Drama Society president outlines need for little theatre
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from June 1979.
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In days gone by, we could use the Town Hall facilities to an almost unlimited degree-rehearsals, set construction and performance times were ours for the taking. Nowadays whilst experiencing the same cooperation from Government, we like the Singers, and the National Youth Theatre constantly find our schedules restricted simply because of the increase in demand.
Over the past 12 months we have managed to overcome many of our 'bookings' problems through the generosity of a benefactor who has given us unlimited use of his warehouse at the airport for storage and rehearsal purposes. Regrettably these facilities will shortly be terminated with the imminent sale of the warehouse and in point of fact we have been given notice to quit and should have been out of the warehouse last Saturday.
The problem has weighed heavily on your committee for the past 2 years and we believe that we have with your approval found a solution which will guarantee the future of your society for the foreseeable future. We are generally agreed that we must have a home of our own as soon as possible.
Basically the plan is to acquire land and build a small theatre on it. Having agreed this principle your committee and CDS members have spent a considerable amount of time in looking at various possible sites and types of construction, having regard to suitability and above all, costs. What we present to this meeting is the best 'package' that we have been able to come up with. Before going into details of size, lease arrangements, finance etc., I have been asked to inform you that there has already been some opposition to our proposals from the Cultural Sub-Committee of the Government's Health Education and Social Services Department. And I quote from a letter... Various members of your committee have met with a member of Government and infact I discussed the letter on Friday last.
Firstly, let me stress that following on from these discussions I can state that both we, the CDS and the government are entirely satisfied that this project will NOT be in conflict with the other. The Government has requested our cooperation in formulating and drawing up their scheme and when the time arrives the Cayman Drama Society will pledge its full and wholehearted support to any scheme which might result in the creation of a Cultural Centre and National Theatre.
The Committee firmly believe that this project will augment the efforts of all other cultural pursuits of the Islands. (REASONS) For one, as I have explained, our days in the warehouse are numbered.
The Town Hall's availability is limited. Unless a home is found soon we will have nowhere to keep our props and no where to rehearse! Quite frankly failure to find a home soon threatens the very existence of our Society.
With a building of our own we believe that we can engender a much better 'club spirit.' As you 've seen the building is only small, but it will provide a firm base at which members may regularly meet and perform. Next, and with all due deference to the Government's scheme, our need is immediate. The plans for the Leisure Centre are, I understand, a long way from completion. It's going to be a very expensive and gradiose scheme far superior to our humble construction. This is going to take a good deal of time, and money.
Our construction will be solely devoted to drama - as indicated, the Leisure Centre includes sports, arts crafts etc. Also for small productions like one-actors, dinner theatre, club nights would be far more suitable in a smaller building. Likewise if we want to put on a large musical like Oklahoma, South Pacific, obviously we would welcome the use of a facility like the National Theatre.
Surely, because we have a Cultural Centre, that doesn't mean that all other cultural or sporting groups should abandon their plans?
Lions Club are constructing their own building, Inn Theatre Club have a place, Rugby Club have their own ground and club house.
In a nutshell I will explain the plan that we have come up with.
The Racquet Club has offered us a piece of land next to the Club on a peppercorn lease with option to purchase (CI$1.00 per year for 10 years) sufficient to build a mini theatre approximately 40' x 40' which would seat 100 people. This site would be a convenient one for obvious reasons, the most important being it is near town, close to bar facilities and plenty of parking space.
The Cayman National Theatre Foundation has pledged its full support on this project and has given us a commitment of CI$8,000. The Cayman Drama Society has $8,000 of its own funds on hand. Therefore, taking the above points into consideration, the Committee proposes to erect on the site, a modest building, hopefully seating an audience of 100 people, which will serve as a storage area for the Society's props, and costumes as a rehearsal workshop for any future production by the society and most importantly as a building for the staging of future productions. Improved amenities over the Town Hall, together with bar, restaurant and toilet facilities will mean a greater drawing power for CDS productions.
The building and land will remain entirely in CDS hands with the sole provision that catering and bar services be handled by the Racquet Club. Hopefully we will invite other groups to perform on those nights when the Little Theatre is not being used by the Society.
The cost of such a project is obviously not small and it is for this reason that I have summoned an Extraordinary General Meeting. Estimated costs for this modest structure are CI$24,000 which means that the Society must raise a further CI$8,000 to fulfil the project.
We, the members of your committee, believe that the further $8,000 can be raised from private donations and fund raising events, and already we are soliciting commitments from members of the public, however, we need you, the members to give us your approval and support.,
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Drama Society has wanted a place of its own for the past 9 years. We now have a chance to fulfil our dream. Please support us with your vote.
I will now ask Mike Parker to give you some details on the lease arrangements. Then before putting the resolution to the meeting, I or members of the committee will be pleased to answer any questions."
