Is that what its called? that Globe place? how do you go about booking that for gigs and junk?

The Centrepoint place I think.

Palmy is doomed cos of pussy music, and what they think they know is right for the people.................F@#K THE SYSTEM

Darkroom's last curtain
By MICHELLE DUFF - The Manawatu Standard
Last updated 12:35 07/05/2009

The curtains are closing on Palmerston North's hub of experimental theatre The Darkroom, after just three years of providing a venue for new performing artists.

The studio performance space was opened in 2007 by Centrepoint Theatre to encourage up-and-coming actors, musicians and comedians to rehearse and perform.

But the short-lived project has been given the cut by Centrepoint, which says lack of resources and space have contributed to its closure.

Centrepoint artistic director Kate Louise Elliott said it was a "bit sad" the venue had to shut, but the theatre had no other option.

"It has done very well, but it has started to dwindle a little bit because we haven't been able to put as much time and effort into it as we would like.

"I would like to see it certainly carry on, possibly in another venue. It's a really valuable resource for the community. It's important everyone is able to perform if they want to, I just don't see us being able to do it right now." The room, at the back of the theatre building, was also used by professional actors for rehearsals and as a backstage space when shows were on.

The Darkroom shows usually began about 10.30pm. Centrepoint productions finish around the same time, and if they were ever performed on the same night it was difficult for the two groups of actors to organise themselves, Elliott said.

"We are just bursting at the seams in terms of space ... it just gets really tricky."

Massey University senior drama lecturer Angie Farrow said The Darkroom was a brilliant way of encouraging young performers, and it was tragic to see it go.

Many of her students performed alternative shows there that would struggle to get a show in other venues, she said.

"It's provided so many opportunities for emerging artists, actors and directors to have a forum for their work," Dr Farrow said.

"Centrepoint was really taking a broad approach to community responsibility with The Darkroom. It was saying not only are we catering for a popular theatregoing public, we are going to provide for younger people ... I know how hard it is to run theatre like that so there's no blame, but it would be marvellous if someone else stepped up to do it."

The last show at The Darkroom is tomorrow at 10.30pm, with music acts The Bing Turkby ensemble, Boss Christ and Hoopla!.

PLAY LOSES ITS VENUE

Local playwright and actor David Collins is "gutted" he has been left without a performance space for his new play, Aalst.

The Massey University drama society member had The Darkroom booked for July, to perform the play he is both directing and acting in. It was a shock when he learnt the venue was closing.

"It's all very disappointing, and now my show is homeless. The reason I liked The Darkroom is because of the way it was set out, there was no stage. For my show, I need the performers to be right in the faces of the audience."

Apart from maybe the library or the art gallery, no other venue in the city could provide this. And no-one else could bring such a variety of shows, he said. "It wasn't just local stuff, there were really good quality shows coming in from around the country."

The Darkroom cost $100 to hire for three nights, and an extra $20 for a technician. The Globe costs an amateur group from $135 a day, and The Regent has community prices from about $400 plus power, gas and labour costs.