It's with a heavy heart venue operator Paul Robinson will close the doors of New Globe Theatre in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley this April after five years as an integral part of the local, music scene.
“It's probably an assessment of where things are going at the moment with things like ID scanners and the government approach to the [Fortitude] Valley precinct,” Paul says.
“It's no secret there's been a general downturn of business at places in the Valley during these past, few months that the scanners have been in.
“I'm in a situation where I wanted to invest to upgrade, but I don't see that I can carry on with the business as it is with the downturn. I'm not able to put the amount in that I need to upgrade, so I thought it was time to get out before things get worse; I hope they don't but I suspect they may.”
Click here to read our March 2017 review of Dead Letter Circus at New Globe Theatre.
Opened in August of 2013, New Globe Theatre has been a beacon for amateur and emerging artists, musicians and promoters who have been able to use the venue as a starting point for their career. “One thing we've tried to do, and I think succeeded at, is being an entry-level arts venue,” Paul says.
“It's not just about music; a lot of people focus on the music but during the week and at odd times we have all kinds of other theatre, cinema, poetry slams, musical theatre, and I think the fact we've been able to provide a venue for that when the purpose-built venues like The Old Museum and Brisbane Powerhouse are incredibly expensive, and at entry-level it's very hard.
“In fact, even Judith Wright Centre isn't taking bookings anymore because they can't afford to do it; it's a government-funded place in the Valley and it's not taking bookings! That does fit into that narrative of the [Brisbane City] Council not being rapt about entertainment in the Valley.”
For Paul, the true achievement of New Globe Theatre lies in its function as a training ground and its rogue's gallery of artists and promoters who have come through the doors and cultivated successful careers in their chosen fields of entertainment.
Scenestr TV previews Festival Of The Goat 2017 at New Globe Theatre
“We've had a lot of entry-level promoters who have come to us with some weird and wonderful ideas,” he says.“Some work and some don't, but what I'm most proud of is some of the bands that have gone from not much to do very well, and the promoters that have done the same.”
The closure of New Globe Theatre is the real-world effect of what is seen by many, including Paul, as a deliberate and targeted move by BCC against Fortitude Valley as an entertainment precinct. “There's no doubt the Council doesn't like what happens in the Valley,” Paul says.
“Councils and state governments are better off with gambling halls and apartments because they pay more rates, so the Valley I think has got a limited time.”
However, looking towards the future Paul is very supportive of Scott Hutchinson's campaign to reinforce the local live music against complete gentrification and eventual extinction, part of which includes the construction of a $40 million dollar multi-arts venue with a 3,300-person capacity to be located at 312 Brunswick Street.
“That's definitely a positive,” Paul says.
“It fills a gap with that sized venue outside of Eatons Hill [Hotel], which is a damn long way away for a lot of people. Being close to the hub is a very good thing.”
With the final curtain yet to drop, Paul is keeping New Globe open until the end of April with a packed line-up of shows. “We're going till 29 April, so come in say goodbye and have a drink,” Paul says.
“We've had some great times; we're seeing a lot of people coming back and it's great to catch up, plus we've got some great shows coming up.”
