Dandenong Residents and Ratepayers Association president Jim Houlahan says entry to this week’s community celebration at the Drum should have been free, just like a VIP gala opening evening.By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG ratepayers have slammed plans to charge entry for a community celebration of the Drum Theatre as a ‘double standard’ after a swag of VIPs and politicians were last month treated to a $55,000 gala opening for free.
The Dandenong Residents and Ratepayers Association (DRRA) this week criticised the theatre’s administration for charging ratepayers to enter this week’s Community Celebration, believing it should have been free.
Tomorrow’s (3 March) Community Celebration event – to celebrate the Drum’s opening – will feature professional performers and cost residents $11 entry, with Drum members paying $7.50 and concession prices set at $8.
Residents will also pay entry to the Schools Celebration planned tonight (2 March) featuring over 10 local schools, while the Open Day on 4 March with tours on the hour and performances every half hour, will be free entry.
The Star reported on 16 February that a gala opening on 11 February cost $55,000 to host, with an evening of wine, food and entertainment free of charge for the 500 people in attendance.
Greater Dandenong CEO Carl Wulff also revealed that the theatre was expected to cost ratepayers up to $400,000 to run.
DRRA president Jim Houlahan said it was unfair residents and ratepayers did not ‘fit into the same level of treatment’ as those at the gala opening, including councillors and Premier Steve Bracks.
“It is just an observation, but it seems strange that MPs and councillors are invited to a free extravaganza but not the community,” he said.
Mr Houlahan said the pricing could be justified down the track, but Drum staff should have made the first event an extension of the gala opening.
“We would have thought that at an opening gala you obviously can’t invite everyone, so the other two nights with the schools and community would have been good to compliment the whole array. It could have been an opening extravaganza, as it will be schools and others using it in the future, and a good promotional opportunity for people to get in and have a look at it,” Mr Houlahan said.
“I think the conclusion would have to be there’re a couple of standards being set, and it is touted as a community facility as long as the community is paying for it.”
Council’s cultural facilities director Paul Streefkerk said the Community Celebration was originally planned as one of several events for a week-long celebration of the theatre, but with works running overtime, it was shifted back.
“I think it’s appropriate given the circumstances…for a very small charge, tickets are still being very much subsidised,” he said.
Mr Streefkerk said the Drum was charging for the event as it was originally planned to be the first performance in the new theatre.
“And at that time we put a number of plans in place, which included the hiring of professional artists, and trying to do it on some sense of recovering some of the costs. We felt the arrangements should remain in place even though it is now an event after the gala opening,” he said.
Perceptions that the gala opening was for politicians were incorrect, he said.
“A majority of invites went to members of the community, and there are plenty of opportunities for people to come and have a look at the venue, and I would encourage the Dandenong Residents and Ratepayers Association to support the revitalisation of Dandenong.”
