Down Memory Lane #15 - Empire too good to go

The Chronicle
Editorial, 16 May 1977

Empire too good to go

Destruction of the Empire Theatre would be just as sacrilegious to theatregoers as the dismantling and removal of the Mother's Memorial would be to a large section of the Toowoomba public.

Toowoomba needs a theatre like the Empire. The city is big enough to be on the national circuit for leading stage shows and leading stars, but the remodelled City Hall Theatre lacks sufficient seating capacity and professional musicians will not use the infamous orchestra pit.

... Click here for the article

Letters To The Editor
Rick Thompson (Administrator),
Darling Downs Youth Theatre,
4 Burns St, Toowoomba

'Empire an all-rounder'

I refer to your editorial (T.C. 16-5-77) expressing the opinion that the Empire should be retained as a theatre.

Having worked in the Empire with the kids of the Darling Downs Youth Theatre onb "genesis" and having been involved in mounting a major Youth Theatre project on the Downs over the past four months, I can only agree totally with the sentiments expressed in the Editorial.

What we have as a community with the Empire Theatre is a unique and very exciting opportunity.

For too long in Queensland and overseas we have seen cultural centres being built at tremendous cost to the community without sufficient care being given to who is going to bear the running costs in the future, and who is going to use the place. Bricks and mortar do not make a theatre as the Darling Downs Youth Theatre has demonstrated. It took many weeks of hard work to turn the Empire from a building back into a theatre.

... Click here for the article



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