Canberra’s oldest theatre venue, Kingston’s historic Causeway Hall received the first of what will be many audiences as the now home for the newly established independent theatre venture, ACT Hub.

Just six weeks prior to the 17 December launch, the historic venue stood as it had for years. In that short time a semi-permanent stage, seating, lighting and a host of charming furniture and decorations were installed.

While it just took six weeks to dress the venue up and make it fit for live theatre, the process of getting to launch night took more than two years.

The bid to establish ACT Hub and breathe new life into Causeway Hall was conceived by four of Canberra’s leading independent theatre companies: Mockingbird, Free-Rain, Everyman, and Chaika.

The heads of those companies came together and approached the ACT Government with their idea to establish ACT Hub at Causeway Hall and run the venue.

It was a process Everyman’s Jarrad West described as “surprisingly easy”.

He, along with Chaika’s Karen Vickery, Free-Rain’s Anne Somes and Mockingbird’s Chris Baldock, were able to convey to Arts Minister Tara Cheyne their vision, particularly with respect to nurturing local talent.

“I think that’s the really important thing for all of us, that Canberra has such great talent that goes away and never comes back, and we want to be able to bring them back,” West said. “That’s the thing that was really our hook, I guess.”

Pitching a well thought-through vision and a proactive solution resonated strongly with Cheyne, who said she left the meeting telling her arts advisor “I want to do this”.

“They’d all come together, they were all willing to put their necks out for this, and it was a genuine collaboration between one another,” Cheyne said.

“To have it presented in that way made it an incredibly compelling proposition.”

From there, consultation was undertaken with the local community following the submission of the proposal to government with the idea receiving “strong support” from the public.

Canberra’s newest theatrical venture homed in oldest venue

The facility, currently managed by the ACT Property Group, will be leased to the ACT Hub under an initial two-year agreement.

For West, the collaborative nature of ACT Hub is strengthened by each individual bringing their own strengths to the table.

“Having those four of us come together and form this collective made all of our jobs easier, because where we had any shortcomings, there was somebody else who could fill that gap and knew what to do,” he said.

“One company probably can’t do it, with the four, it becomes a more well-rounded approach and successful pitch.”

West said getting the go ahead will allow him to realise a “20-year dream”.

“I’m not alone in thinking that the other three were all thinking the same thing, to have our own theatre now is just phenomenal.”

The occasion of launching ACT Hub is certainly worthy of celebration, but West is aware it is just the beginning. He said the new venture’s impact and influence will begin to take shape once they start their 2022 season.

“When we start to see that people are coming back to the hub, they’re not coming here for a plant sale or a Zumba class like they used to, they’re coming back to this gathering place to tell stories,” he said.

With an eight-show 2022 season, ACT Hub will also run classes, workshops, and various special theatrical events throughout the year, along with providing development opportunities for emerging directors and designers.

Their 2022 season will include three Australian plays and a host of works West said have never been performed in Canberra before.

“Canberra audiences are smart audiences; they just need to be given the opportunity to come and see that work at a price that’s not prohibitive.”

It will also see him direct the play he’s been wanting to for a decade, a stage adaptation of Holding the Man.

“Finally, I get to do it,” he smiled.

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