Galathea image by Ingrid Saker
Urban Dream Brokerage news release Nov 16th 2016
For immediate RELEASE
16th Century Play to Triumph In Capital Cultural Heritage Building
An adaptation of an unusual 16 th century play is being given a suitably grand and distinctive historic setting this
month, in the latest placement of arts and community into the city by Urban Dream Brokerage.
Located in one of Wellington's most significant spaces, the recently earthquake restrengthened Grand Hall at the Public
Trust Building, Galathea: Into the Bush is a reinvention of an old play in a vacant space. It is under the direction of
awardwinning young Shakespearean director Ania Upstill and c reated in consultation with leading youth group InsideOUT
(recent winners of Education/Child/Youth Development category at the Wellington Airport Community Awards).
Galathea will provide both a temporary community space and a theatre in the heart of the city, celebrating Wellington's
vibrant rainbow community today.
Galathea was originally written in 1588 by Shakespeare's contemporary John Lyly.
TwinCity Productions have decided to use the original play as inspiration for a new show.
A Category One historic building of the Edwardian period, the venue is being made possible by owners Maurice and Kaye
Clark who with McKee Fehl have done extensive earthquake restrengthening and refurbishment to the building over the
last two years. The building held up well with next to no damage after the November 14 earthquake that has affected many
other buildings in Wellington.
In May of this year, the Public Trust building won two awards for 'Heritage' and 'Interior Architecture' at the New
Zealand Institute of Architecture Awards and Maurice Clark, CEO of McKee Fehl also received the Ath Cup (in memory of
Ian Athfield) for his significant contribution to restoring the Wellington landscape.
“We’re delighted that this beautifully restored building,” says Mark Amery of Urban Dream Brokerage, “which now houses
the Ministry of Culture and Heritage can provide a stage for both history, community and the arts to come together in
such a vital contemporary way, recognising voices from youth that are not always so well heard in such significant
public space.”
In addition to being the performance space, during the run of the show from 1pm– 4pm Twin City Productions open up the
venue as a community space for the public, with activities to be announced.
For more information on the production http://galatheaintothebush.weebly.com/ For ticket sales
http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2016/galatheaintothebush/wellingtonregion
Property partner: Maurice and Kaye Clark
Grand Hall, Public Trust Building, 131 Lambton Quay
Opening night is 23 November
and the production runs until 3 December 2016
Notes to editors
About Urban Dream Brokerage
Urban Dream brokerage was established in Wellington in 2013 by public art and urban revitalization organisation Letting
Space, and is all out about connecting new ideas with vacant spaces to enliven our cities through public participation.
It is funded by Wellington City Council and Wellington Community Trust.
55 innovative creative, community and business startup projects have been placed in over 30 spaces in Wellington,
Porirua and Dunedin.
The service have worked with more than 20 property owners, from some of New Zealand’s largest to its smallest, who have
recognised the benefits of not letting their spaces lie vacant and the contribution they make to the development of
urban centres.
The programme is receiving recognition throughout NZ and internationally, where it is part of a movement which sees
similar schemes in place through Australia, the UK and Europe.
Urban Dream Brokerage is always open for proposals from arts and community groups.
Urban Dream Brokerage welcomes enquires from property owners regarding vacant space they would like activated through
arts and community projects.
The most recent Urban Dream Brokerage project was the Lux Light show Glade which attracted over 5000 people.
For more on past projects that have enlivened our city please see here.
http://urbandreambrokerage.org.nz/home