New sound and lighting equipment for Stage Door Productions sets the stage for creativity and learning opportunities
The funding from Trust Horizon will allow Stage Door to create larger and more spectacular lighting displays, like the effects seen in this shot from the 2019 Youth Production of The Little Mermaid.
Left to Right: Jetsum, played by Aaliyah Rentoul and Floatsam, played by Cayla Jeffray
Central character is Ursula, played by Courtney van der Horst
The arts are for everyone. And they have profound benefits for individuals and communities. They can open our minds, lift our wairua (spirit), and build our confidence. For rangatahi, the performing arts build skills future employers will look for: confidence, collaboration, risk-taking, and thinking outside of the box.
Recognising the wide-ranging benefits of performing arts, Stage Door Productions Charitable Trust aim to advance understanding of and appreciation for the arts. They’re on a mission to provide young people with safe and fun opportunities to experience the performing arts through delivering annual youth productions in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
Stage Door will soon be able to increase their offerings to the community thanks to a Trust Horizon grant of $109,780 towards the purchase of new sound and lighting equipment.
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this generous support from Trust Horizon,” says Stage Door Productions Charitable Trust Trustee, Trace Tidd. “Not only will the equipment allow us to create some awesome sound and lighting effects in our productions, but it will enable us to run technical workshops and trainings that address a current gap in opportunities by supporting youth and adults to develop expertise in the technical aspects of performing arts.”
“One of the key focuses of the Stage Door Productions Trust is to provide access to the performing arts, and now we’ll be able to offer more pathways to the arts for our rangatahi, as well as our wider arts community, who want to be involved in an off-stage capacity.”
Stage Door believe in promoting wellbeing through performing arts, which Tidd says is particularly important for our young people in a post-pandemic climate. “The arts are a great context in which people can reflect, process, and express,” she says.
Trust Horizon Chairperson David Glover says the Trust is pleased to lend support to a project that brings positive benefits and increased opportunities to the community.
“The performing arts have a way of bringing community together, helping people understand each other, and boosting wellbeing,” says Glover. “The new equipment will elevate the youth stage productions, while also providing a unique mentoring opportunity as youth are taught the technical, off-stage skills involved in productions.”
Find out more about Trust Horizon community funding here.