Belvoir

**Belvoir** is based in Sydney, Australia. It was founded in 1984 and operates out of the Belvoir St Theatre, Surry Hills, Sydney. Belvoir's productions are predominantly performed in two theatre spaces housed in their Surry Hills building: the Upstairs Theatre and the Downstairs Theatre. Belvoir receives funding from the Federal Government through the Major Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council and the state government through Arts NSW.

## History

Belvoir began, in 1984, with a unique action taken to save the Nimrod Theatre building. "Over a single weekend," the Belvoir website explains, "two ex-Nimrod workers Sue Hill and Chris Westwood managed to pull off what was, really, nothing short of a theatrical miracle. Their Pied Piper-esque feat of rallying-everyone-they-knew-to-throw-in-a-thousand-bucks-each-to-save-the-building-from-being-redeveloped-into-just-another-piece-of-faceless-inner-city-real-estate had an impact so great that it changed the nature of theatre in Sydney forever." Two syndicates were established, 'Company A' with shares at $1000 each, which would own the building, and 'Company B', with shares at $10 each. 'Company B' aimed to stage theatre productions which were "contemporary, politically sharp, hard-edged Australian theatre; to develop new forms of theatrical expression; work by and about Aboriginal Australians; work created by women; radical interpretations of the classics and work that is surprising, diverse and passionate."

Belvoir was officially launched in February 1985. The first season featured only two productions. The first was *Ha Ha Ha Performing Humans,* which opened in March, was directed by Richard Lawton and was a one-act musical, "a fusion of music, mime, dance and drama". Later that year, *Signal Driver*, written by Patrick White and directed by Neil Armfield, was "the first play produced from the ground up by Belvoir." *Signal Driver* had significant funding difficulties and could only afford to start rehearsals after Armfield began selling shares in the production before a sponsor was found. Armfield later recalled that White, who had purchased ten shares in the theatre, was its "greatest shareholder".

From its foundation, Belvoir also instituted a 'parity pay policy' where all employees, from actors to stage hands, received the same hourly rate of pay. This policy, which continued from 1985 to the end of the 2011 season, prompted former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating to describe Belvoir as "Australia’s last commune".

In 2005, Belvoir temporarily moved to the Seymour Centre, Chippendale, while the theatre building underwent an $11.6 million renovation, and returned the following year.

In January 2011, a coffee table book, *25 Belvoir Street,* was released to commemorate 27 years of "theatrical magic" at the current Belvoir St Theatre site. The book was edited by Robert Cousins and featured essays by Robert McFarlane, Rhoda Roberts, Ralph Myers, Alan John, James Waites, Rita Kalnejais, Benedict Andrews and Neil Armfield, with a foreword by David Marr.

That same month, Ralph Myers took over from Neil Armfield as artistic director. In July 2014, Myers announced that he would be stepping down from his role at the end of the 2015 season. Myers said he had 'an "ideological" commitment to the regular turnover of artistic directorships'.

Also in 2011, Belvoir appointed Simon Stone as the first director-in-residence. Stone resigned from his position in 2013, and was replaced by dual directors-in-residence Adena Jacobs and Anne-Louise Sarks.

In 2015 Myers was succeeded as Artistic Director by Eamon Flack.

Since 2010, Belvoir have launched a number of successful tours of their plays, both nationally and internationally. Tour destinations have included Melbourne, Geelong, Wollongong and Canberra, as well as Paris, London, New York, Vienna and Amsterdam.

Many renowned Australian theatre, film and television actors began their career or have developed their craft at Belvoir, including Geoffrey Rush, Toby Schmitz and Robyn Nevin. A number of well-known theatre directors have also worked extensively with Belvoir, including Simon Stone, Benedict Andrews, Wesley Enoch and Neil Armfield.

### Upstairs and Downstairs Theatres

Since 1998, Belvoir's annual program has been divided into two sub-programs. Up until 2010, their main stage program was called Company B Belvoir (synonymous with the company as a whole). This program comprised larger production works, often starring well-known actors and led by established directors. These plays were performed in the Upstairs Theatre of Belvoir St Theatre. Their other program was called B Sharp, and was performed in the Downstairs Theatre. This program comprised smaller, independent works, often written and directed by emerging artists. The B Sharp program usually consisted of 10-11 plays a year.

In 2010, two structural changes occurred: Company B Belvoir changed its name simply to Belvoir, and the decision was made to bring an end to the B Sharp program "in favour of fully producing work in the Downstairs Theatre." The latter decision was likely a financial one, as General Manager Brenna Hobson reported that artists working in the B Sharp program "were working for a cut of the box office of each show, which generally amounted to less than $1000 total for an eight-week engagement." In practice, this change meant that Belvoir continued to distinguish between their Upstairs and Downstairs programs, with Downstairs productions also continuing to be more experimental, smaller production works. The Downstairs program, however, was reduced to 4-5 plays a year, resulting in higher pay for the artists and higher production values.

## Seasons

Upstairs
 2015
 2014
 2013

\* The season years are out of step with the Artistic Director years since each season is developed in the year prior to that which it is performed in. For example, a 2016 season would be developed in 2015.

## References

1. ↑ http://belvoir.com.au/about/30-years/
2. ↑ Cousins, Robert (April 4 2011). "Belvoir St: coming of age". *The Australian*. Retrieved August 8 2014
3. ↑ Filmer, Andrew (6 July 2006). "A Place For Theatre: Performing At Belvoir Street". *Backstage Space: The Place of the Performer*. Department of Performance Studies, University of Sydney. p. 201. Retrieved 5 August 2014
4. ↑ http://belvoir.com.au/about/30-years/
5. ↑ Armfield, Neil (2012). "Patrick White: A Centenary Tribute". *Meanjin*. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
6. ↑ http://belvoir.com.au/about/30-years/
7. ↑ Armfield, Neil (2012). "Patrick White: A Centenary Tribute". *Meanjin*. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
8. ↑ "Belvoir Annual Report 2011". Belvoir St. Theatre. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
9. ↑ Jinman, Richard (26 July 2006). "Asbestos in the roof the latest drama at Belvoir Street". *Sydney Morning Herald*. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
10. ↑ "Belvoir Celebrates the Publication of 25 BELVOIR STREET." *Stage Whispers. Retrieved 20 March 2016.*
11. ↑ Blake, Elissa (22 July 2014). "Final curtain: Belvoir artistic director Ralph Myers to leave theatre company". *Sydney Morning Herald*. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
12. ↑ Saxby, John (8 April 2013). "Director-in-residence leaves Belvoir home". *Sydney Morning Herald*. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
13. ↑ Dow, Steven (9 April 2013). "Secret's out: Belvoir unveils a double bill". *Sydney Morning Herald*. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
14. ↑ Andrew Taylor (14 November 2014). "Eamon Flack Appointed New Artistic Director." *Sydney Morning Herald*. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
15. ↑ http://belvoir.com.au/past-tours/. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
16. ↑ "B Sharp". Company B Belvoir, Annual Report 2009, p.24-5. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
17. ↑ "General Manager's Report." *Belvoir Annual Report 2010,* p.9-10. Retrieved 20 March 2016.