16th Century Play to Triumph In Cultural Heritage Building

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

© Scoop Media