Two Newcastle business people have developed and funded a new, free Hunter first theatre website that will benefit local residents, tourists, the local creative industries’ community and the broader economy.
TheatreNewcastle is a one stop online hub for theatre productions and a collective voice for the theatre industry in Newcastle and the Hunter Region.
The website is the brainchild of local husband and wife, Marty Adnum and Rachelle Schmidt Adnum. Marty is the owner of leading Newcastle advertising and creative agency Out of the Square Media (OOTS). Rachelle Schmidt Adnum is the owner and principal teacher of The Voice Studio and an actor, singer and theatre practitioner.
The website was designed, developed and funded by OOTS. This is not the first community minded project for the Adnums and OOTS. Since 2013 OOTS has funded the production and running of the Newcastle Inspired series of adverts and videos to generate positivity in the region.
TheatreNewcastle, for the first time, aims to bring together a directory of every theatre show on in the Hunter in the one easy to use website. Marty said the website is also designed to be a valuable resource for the Hunter creative arts business community. As well as providing a listing of all venues, it gives the more than 1,000 local actors, musicians, technicians and educators of theatre practitioners, the opportunity to freely list their services in a giant Hunter creative industries database. An auditions page gives actors notice of work opportunities.
Marty sees other benefits for the local economy. As well as helping the regions’ theatre goers, he hopes it will encourage the wider community and visitors to experience the great, diverse range of theatre on show in the Hunter.
“More people enjoying more theatre benefits the economy not just through theatre businesses but also supporting businesses or nearby theatre venues,” he said.
Rachelle said she and Marty were also driven to set up the website to highlight the depth of talent in our region and give everyone in the theatre industry fair and equal promotion.
She said there are more than 30 local theatre venues and 40 local theatre companies putting on more than 70 local productions every year in the Hunter.
“My passion for theatre and Marty’s passion for all things Newcastle and Hunter has combined to create what we think is a valuable community resource,” Rachelle said.
Image | Marty Adnum and Rachelle Schmidt Adnum and with Theatre Newcastle website
