The Alliance has welcomed the delivery of an additional $4 million for the Sydney Theatre Company including $2.1 million over three years for the continuation of the STC’s actors’ ensemble program.

“It is great news for emerging NSW performers that the successful Actor’s ensemble program has had its originally one-off grant renewed and extended,” Equity director, Simon Whipp, said. “This additional money will provide NSW performers and other theatre workers including directors, writers, stage designers and lighting crew with the opportunity to continue to create exciting productions for the public of NSW and develop their skills.”

The STC launched its first acting ensemble, known as The Actors Company, in 2006. Over the past three years, the Actors Company has performed award-winning productions of Mother Courage & Her Children, The Season at Sarsaparilla, The Lost Echo, Gallipoli and The Wars of the Roses.

“With this program demonstrating its ability to produce clear and successful outcomes for emerging NSW performers, crew and the public, Equity expects that the current ensemble “The Residents” will bring about similar results.”

The Government has also announced that a further $1.9 million has been made available to upgrade Wharf 4/5 at Walsh Bay.

“This capital works infrastructure work is an important initiative that will not only support the NSW theatre production community but will also assist in improving accessibility to the arts for the theatre loving public of NSW. Add to this the announcement by the NSW government of a doubling of funding for the NSW Film and Television production industry, and this has been a very good budget outcome for NSW performers and crew.”