Mayors across the globe are inspired by Derby (with audio)
MAYORS from different Derbys across the globe sent messages of support at the launch of Derby City Partnership week.
Representatives from a Derby in Kansas, the Shire of Derby in West Kimberley, Australia and Derby in Connecticut all filmed video-clips wishing the city the best for the week of events aimed at showcasing what is on offer here.
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STAGE IS SET: Professor Michael Gunn, pro vice-chancellor of the University of Derby, backing theatre at the heart of cultural life.
It is the 13th year the city has held a such an event, showing how organisations are working together to improve Derby.
This year the theme is "Be Inspiring" and the campaign was launched yesterday at Derby Theatre. It runs until Sunday.
The former Playhouse building was bought by the University of Derby and the theatre is being run in partnership with Derby Live – the city council's arts arm.
Speaking at the launch, Derby's mayor, Councillor Sean Marshall, said: "Isn't it great that this event is taking place in this building?
"We are launching a special week in an exciting joint-venture between our university and Derby Live.
"That has to be an example of partnership working at its best."
Professor Michael Gunn, pro vice-chancellor at the University of Derby, said the new programme of performances at Derby Theatre was due to be launched at the start of July, with the venue ready to stage shows from September.
"We want to bring theatre back to the heart of cultural life in the city," said Prof Gunn.
"We also want to attract new theatre-goers."
The launch was also used to announce a new website for the city – www.derbydoesit.org – which is aimed at giving visitors and potential investors in more information about Derby.
John Forkin, of Marketing Derby, who compered the launch, said: "It is not about trying to re-write sites that already exist, but about giving a better entry point for people searching for information about Derby."
Partnership Week itself will feature more than 100 events, from tours of the city to language classes, creative workshops and exhibitions.
Councillor Hilary Jones, council leader and chairwoman of Derby City Partnership, urged people to be inspired about the city and spread the word about Derby.
She said: "The theme this year is 'Be Inspiring' and we have had a flavour of that this morning, and now people who want to know about the city can look on the web portal, and that is important.
"But for each one of us who live and work in this city, it is up to us to share that word and say what's going on, out and about.
"This week there are lots of things going on."
* To listen to an interview with Hilary Jones, click on the blue Related Content box at the top right of this story
4 Comments
by Joanne, Derbys
Tuesday, June 23 2009, 12:29PM
“Angela- I think your views may reflect many other audience members from past years, who do actually remember first hand the fabulous shows at the Playhouse that were ground breaking, and attracted national reviews.
The type of programming that exists at the Assembly Rooms is fine- but only part of the mix- not the whole!
In Nottingham, the Playhouse there shows cutting edge stuff, as well as popular shows; the Theatre Royal seems to specialize in popular touring shows; and community theatre is catered for at the Arts and Lace Market Theatres.
We hear so little as audience members/consumers from the Arts Council East Midlands about their decisions in funding, and programming deemed fit for different cities.
I think it is very possible they see Derby by comparison as small scale Community Theatre primarily.
Much as I support amateur/community theatre within the mix; how will a model possibly based on this attract the wider audiences?
Is the funding across East Midlands a big issue also?
Why has Derby always been the poor relation in terms of funding? And why take away an existing superb 5* 60 year old regional theatre that was one of the best in the country?”
by angela, Derby
Tuesday, June 23 2009, 12:14PM
“Growing up I went to the theatre often, saw magnificent plays, panto at christmas, in the days when the Playhouse and Eagle Centre were housing along with a couple of cinemas!!!!!! As I got older, in my teens, the last thing I saw was As You Like It. the theatre I saw these in was left to go to rack and ruin and was later demolished, The Spot club is there now. We then started going to go to the Playhouse, have taken my children to the Guildhall for Panto, and stage school productions, however for anything else we go to Nottingham Royal, to London for the musicals etc. If the Playhouse can produce the kind of quality it used to then I will look forward to it, and will take my child, however I have my doubts as Derby has not seen fit to invest in theatre in recent years, to return to the calibre of theatre we used to have will be an uphill struggle, so will watch with interest.”
by Joanne, Derbys
Tuesday, June 23 2009, 11:50AM
“I'm also aware that an agenda of "cultural regeneration" seems to be the buzz word as part of the whole "regeneration" marketing of cities....
Presumably there is money to be made on this front?
The irony to me as regards theatre though, is that we have actually lost a cultural treasure that meant so much to local people and wider audiences.
I do agree there's some really innovative work in the city, like Sinfonia Viva- which I love- and great work at Deda Dance.
But why the existence of art forms have to rely so heavily on
council funding, and some aspects of "control" of artistic output- is heavily retricting.
Are local councils controlling every aspect of its "art" and theatre in other cities- and is this a healthy thing?
What about artistic integrity and independence?”
by Joanne, Derbys
Tuesday, June 23 2009, 11:38AM
“Much as I applaud partnership working generally for the benefit of the city residents, comments about "Derby Theatre" certainly do not inspire me, unfortunately.
It seems a litlle early days to be sweeping under the carpet
recent events over the past 2 years to try to save a semblance of 5* professionally produced theatre, as was the 60 year old Playhouse.
I am disappointed Derby Uni may be relying 100% on DCC/Derby LIVE to control the whole of its artistic output(excluding student work,)- (as described in Derby Gripe.)
How is this considered innovative, compared to what audiences had before- with the likes of Sweeney Todd and A Christmas Carol?
Whilst funding is at least double for producing theatre in other cities like Nottingham and Leicester, my fear is that now Derby Playhouse was "forcibly closed" back in 2007- the programming will be less inspiring for wider audiences.It was those big shows and magnificent artistically produced shows that attracted audiences.
I also hope the theatre will now not resemble a receiving house, possibly as part of the Assembly Rooms type of work?
Are the Arts Council more in favour of "Community Theatre"
wholesale for Derby- compared to other cities in the East Midlands?
I suppose it will be the wider audiences that will be the judge.
I am happy that at least the building will remain a theatre- but I'm so sorry to say I don't feel "inspired" so far.
My hope had been for a genuine mix of genres of theatre- but crucially, at the core, original professionally produced theatre of high artistic calibre had remained.”