The aim of The Opera House Development Policy is to enable all those involved in theatre, and all those wishing to make theatre their careers, to produce high quality work. Work that will touch the hearts and engage the minds of a greater number and a wider range of people than is currently the case.

To achieve this end, the policy must be framed from the beginning to stand the test of time. We are about cultural change. It will take several years to take effect.

• This Policy is about doing more – better; it is also about doing things differently. It is about using whatever assets we have in ways that will help create those new opportunities for new people to engage with the creation and appreciation of theatre

• This Policy is designed to enable The Opera House and its staff to fulfill their potential to assist the creation of theatre which will impact on a far the masses.

• It is not just about investing more money in theatre or projects. Money alone never produced great art. It is about using all the assets of our business, mental, physical and creative skills to support enable both artists and audiences.

• It is about creating a theatre building and a resource centre that is at the heart of an outward looking network able to collaborate with groups in the wider community, providing support in training, in publicity and marketing, in set building, in costuming and in the many other technical skills needed to make a show work.

• It is about developing new ways of working and new forms of distribution of our assets to enrich the lives or our community.

• In this we recognize the critical importance of working with the youth sector. With schools, colleges and higher education, to influence the role of theatre appreciation and the value that theatre brings to their lives.

It is impossible for The Opera House to achieve this alone. At this point we have only the infrastructural legacy of CAPAB, which itself needs funding. For our ambitions to be

Annexure 2

realized and for the theatre community to evolve, we are aware that we need to forge new and sustainable partnerships and alliances for the long term with of the following bodies:

• The small number of professionally run performance venues and community arts centres in the area
• Emerging performing arts companies beginning (or some way along) the road to professional status
• The Municipality through the Live Arts division of the Department of Recreation, Culture and Sport
• Province, working through and in liaison with the Municipality
• The National Arts Council and –potentially and in due course – the national Department of Arts and Culture through a mechanism such as that of a declared Cultural Institution.
• Other National funders such as the Lotto
• A training Institution which has the ability and facility to support that dimension of the project.

In the context of contemporary South Africa, a development policy for Theatre and the Live arts needs five pillars to build on.

• A secure place in the policy framework of government
• Funding to secure the project,
• Physical infrastructure
• Creative partners
• Training support

With these in place we can meet the challenge. We believe that all five pillars can be put in place within the next 12 months.