-monthly electricity bill a major burden
Citing the monthly electricity bill as a major burden on its operations, the Theatre Guild of Guyana is seeking financial and in-kind support from the general public including corporate Guyana to upgrade aspects of the state-of–the art facility, including the performance and rehearsal areas and to install a small transformer to reduce electricity use.
At a forum held at the Playhouse on Friday evening held under the theme ‘OutLook 2009,’Vice Chairman of the Executive Management Committee (EMC), Dr Paloma Mohamed said that the Playhouse currently owed the Guyana Power and Light some $3M. She said the large transformers which had been installed in the run-up to Carifesta X last year had seen monthly bills of approximately $300,000 being sent to the theatre. She said the power company had been lenient with the non-profit organization and she reasoned that the installation of a small transformer would cut electricity costs.
While the facility has the ability to market itself, Mohamed told Stabroek News that there was need for a Playhouse manager with the ability to market the Guild and implement programmes to effectively garner revenue. At present, she said, the organization benefited from a yearly government subvention, noting that last year’s subvention had been received early this year. She said the Guild used those monies to offset a number of expenses which had been incurred over a period of time, noting that fund-raising events held within the past few months could only meet a part of the running costs.
In addition to the installation of a small transformer, the management of the Guild intends to upgrade performance and dressing room areas as well as the rehearsal area and the Playhouse office. These upgrades are essential for the facility to produce quality stage productions. Among the items required in this area are fire-proof curtains, an across-stage fly bar, an on-stage Cyclorama, a system for stage sound and light communication, as well as mirrors and closets for the dressing room area. These total approximately $2.5M. The Playhouse is also in need of a ticket booth, an exterior sign to display the facility to the passing public as well as a room or container for the storage of props and costumes.
Mohamed told Stabroek News that the Playhouse could also be used to hold functions such as wedding receptions. She said that the landscape around the facility was large enough to accommodate such events. She acknowledged that there was need for further development of the existing landscape, especially at the back of the Playhouse. Treasurer of the Playhouse, Pat Liverpool, in delivering last year’s financial report, told the gathering on Friday evening that at the end of last year the facility had a surplus of $581,000. She said this had been quickly eroded, however, by costs associated with insurance and security.
She said the theatre earned some $420,000 between January and April this year, but $657,000 production costs over that period had seen returns dwindle to insignificance. According to Liverpool the $500,000 government subvention for 2008 which had been received earlier this year as well as the membership drive and rental of the facilities had offset a few expenses.
Liverpool also mentioned that the Government of Guyana was indebted to the Playhouse in the sum of $1.5M, incurred through Carifesta X productions held there. Mohamed later told this newspaper that this may be the reason why the power company had not disconnected the electricity supply.
The management of the Playhouse has set a few targets for 2009, including increasing its revenue base from $5M to $12M. In addition, it intends to increase membership by 100%. Persons can join the existing 80 members of the Theatre Guild Playhouse either by way of corporate or individual membership. Corporate membership is available to organizations interested in supporting the work of the theatre at a cost of $40,000 per year and entitles the holder to free entry to any Guild produced event and special gala performances. Individual membership allows persons free entrance to Club Nights held on Fridays and Thursdays, a listing on the Guild’s Talent Directory as well as public exposure. This type of membership costs $4000 per year.
Among the productions scheduled by the theatre for 2009 is Jezebel, a play by Paloma Mohamed to be held in August; a script-writing workshop in September as well as a steel pan festival in October.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Playhouse, Major General (retd) Joseph Singh, who replaced the late David de Caires, noted that the rebuilding of the Guild had come to $68M cash and $11M in kind as reflected by audited accounts. He also made honourable mention of Mr Bert Carter for his involvement in the project. Singh told the small gathering that there were persons within the EMC of the Playhouse with a common vision to carry the Guild forward. He said Guyanese should be proud to have a Playhouse, noting that it was reportedly one of the best in the Caribbean.
The Theatre Guild of Guyana was founded in 1957 and is one of the oldest theatrical and performance facilities in Guyana, and one of the oldest in the Caribbean. After a period of being defunct, the Playhouse was rebuilt in 2007-08. The project saw the theatre being opened in time for Carifesta X last year, when a number of events were held at that venue. The Guild is run by the 7 member EMC which is guided and supported by an advisory Board of Trustees. Board members and members of the EMC provide their services voluntarily.
