The seventh and final stage of the School of Arts Hall project is now underway and will necessitate closing the Narooma Kinema from Tuesday, October 10 to Friday, October 20 for some structural work, reopening October 21.
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Narooma School of Arts committee spokesperson Laurelle Pacey said this work aimed to facilitate staging live theatre and carries out recommendations made by various performance groups and former lessee Stephen Walsh about 20 years ago.
“The committee is extending the stage sideways to create usable wing space on both sides, renovating one dressing room and creating another,” she said. “This is thanks mainly to a grant under the NSW Arts Regional Capital program.
“All work on the Hall project has been done outside holiday times to minimise disruption to John and Janette Griffiths’ commercial operations and timed in association with them.”
Additional stage work will be needed next year to enable best use of the wings to install a basic lighting system, “that will be another grant application,” she said.
The Griffiths lease the Hall from the School of Arts, which manages School of Arts property on behalf of the Narooma community.
John and Janette Griffiths are excited about the latest improvements to the building that houses the Kinema and in particular the chance to offer live theatre performances.
“We are delighted with all the improvements made to the iconic School of Arts Hall that houses the Kinema – just beautiful,” they said.
“This temporary closure will enable extension of the stage area to creating usable wing space, renovate one dressing room and create another. Narooma will not only have a wonderful cinema, which we have been proud to establish as well as a great live performance and theatre venue.”
The School of Arts management committee meanwhile greatly appreciates the commitment and attention to detail of Harvey Shears and his team from H & A Builders and his subcontractors on the Hall Project.
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