Windmill Theatre Co
{{Short description|Theatre company for young audiences}}
{{for|the English theatre|Windmill Theatre}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Windmill Theatre Co
| industry = Theatre
| founded = 2002
| hq_location_city = Adelaide
| hq_location_country = Australia
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list | Rosemary Myers (Artistic Director) | Kaye Weeks (Executive Producer)}}
| products = Productions
| website = {{URL|windmill.org.au}}
}}
Windmill Theatre Co (previously known as Windmill Performing Arts), established in 2002 as a South Australian Government initiative, is Australia's flagship professional theatre company for child and young adult audiences. {{as of|2019}} artistic director is Rosemary Myers.
History
Windmill Performing Arts was established in 2001 by the South Australian Government under the Public Corporations (Australian Children's Performing Arts Company) Regulations 2001, which was superseded by the 2016 Regulations.{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/lz/c/r/public%20corporations%20(australian%20childrens%20performing%20arts%20company)%20regulations%202016/current/2016.189.un.pdf|title=Public Corporations (Australian Children's Performing Arts Company) Regulations 2016|quote=(On p.2) Repealed regulations means the Public Corporations (Australian Children's Performing Arts Company) Regulations 2001 repealed under Schedule 1}}[https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/R/PUBLIC%20CORPORATIONS%20(AUSTRALIAN%20CHILDRENS%20PERFORMING%20ARTS%20COMPANY)%20REGULATIONS%202016.aspx (Australian Children's Performing Arts Company) Regulations 2016]
The founding director and creative producer was Cate Fowler (through 2007). The founding patron was children's author Mem Fox (through 2007).{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}
In 2007, executive producer Kaye Weeks and artistic director Rosemary Myers first came on board and are still with Windmill {{as of|lc=yes|2019}}.[http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23165673-5006348,00.html Samela Harris, Children's theatre artistic director speaks, The Advertiser, 5 February 2008] The company has experienced enormous growth and success since then.{{cite web|website=Citymag|url=https://citymag.indaily.com.au/commerce/adelaide-to-the-world/windmill-theatre-co-sa-adelaide-to-the-world/|title=The creative fortunes of Windmill Theatre Co can only grow from here|date=22 April 2019|first=Farrin |last=Foster|access-date=2 August 2019}}
Productions and growth
Windmill performs a season in Adelaide each year, with shows also touring through regional South Australia and elsewhere in Australia. Windmill have also toured internationally, performing in many countries, including in the US (including Off-Broadway), New Zealand, United Kingdom, Singapore and South Korea.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} It has grown substantially in recent years: in 2014, the company toured to four cities, presenting a total of 144 live performances; in 2018, the number of live performances had increased to 234, and the number of cities and towns visited increased eightfold, to 34.
The company was behind the multi-award-winning film Girl Asleep, including the 2016 CinefestOz best film, adapted from its stage production.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/31/girl-asleep-how-an-adelaide-theatre-company-made-one-of-this-years-best-australian-films|first= James Robert|last= Douglas|date=31 August 2016|title=Girl Asleep: how an Adelaide theatre company made one of this year's best Australian films|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2 August 2019}}
Governance and funding
Arts SA was responsible for the state funding arrangements until Windmill was transferred to the Department of Education in 2018 by the Marshall government.{{Cite news|url=https://aicsa.net.au/state-budget-sees-cuts-to-the-arts-and-significant-changes-to-arts-south-australia/|title=State Budget Sees Cuts to the Arts and Significant Changes to Arts South Australia|work=AICSA - Arts Industry Council of South Australia|access-date=2018-09-16}}
In July 2019, the state budget slashed funding to the History Trust of South Australia, Carclew, Patch Theatre Company and Windmill, as part of "operational efficiency" cuts.{{cite journal|publisher=Adelaide Review|url=https://www.adelaidereview.com.au/arts/state-budget-arts-funding-adelaide-festival-windmill/|title=State Budget adds millions in Adelaide Festival and film industry funding as other arts organisations face cuts|first=Walter|last=Marsh|date=19 June 2019|access-date=11 August 2019 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.windmill.org.au/ Windmill Theatre]
{{authority control}}
Category:Theatre companies in Australia
Category:Performing arts in Adelaide