Hawkins Theatre
Manager’s Report July 2018 - June 2019
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Programmes and participants 6 Visitor feedback 7 Highlights 9 Annual priorities 13
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Contents
Welcome 4
“...a thriving local community and a healthy theatre scene..” GEORGE HAWKINS
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Hawkins Theatre was established in Papakura in 1991 and began life essentially as a venue for hire, an offering that continues to be relevant to the local Papakura community today. Over the past 29 years, the venue has steadily evolved into a community cinema and performing arts venue and it has hosted everything from local theatre to touring shows. It also regularly screens films with a particular focus on New Zealand, overseas festival and arthouse films. 2012 saw the launch of the Hawkins Youth Theatre Company, which has been hugely popular with local youth. It started its humble beginnings with 20 eager young people attending a weekly junior or senior class. The company has
Welcome
George Hawkins, after whom the theatre is named, saw the development of a performing arts venue as vital to a thriving local community and a healthy theatre scene, a vision we are continually striving to achieve.
now grown to include 80 members who attend twice weekly junior, intermediate and seniors classes. Hawkins Theatre is a local performing arts venue with modern, up-to-date equipment and audience seating for up to 270. It offers good access, off-street parking and good quality seating, all with unobstructed views and accommodation for patrons with wheelchairs. NgÄ mihi nui, Peter Hunt Facility Manager, Hawkins Theatre
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Meet the team
Staffing Hawkins Theatre is operated by the following staff:
Peter Hunt FACILITY MANAGER Peter joined Hawkins Theatre in December 2009. Prior to
1 Facilities Manager (full-time) 1 Theatre Coordinator (full-time)
emigrating to New Zealand, Peter had quite a varied work
2 Duty Manager (part-time)
history ranging from Armed Forces service on UK Ministry
1 Theatre Assistant (part-time)
of Defence ships to working in theatres, record labels, forestry, and a county showground. Peter holds a B.A.
6 Theatre Ushers (casual)
Honours degree in Music Industry Management, resides in
Facility staff are also supported by Auckland Council
the nearby village of Hunua and is a volunteer firefighter for
specialist staff.
the local brigade.
Loree-Anne Walding
Opening hours
THEATRE COORDINATOR
Hawkins Theatre is open to the public during the following
Loree-Anne comes from a hospitality background but
hours:
has always had a passion for events. As well as working in numerous bars and restaurants she also worked for
DAY
TIME E
Sunday - Thursday
7am - 11pm
Friday & Saturday
7am - 12am
Auckland Libraries as an administrator. Loree-Anne joined Hawkins Theatre in May 2015.
April Head THEATRE ASSISTANT April began working at the Hawkins Theatre in January 2014, after taking a couple years away from the work force
The box office and foyer is open to the public during the following hours:
to raise a family. Prior to having children, April worked as a travel consultant but always wanted to to work in the
DAY
TIME E
Monday - Friday
9am - 5pm
arts after early experiences dancing and acting on Hawkins’ stage.
Regan Crummer HAWKINS YOUTH THEATRE COORDINATOR Regan is a theatre producer, director, and musician resident
Online presence
in Auckland who has enjoyed creative opportunities around NZ. Formerly the producer for Newmarket Stage Co, he currently is producing the hit musical We Will Rock You by Queen and Ben Elton in 2019. He holds a Diploma in Performing Arts and has a passion for developing emerging artists, so finds working in youth theatre extremely rewarding. 5
Website - unique visits
24,965
Facebook followers
1,753
Newsletter subscribers
1,432
82%
509
49,857
Venue
Exhibitions &
Visitors /
utilisation
events
participants
Visitor profile Visitor age distribution Visitor age distribution
Proportion sample Proportion of of sample
100% 100% 90% 90% 80% 80% 70% 70% 60% 60% 50% 50% 40% 40% 30% 30% 20% 20% 10% 10% 0% 0%
15 - 24 15 - 24
25 - 34 25 - 34
35 - 44 35 - 44
45 - 54 45 - 54
55 - 64 55 - 64
Age brackets (years) Age brackets (years)
Hawkins Theatre visitors Hawkins Theatre visitors
65+
65+
Papakura residents Papakura residents
Visitorethnicity ethnicitydistribution distribution Visitor
Proportion of sample sample Proportion of
100% 100% 90% 90% 80% 80% 70% 70% 60% 60% 50% 50% 40% 40% 30% 30% 20% 20% 10% 10% 0% 0%
European / Pākehā European Pākehā
Māori Māori
Pacific Pacific
Asian Asian
Other Other
Ethnicities Ethnicities Hawkins HawkinsTheatre Theatrevisitors visitors
Papakura residents Papakura residents
Visitor age and ethnicity information was collected as part of a visitor satisfaction survey conducted in June 2019. Results may not represent Hawkins Theatre visitor demographics throughout the entire year. Papakura Local Board statistics are drawn from 2013 Census results. Auckland Council research protocols exclude minors
Programmes and participatnts
Programme statistics
(under 15 years) without parental permission, therefore this segment has been excluded from both data sets for consistency.
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Visitor feedback
We asked our visitors to tell us what they thought about Hawkins Theatre and about the event or activity they had attended. 63% said it was beautiful 62% said it was educational 61% said it was emotional 94% said it was enjoyable 70% said it was inspiring 90% said it was satisfying 72% said it was thought-provoking 94% said it was worth going This feedback was collected at a sample of events throughout June 2019.
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95%
95%
86%
were satisfied with the overall
felt welcome and comfortable
agreed Hawkins Theatre makes the
experience on their latest visit
area more vibrant and attractive
84%
93%
77%
said what’s on is relevant
said it’s easy to find out
said Hawkins Theatre makes them feel more
and interesting
what’s on
connected to their community
67%
87%
said what’s on reflects
said Hawkins Theatre’s
said they learned a new skill or
Auckland’s cultural diversity
opening hours are convenient
about a different culture/viewpoint
55%
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Highlights
Auditorium facelift February 2019 saw the auditorium undergo a face lift with new seating replacing the original seats. With a projected ‘shelf life’ of 20 years, as stated by the manufacturer, and after 29 years of use, the seats were becoming a little worn. The new seating is slightly wider and significantly more comfortable, with a higher back and a cup holder. The new seats have been well received with patrons commenting how enjoyable they are. 110 of the original seats have been upcycled to Shambles Theatre in Rotorua and Hawkins Theatre has retained 30 removable seats that will be refurbished for additional seating in the orchestra pit, as required by some hirers. Additionally, all dressing rooms and backstage areas have new wide screen monitors installed allowing performers and crew to watch what’s happening on stage.
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Hawkins Youth Theatre Company
Film schedule grows
In July 2018 Hawkins Youth Theatre Company entered
to screen content from 20th Century Fox, Universal
into a collaboration with Papakura Museum to create a
Pictures and Roadshow Films.
theatre work entitled Homefront.
This has allowed us to bring mainstream titles such as
Homefront was inspired by letters sent to and from
Mama Mia 2, First Man, A Star Is Born and Bohemian
Papakura and the front line during the first World War and
Rhapsody to Papakura.
coincided with the 100 year commemoration of the end of
Although Hawkins Theatre is considered a ‘second run’
the war. These performances at Hawkins Theatre were free
cinema location, which means it gets delayed screening
to attend.
dates compared with the larger cinema chains, it still means
In December 2018 Hawkins Youth Theatre Company
audiences have the opportunity to view these titles in
also saw the second Czepanski sister ‘graduate’ from
Papakura.
the company to further her career in drama by gaining a
Having larger titles generates increased revenue for the
place on the Performing Arts course at the NZ Institute of
facility, and we’ve heard from our audiences that they are
Creativity Te Auaha.
willing to wait to see films in their local theatre so they can
Sam has been with the company since 2013 and follows
enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and great value for money
her sister Daya who graduated in 2015 to secure a highly
tickets.
coveted place at Australia’s leading institute for education
On the theme of films, Hawkins Theatre was approached
and training in the performing arts, NIDA - National
directly by Roadshow Entertainment as a selected New
Institute of Dramatic Art.. The younger brothers Caleb
Zealand cinema to be one of the first to screen Peter
and Levi Czepanski are still with Hawkins Youth Theatre
Jackson’s commemorative WW1 film They Shall Not Grow
Company, in the senior group.
Old on 11 November 2018. Two screenings were scheduled
In August 2018 Hawkins Theatre secured the rights
at late notice and sold out within days of going on sale.
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We screened 78 films in FY19.
Approximately 30 ice packs are
14 were NZ films.
administered every year to rolled ankles during our dance show season.
We helped raise funds for the Manurewa
Over 570 miniature bottles of
Guide Dog Training Centre with a Q&A session
Sauvignon Blanc are sold to parents
after Pick of the Litter that featured a special
during dance show season.
appearance by some of their trainee pups!
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Annual priorities 13
Annual priorities FY20 A key focus for Hawkins Theatre in the next year is the completion and implementation of the business plan including the following annual priorities: » Improving our marketing and promotion » Developing Hawkins Youth Theatre Company » Responding to Papakura’s diverse demographic in our programming » Increasing the number of live performances and
local community events held at Hawkins Theatre
» Ensuring Hawkins Theatre is a key contributor to
regional eventss and festivals (such as Matariki
Festival)
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CONTACT US 13 Ray Small Dr, Papakura 09 297 7712 office@hawkinstheatre.co.nz @HawkinsTheatre www.hawkinstheatre.co.nz
IMAGE CREDITS P1 - Hawkins Theatre exterior, photograph supplied by Reflect Icon Ltd P3 - Photograph taken at Hip Hop Showcase, photograph supplied by Auckland Council P9 & 10 - Hawkins Theatre interior, photograph by Loree-Anne Walding P11 - Hawkins Youth Theatre Company production of Grimm Stories, photograph by Michael Smith Photography P12 - Speaking Of... open mic event, organised by Gilly Luxton P14 - Hawkins Youth Theatre Company production of Wide Awake, photograph by Amanda Beets