The Dunedin Playhouse - Venue Hirer's Survey

From the Playhouse:

The Playhouse isn’t getting any younger, and needs a full refurbishment if it’s to endure long-term.

The Repertory Society are undertaking a feasibility study of this – looking at what a refurbishment would involve, how much it might cost, and whether it’s needed by the community.

A key part of that is engaging with the arts community about how else the theatre could be used if it were refurbished.

The Repertory Society are committed to making the Playhouse more available, accessible and affordable to the rest of the arts community.

Please support us by completing this survey, we would love to hear your thoughts.

And if you haven't been to the theatre in a while, we'd love to you show you through and have a chat in a few weeks' time. We'll stay in touch!

From Feldspar Associates:

Feldspar Associates have been appointed by the Dunedin Repertory Society Trust to carry out the Playhouse feasibility study described above.

We have developed this survey to help us understand how the existing Playhouse building is used and what a future, redeveloped Playhouse might look like.

When responding to this survey, please remember the Playhouse is not a professional theatre, it is run by a dedicated team of hard-working volunteers.

The online survey will take around 15 minutes to complete and will be open until 15 May 2021. Please do let us know if you have any problems or if you have anything further to add – projects@feldspar.co.nz

Thank you for your time.

A. ABOUT YOU

Question Title

* 1. Name

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* 2. Organisation

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* 3. Contact details (optional)

Email Address

Phone Number

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* 4. We will host groups, (or individual organisations), at the theatre for a cuppa and discussion about how the Playhouse could add more value to the arts community in May. Would you/your organisation be interested in attending?

Yes

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* 5. If you are unfamiliar with the Playhouse, would you like us to show you around?

Yes

B. ABOUT THE CURRENT PLAYHOUSE

Question Title

* 6. Have you hired the Playhouse before?

Yes

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* 7. If yes, how often have you hired the Playhouse?

Twice or more in every 12 months

Once in every 12 months

Every two years or so

Very occasionally

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 8. If you answered 'yes' to question 4, what were your main reasons for choosing the Playhouse? Please tick all that apply.

Location

Size of auditorium

Size of stage

Cost of hire

Ease of hire

Access to sound and lighting equipment

Atmosphere

Social space/coffee lounge

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 9. If you never hired the Playhouse before - or if you have rejected it as an option before - what was the main reason why? Please tick all that apply.

The location

Access to parking

The state of the building

The size of the auditorium

Accessibility

Insufficient back-stage space/dressing room space

Inadequate sound and lighting equipment

Inadequate stage size, features or loading space

Cost

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Do you think the building is easy to find?

Yes

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* 11. If no, what do you think makes the building difficult to find?

Lack of signage/street presence

Lack of signposting

Hard to find directions online

Location on a busy street

Lack of local knowledge about the building

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 12. If you have hired the Playhouse before, was the experience of your cast/crew/audience affected by a lack of car parking?

Yes

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* 13. If you have hired the Playhouse before, were your cast/crew/audience members able to access and move around the building easily?

Yes

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* 14. If no, what made it difficult?

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* 15. What do you think would improve accessibility around the building? Please tick all that apply.

Ramp access

Better stairs

Wider corridors

Bigger entrance foyer

Lift access to all floors

Other (please specify)

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* 16. Compared with other theatres in Dunedin, what score would you give the Playhouse out of 10?

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* 17. Overall, how do you think the Playhouse building compares with other small theatres in Dunedin?

Better than average

About the same

Worse than average

Other (please specify)

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* 18. How do you think the size of the auditorium compares with other small theatres in Dunedin?

Better than average

About the same

Worse than average

Other (please specify)

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* 19. How do you think the atmosphere of the Playhouse compares with other small theatres in Dunedin?

Better than average

About the same

Worse than average

Other (please specify)

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* 20. How do you think the range and quality of productions at the Playhouse compares with other small theatres in Dunedin?

Better than average

About the same

Worse than average

Other (please specify)

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* 21. Do you think the Playhouse attracts a different audience from other theatres in Dunedin?

Yes

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* 22. Are there any other theatres that you think the Playhouse should aim to be like?

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* 23. What do you like most about the current Playhouse building? Please tick all that apply.

Location

History

Stage set up

Overall size

Auditorium

Circulation spaces

Exterior

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 24. What do you like least about the current Playhouse building? Please tick all that apply.

Location

Size - too small

The state of the building

Parking

Accessibility

Insufficient back-stage space/dressing room space

Inadequate sound and lighting equipment

Insufficient space for props/prop making

The cost of hiring the venue

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 25. Do you think the building's circulation spaces, (the corridors and stairs), work well?

Yes

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* 26. If no, how do you think they can be improved?

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* 27. Is there anything else that you would like to add about the pros and cons of the Playhouse as it currently is?

C. ABOUT USING A REDEVELOPED PLAYHOUSE BUILDING

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* 28. If the Playhouse was improved, do you think you would be more likely to hire the space?

Very likely

Likely

Neither likely nor unlikely

Unlikely

Very unlikely

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* 29. If you are not likely to use the Playhouse as venue, even if were refurbished, please could you let us know why?

Question Title

* 30. If the Playhouse was redeveloped, how often do you think you would be likely to hire the venue?

Weekly

Monthly

2-3 times a year

Once a year

Occasionally

In a pinch

Not applicable

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 31. If you are likely to hire the Playhouse as a venue, what parts of the building would you want to use?

Whole venue

Just the stage area

Just the upstairs coffee lounge

Other (please specify)

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* 32. What aspects of the Playhouse would have to be addressed for you to consider hiring it?

I would use it now

Accessibility

Green room/dressing facilities

Liquor license

Decorative state of the building

Better bathroom facilities backstage (including showers)

Building safety issues address (seismic strengthening, etc.)

Other (please specify)

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* 33. What would be your top three things to improve about the building? Please rank with 1 being your top priority.

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* 34. The Playhouse committee would like to expand the use of the theatre if possible, would you/your organisation be interested in getting involved in any of the following? Please tick all that apply.

Comedy club

Music gigs

Professional theatre productions

School productions

Dancing performances

After school activities, (not including current children's productions)

School holiday activities, (not including current children's productions)

Drama classes for adults

Amateur theatre productions aimed at adult audiences

Other (please specify)

D. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Question Title

* 35. If your organisation were to hire a restored Playhouse as a venue, what sort of technical equipment would you need?

Basic theatre sound equipment

More specialist sound equipment

Basic 'turn up and use it' lighting rig

A more flexible and sophisticated state lighting rig

Projection capability

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* 36. Do you have anything else to add about the sort of technical specification you are likely to need?

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* 37. Would you expect to pay to use this equipment separately or would you prefer an all-inclusive charge?

Pay for technical equipment depending on specification required

All inclusive charge

Other (please specify)

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* 38. The Dunedin Repertory Theatre Society has a long and successful history with the Playhouse building. Do you think that the Playhouse building is the right place for children’s theatre in Dunedin?

Yes

The Dunedin Playhouse - Venue Hirer's Survey

Question Title

* 1. Name

Question Title

* 2. Organisation

Question Title

* 3. Contact details (optional)

Question Title

* 4. We will host groups, (or individual organisations), at the theatre for a cuppa and discussion about how the Playhouse could add more value to the arts community in May. Would you/your organisation be interested in attending?

Question Title

* 5. If you are unfamiliar with the Playhouse, would you like us to show you around?

Question Title

* 6. Have you hired the Playhouse before?

Question Title

* 7. If yes, how often have you hired the Playhouse?

Question Title

* 8. If you answered 'yes' to question 4, what were your main reasons for choosing the Playhouse? Please tick all that apply.

Question Title

* 9. If you never hired the Playhouse before - or if you have rejected it as an option before - what was the main reason why? Please tick all that apply.

Question Title

* 10. Do you think the building is easy to find?

Question Title

* 11. If no, what do you think makes the building difficult to find?

Question Title

* 12. If you have hired the Playhouse before, was the experience of your cast/crew/audience affected by a lack of car parking?

Question Title

* 13. If you have hired the Playhouse before, were your cast/crew/audience members able to access and move around the building easily?

Question Title

* 14. If no, what made it difficult?

Question Title

* 15. What do you think would improve accessibility around the building? Please tick all that apply.

Question Title

* 16. Compared with other theatres in Dunedin, what score would you give the Playhouse out of 10?

Question Title

* 17. Overall, how do you think the Playhouse building compares with other small theatres in Dunedin?

Question Title

* 18. How do you think the size of the auditorium compares with other small theatres in Dunedin?

Question Title

* 19. How do you think the atmosphere of the Playhouse compares with other small theatres in Dunedin?

Question Title

* 20. How do you think the range and quality of productions at the Playhouse compares with other small theatres in Dunedin?

Question Title

* 21. Do you think the Playhouse attracts a different audience from other theatres in Dunedin?

Question Title

* 22. Are there any other theatres that you think the Playhouse should aim to be like?

Question Title

* 23. What do you like most about the current Playhouse building? Please tick all that apply.

Question Title

* 24. What do you like least about the current Playhouse building? Please tick all that apply.

Question Title

* 25. Do you think the building's circulation spaces, (the corridors and stairs), work well?

Question Title

* 26. If no, how do you think they can be improved?

Question Title

* 27. Is there anything else that you would like to add about the pros and cons of the Playhouse as it currently is?

Question Title

* 28. If the Playhouse was improved, do you think you would be more likely to hire the space?

Question Title

* 29. If you are not likely to use the Playhouse as venue, even if were refurbished, please could you let us know why?

Question Title

* 30. If the Playhouse was redeveloped, how often do you think you would be likely to hire the venue?

Question Title

* 31. If you are likely to hire the Playhouse as a venue, what parts of the building would you want to use?

Question Title

* 32. What aspects of the Playhouse would have to be addressed for you to consider hiring it?

Question Title

* 33. What would be your top three things to improve about the building? Please rank with 1 being your top priority.

Question Title

* 34. The Playhouse committee would like to expand the use of the theatre if possible, would you/your organisation be interested in getting involved in any of the following? Please tick all that apply.

Question Title

* 35. If your organisation were to hire a restored Playhouse as a venue, what sort of technical equipment would you need?

Question Title

* 36. Do you have anything else to add about the sort of technical specification you are likely to need?

Question Title

* 37. Would you expect to pay to use this equipment separately or would you prefer an all-inclusive charge?

Question Title

* 38. The Dunedin Repertory Theatre Society has a long and successful history with the Playhouse building. Do you think that the Playhouse building is the right place for children’s theatre in Dunedin?

Question Title

* 39. If not, where do you think would be better?