Annual Report

Dunedin Opera Company Inc March 2011

The Dunedin Opera Company has completed its 54^th year of operation and continues to play a large part in the cultural life of both Dunedin and Otago. In October 2010 the company was once again able to be part of the Otago Festival of the Arts. Using its trading name, Opera Otago, a season of L’Orfeo by Monteverdi was produced. This opera had been first performed in New Zealand by the University of Otago in 1976, and Opera Otago presented a modern version of one of the first operas as we know them today.

I must take this opportunity to thank Mary Dixon and her committee for the hard work involved in bringing this production to the stage, especially the arduous task of fundraising.

Analysis of the booking office information showed that the opera was well attended by patrons from outside of Dunedin, but care will be needed in future to determine whether the festival is an appropriate vehicle for the company, as there is a great deal of competition from other events during a very short period of time.

Opera Otago is currently working towards producing two one act operas, which will be toured around Otago during the first half of this year.

Part of the sponsorship for L’Orfeo again came from the Company’s Costume hire division. Now largely catering for the fancy dress market rather than being a theatre wardrobe as such, the Costume hire has again provided considerable funds for opera, and this greatly eases the financial burden for the organising committee.

The company is fortunate to have very able staff running the wardrobe, and a willing team of volunteers to help them.

The Other major component of the Company, and its very public face is of course the Westpac Mayfair Theatre. Having now completed the Feasibility Study a year ago, the Theatre group was largely treading water for 2010. The theatre is managing to maintain its running costs but has no surplus to fund capital works. The committee charged with running the theatre is attempting to open a dialogue with the Dunedin City Council, to map a path forward for the provision of a smaller venue for the city. While the council had promised a working party to be set up in November last year, this has not yet happened and the committee will be again making a submission to the DCC Annual plan for assistance to determine an appropriate direction for the Theatre. The council staff have repeatedly stated that they see difficulties with assisting a private group with finance, so it is to be hoped that this working party may come up with options that are to the benefit of the company and the citizens of Dunedin.

At the beginning of this year, the company lost one of its founding members. June Reid, to me, epitomised what is so great about this company. A group of people met together to make sure our city has the chance to experience opera, and that singers have the opportunity to sing opera. When they lacked a suitable venue in which to perform they went out and acquired one. These were not small challenges, yet they were not deterred.

This group did what had to be done, whether on stage or behind the scenes – no-one had just one job.

It is our challenge to ensure the hard work of people like June is not in vain and the company will continue to provide these opportunities for the future generations of Dunedin.

Geoff Patton

16/3/11