Summer Shakespeare will go ahead in Palmerston North this year after Massey withdrew its support. Photo: Supplied / Sam Millen Photography
Popular Palmerston North institution, the Summer Shakespeare production, has been saved - at least for the coming season.
After 20 years, thespians were aghast when, a fortnight ago, Massey University announced it would not fund this summer's season, typically held in late February and early March.
Massey was the major backer, alongside other organisations such as the city council.
But, after a jam-packed meeting on Tuesday night showed there was public support to continue the shows, the council will likely stump up just over $30,000 to get the coming season's production off the ground.
Massey said it has spent between $60,000 and $100,000 each year on Summer Shakespeare and an associated artist-in-residence scheme, so the rest of the money for this summer will need to be raised.
Creative producer Rachel Lenart happily welcomed the news of this season's green light.
"We've got a lot of work ahead of us in the next couple of weeks budgeting and then starting the community funding process, but because of the great news from the council last night, that means we're not so far behind in the production schedule as we could be.
"We're definitely in a position to catch up and get ready for everything to go for rehearsals to begin in mid-November."
Councillor Rachel Bowen, who chaired the city's culture and sport committee, said the intended moves to save this summer's production came after money was reallocated.
It also allowed time to sort a long-term plan if Massey could not come back onboard.
"I'm delighted that we've been able to be so responsive to something that really came as a surprise to lots of the community.
"I know I said we were aware that [Massey's withdrawal] was likely, but we didn't know it was definitely happening until it happened. We hoped that it wouldn't."
This year's show, Romeo and Juliet, drew in large crowds. Photo: Supplied / Sam Millen Photography
Rhian Firmin, who directed this year's production of Romeo and Juliet in the city's rose gardens, said this year's week-long run was brimming with packed crowds - more than 2500 people in total.
"It's an outdoor event. It's in the local park, The Esplanade, which is a really beautiful place.
"People can come along. The show's just a koha [for entry]. You can bring your dinner. You can bring whoever. It's just some magic under the stars."
Massey University's decision did not come out of the blue for her.
"I can't say that I was surprised, given the amount of arts programmes that have been cut at Massey and, outside that, at Victoria University.
"All of the arts are getting cut - just cut, cut, cut. I can't say I was surprised but, certainly, saddened is probably the word."
It looked initially like the Massey decision meant the much-loved tradition could not go ahead.
Summer Shakespeare has been a tradition in Palmerston North for 20 years. Photo: Supplied / Sam Millen Photography
Mayor Grant Smith - who attended the final night of Romeo and Juliet this year - was surprised to read in Massey's statement announcing its move that other backers, such as the city council, agreed the production would pause.
"It wasn't agreed at all. That was probably a bit of a faux pas from the authors of the press release," he said.
"It was something that had been discussed at an officer level, but they don't make decisions, the council do.
"We put that right in the sense that several councillors and myself spoke on behalf of the council and said that it wasn't agreed, and that we felt there was still a community need."
Smith said a council delegation asking Massey to reverse its decision was rebuffed.
But are Shakespeare's plays dead as a doornail as [https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018862963/teacher-defends-shakespeare-after-creative-nz-funding-cut some have claimed]? Would it matter if they vanished into thin air?
Lenart said continuing the summer production mattered.
"There's always a lot of questions about, with funding being so scarce - why are we prioritising things like Shakespeare when there's so much new work that deserves time and money and attention?
"But it's important for this region as we don't get Shakespeare coming through. The high schools do a great job, but what we offer here is unique in the region because our project is somewhere between professional and semi-professional."
Lenart said she could not yet say which play would be staged this summer - but it would be good.
"Over the last 20 years we've done the major bangers and a handful of the softer shows...
"Audiences connect with all of them, but we do find that there's so much joy around the comedies."
In a statement, Massey said financial pressures meant it could not commit to funding next season's Summer Shakespeare and the artist in residence scheme.
"Like all other New Zealand universities, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University must continue to find ways to use taxpayer money wisely to ensure a successful and sustainable future in our core areas of teaching, learning and research," the statement said.
"Given the financial pressures the university is currently under, it would be fiscally irresponsible to continue funding this programme, while work is under way to meet financial targets which are essential to the performance of the university."
