Les Ozouets ‘would set the scene for performing arts’
The development of a post-16 campus at Les Ozouets presents a ‘massive opportunity to change the face of the performing arts’ in the island, according to a leading figure in the local theatre scene.
Oliver Bailey-Davies, the artistic director of the Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts, said the proposed project would bring together disparate facilities in a way that would enable comprehensive training in a range of backstage professions.
‘One of the benefits of the Guernsey Institute new-build that we hope is coming to the Les Ozouets campus is that it brings the creative arts course literally next door to the performing arts course, and on the other side of the centre will be our engineering department,’ he said.
‘So we will have the capacity to build really amazing production training for designers of costume, set, lighting, sound etc.’
Training in the production arts is currently only offered in combination with performing arts training or in the form of weekend courses for those supporting amateur or community productions.
However, Mr Bailey-Davies is keen to provide comprehensive training for backstage skills that will be able to complement the burgeoning theatre and events scene, while also opening doors to future careers.
‘I’ve been here for nine years and I’ve seen a real growth in the professional performing market here and also the amateur community theatre has expanded massively,’ he said. ‘But there’s a major drought – not just in Guernsey but in the UK – of technically skilled backstage people such as lighting designers and sound designers.’
Hear more from Oliver Bailey-Davies on the latest Guernsey Press Arts Podcast
Those behind the scenes who volunteer their time for amateur community theatre productions have nowhere for their skills ‘to develop or grow or to be upskilled’, he said.
‘You have to be able to promote a pathway from what is essentially a hobby into a viable career that is going to pay your bills. It shouldn’t just be weekend jobs or giving it away for free. We should be able to say, “actually, there’s a really good wage behind this”, and there’s a big market.’
He described the local theatre and events scene as ‘crazy’ in terms of the sheer number of events taking place, but said it needed to be supported by crew who understand their trade.
‘I’ve spoken to a lot of people who are fatigued. They are throwing shows up, taking them down, putting on the next and it is definitely an area of the industry that needs to be better promoted.’
The performing arts centre has recently upgraded its own equipment, with new lighting rigs enabling greater versatility and some changes being done by computer which would previously have required physical access to the lights.
The States will next month debate its capital project priorities and how to fund them.
The Policy & Resources Committee has previously given its support to prioritising a campus at Les Ozouets, although it is aware of how costs of the project are escalating – now predicted to come out in the region of £128m. from £101m.
Education, Sport & Culture has yet to announce a contractor to build its post-16 campus – intended to house the new Guernsey Institute and a new sixth form centre – after it withdrew from a contract with the former RG Falla late last year.
