Records 1986

Prior to the 1983 Northern Territory general election, the then Chief Minister gave an undertaking to establish a state-type theatre company in the Northern Territory.  To progress this, a committee of the Legislative Assembly was commissioned to investigate the establishment of such a company.  Following a review of state theatre operations in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia, the Parliamentary Committee recommended that a Territory Theatre Company be formed.

A submission was subsequently put to Cabinet proposing the establishment of an interim management committee to bring the new Territory Theatre Company into operation by January 1987.  The committee’s role was to prepare a constitution, register the company, recruit a general manager and artistic director, prepare a budget for the first three years of operation, and organise an initial program of plays, including for regional and remote areas in the Territory.

The new Theatre Company was intended to complement and provide a professional expertise resource to existing amateur performing arts organisations.  It would bring the Northern Territory more into line with other states and was expected to attract additional Commonwealth funding for theatre in the Territory.

Cabinet approved the formation of an interim management committee to establish a Territory Theatre Company with a view to the Territory Theatre Company commencing activities in January 1987.

Read the Cabinet decision - submission No. 3820 and decision No. 4463 PDF (1.1 MB) of 28 January 1986