Speaker Preview: Building a theatre business after the earthquakes

Shrinking audiences? Funding cuts? Earthquakes! Small theatres have enough challenges but add in major seismic movements and survival can be threatened.

At The LEVEL Summit 2013, we’ll hear a ‘good news’ story about the rebuild of the Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch, New Zealand – a city which is rebounding from the chaos and devastation of the multiple earthquakes in 2011.

“We are a pretty unique case anywhere in the world I’d say of rebuilding an historic theatre against some pretty significant odds,” explains Neil Cox, Chief Executive of the Isaac Theatre Royal (ITR). “It has been a real experience of blind faith at times but we are now well on track.”

Neil joined the theatre in 2008 and steered it to three of its most successful and profitable operating years to 2010. He also ensured that the venue recovered quickly and effectively from the 7.1 magnitude 4th September 2010 earthquake that caused minimal damage the 105-year old venue.

NOT ONE BUT MULTIPLE QUAKES

However, that was before the 22nd February 2011 earthquake closed the venue and shut down the surrounding Christchurch CBD with devastating effect and subsequent June and December 2011 quakes essentially ensured repair was no longer an option and the iconic venue required to be mostly deconstructed and rebuilt.

Neil has spearheaded the ITR’s NZ$38.5m (approx. 20m Pounds) rebuild and recovery programme, working in association with the theatre’s insurers, local and national government recovery agencies, worldwide celebrities and philanthropists helping to fundraise an additional NZ$6m to the repair budget over and above the insurance shortfall. There’s more video and background here.

“We hope to have our new roof on by the end of this year and then it’s all about re-fitting the auditorium and foyers and reinstating/replicating/recreating the original grandeur of the Isaac Theatre Royal’s interior,” highlights Neil.

FRIENDS IN FAR PLACES

Neil continues to manage and direct the recovery program as the Isaac Theatre Royal moves closer to reopening in October 2014.

“The project is a major task that has involved some intense engineering for earthquake re-strengthening on what is left of the now 108-year old building,” explains Neil. “It is a massive rebuild project for a privately owned theatre, governed by a charitable trust.”

For those of a technical nature, there’s a download of the Project Update here.

The local community and government authorities have been very supportive in a market that is highly oversubscribed for

recovery funding, but the theatre’s plight has also attracted extensive global coverage through some high profile ‘ambassadors’, not least Sir Ian McKellen who raised over NZ$350,000 from his one-man 15-show solo tour of New Zealand to the project coffers. The recovery of the Isaac Theatre Royal has become a major ‘good news story’ in the overall recovery of the city.

Another great friend of the theatre, Richard O’Brien has personally donated to the cause and will also host a suitably ‘Rocky Horror’ themed fundraising concert in Christchurch this November to help to the project shortfall.

TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SUMMIT

And is Neil looking forward to the Summit?

“I looked at last year’s Edinburgh conference to get our story out there but timing didn’t work unfortunately but now we are getting closer to planning the reopening, this year seems the right opportunity, everything in this process is about timing” he says.

“I don’t want to harp on too much, but our story is very special – and there’s lots to share with our colleagues from similar venues around the world. The fact of the matter is we still have a decent rebuild shortfall of approx. NZ$8m to find so gathering ideas and any suggestions of how we can potentially spread our network of support and contacts around the world would be very useful in the ongoing recovery process.”

Looking ahead Neil adds: “What I’d like to get out of the summit is a chance to see what a venue like ours could achieve after the rebuild as well, what we can do better, and make some new contacts obviously.”

JOIN NEIL COX – AND LEADERS FROM VENUES (LARGE AND SMALL) AROUND THE WORLD – AT THE LEVEL SUMMIT 2013. EMAIL US

About the speaker

Neil Cox is Chief Executive of the Isaac Theatre Royal performing arts venue in Christchurch, New Zealand and Managing Director of Big Deal (Productions) Limited.

Through Big Deal Productions, Neil toured and promoted national and international artists throughout NZ including Art Garfunkel, The Proclaimers, Little River Band, The Living End, Buzzcocks, Air Supply, The Dandy Warhols, The Veils, The Black Seeds and many more. Neil also promoted the 2007 & 2008 Southern Amp outdoor concert festivals and was NZ promoter representative for Christchurch concerts by Sting, Michael Crawford and INXS amongst others.

Prior to moving to NZ in 1996 Neil occupied key Senior VP Marketing positions in UK, South Africa & Australia for EMI Music International, Warner Music and BMG Music developing worldwide campaigns for Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Queen, Tina Turner, Eurythmics, Cliff Richard, Crowded House, Nigel Kennedy, Radiohead, Blur, Enya, Beastie Boys, Joe Cocker, and many others between 1987 and 1992. Neil has since consulted to EMI Music in Australia & New Zealand as Head of Marketing at various stages between 1999 and 2008.

In the recovering Christchurch entertainment industry Neil also chairs CHART (the Christchurch Music Industry Trust – www.chart.org.nz) and is a Trustee on the Board of the biennial Christchurch Arts Festival.

JOIN NEIL COX – AND LEADERS FROM VENUES (LARGE AND SMALL) AROUND THE WORLD – AT THE LEVEL SUMMIT 2013. EMAIL US