PLAY TIME: Tomasin Fisher-Johnson with the jubjub bird puppet and Thomas Gowing with the boy puppet, rehearsing for Jabberwock at Oneonesix. Photo/Michael Cunningham.
at Oneonesix. Photo/Michael Cunningham.
An innovative Whangarei theatre and creative space is calling for the public's help so it can pay the bills and keep pulling in the thousands of people who annually visit the facility.
Based in a historic community building in Bank St and with no current funding, Oneonesix has had to launch a vital crowdfunding campaign to keep the space alive — even though it attracts more than 10,000 visitors a year.
With a rates and utilities bill of $5277, and a commitment to accessibility and affordability for all members of the community, Oneonesix and its founding theatre group Company of Giants are asking the people to again support the initiative via a crowdfunding page.
In 2016, a similar crowdfunding campaign gained the funds needed within 36 hours. Oneonesix relies heavily on volunteer hours for building maintenance, administration, communication and management.
''With a peppercorn lease to Whangarei District Council and no financial assistance, Oneonesix now attracts over 10,000 visits a year, and has taken over 1600 volunteer hours to create and run,'' theatre member Laurel Devenie said.
''All rent goes straight back into continuing to build the space and look after the building. We hope to get some help with this year's rates and utilities bill of $5276.60.''
In the last year use of the space has nearly doubled, with hireage to user groups remaining low enough to keep the resource available to all.
A call to local businesses recently enabled Company of Giants to put on buses and give free entry to pupils from low-decile Whangarei schools to its children's play, Jabberwock.
Part old style community hall, part innovative theatre venue, activities include international theatre shows, martial arts classes, community radio, dance therapy, music gigs, filmmaking, youth-led dance nights, community dinners, roller discos, cooking classes, exhibitions, political forums, information evenings, kids' circus, skateschool, corporate meetings and youth yoga.
In only two years since it started, Oneonesix has become widely acknowledged by theatre companies, artists and training institutions around New Zealand as a venue to bring productions and other forums.
In 2018, Oneonesix will see the return of the Wellington-based Toi Whakaari Solo season, Indian Ink and a growing programme of contemporary new work.
''Over the next year, we aim to see more festivals, a paint job, a new floor and to keep building Oneonesix into the nationally recognised community hub it is quickly becoming,'' Ms Devenie said.
''Thank you to all the hundreds of people who contribute to this amazing project.'' The givealittle campaign closes December 17. https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/oneonesix-whangarei.