A FORMER orphanage will soon be home to a new group of youngsters.
Manukau City Council arts policy advisor Priscilla Thompson says the selection panel was unanimous in its choice.
“We’re all very pleased and hope the community will be too. It used to be an orphanage and a place for some sad and disadvantaged children. Now we hope it’ll be a place for happy children.”
HCYT founder Gair McRae and principal Fiona Bailey are delighted. “It means the survival of the theatre and the end of a really long struggle that began in 1996 to survive on our own,” Ms McRae says.
The popular local theatre group was in danger of closing down because of the financial burden of paying commercial rental for its present premises, among other costs (Times, May 31).
Ms McRae says the Star of the Sea building presents an opportunity for young staff and will relieve a lot of financial strain.
“There’s a lot of hard work ahead. This is a big responsibility because it’s not just our work. We have to be inclusive of other likeminded groups in the community.
“We have to make that beautiful building into a real performing arts centre, with a focus on youth but not just youth. So there’s a lot of careful planning ahead.”
She says the positive relationship it has with the Uxbridge cretive centre is likely to continue, as the group will still look to perform in the centre’s gallery.
There had been some discussion about combining community group use with a commercial entity, but the council says that’s not planned at this stage.
“They need to run their core business in there and move from another premises,” Ms Thompson says.
Howick city councillors Jami-Lee Ross and Sharon Stewart are pleased the building is finally getting use.
“This will give HCYT a new lease of life. It’s brilliant to see that something will happen with the building,” Mr Ross says.
“A few months ago people were talking about selling it again and it would’ve been a great shame if that had happened.”
Mrs Stewart, who had been open to selling the property, is pleased a long-standing community group has been given the reins.
“[HCYT] has been around for a long time and produced some really fine performances.
“The not-for-profit organisation needs all the support it can get. I look forward to being one of the first people to come and see them when they take over their tenancy.”
Contract negotiation is now underway between the council and HCYT. The group expects to open its doors in the new premises in February.
