn, express, explore and communicate. We believe strongly in our vision for the youth of South Australia and we will never simply utter these statements as feel-good rhetoric.

That is why on the day of theatre's 21st birthday we were pleased to announce that the South Australian Youth Arts Board and the Department of Education and Children's Services committed to a further 10 years of funding for the theatre. With each organisation contributing $84,000 per annum, that adds up to a fantastic $1.68 million over the next decade. This funding from the state government also comes on the back of the largest single sponsorship of youth arts in Australia by BHP Billiton.

I commend BHP Billiton for its outstanding contribution, which, in partnership with the South Australian Youth Arts Board, is putting $1 million into youth arts in South Australia over the next four years, including sponsorship of the Odeon Theatre. There are now some new programming initiatives at the Odeon Theatre which have been made possible by all this funding, and the first is the Artist in Residence initiative. Over the next three years the Odeon Theatre will have an Artist in Residence program for artists and companies creating new work or performances for children and young people.

The next year will see the Pooka Puppet company resident at the Odeon. Pooka is a brand-new, Adelaide-based puppet company under the artistic direction of Lachlan Haig and the movement direction of Ninian Donald. The second initiative is Full House, a theatre access program which will also enable the Odeon, over the next three years, to present five free full-house performances for about 500 students from disadvantaged schools. These performances were presented by the new South Australian Theatre for Young People company 'SLINGSBY presents'.

These are just two of the many wonderful arts program experiences that the Odeon is able to provide to young South Australians, they are a fine example of the great results that can be achieved through positive collaboration between state and local governments and private companies and individuals. This support and involvement is vital in ensuring the ongoing viability of the Odeon Theatre and for the development of youth arts in South Australia. I look forward to another 21 years and a new generation of artists and performers who will always be proud to call the Odeon Theatre home.

I would like to commend Jessica Machin, CEO and Director of Carclew Arts, for her dedication and enthusiasm. I would also particularly like to thank the wonderful staff at the Odeon Theatre: Bob Jesser, himself a Norwood icon, and technical manager, Matt Marciniak, as well as the other staff. The theatre was in jeopardy some years ago but, thanks to the initiative of then premier Don Dunstan, the Odeon became the home of the South Australian Film Corporation and later the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra was housed there. Since becoming a youth arts theatre it has provided wonderful opportunities for young people in South Australia to hone their skills.

Time expired.

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