Case study – Tiny opera Company
The history of the Tiny Opera Company
Tiny Opera Company operates in a rural NSW town. Colleen Starr started the company after moving to the small town from Sydney in the late 1970s. Colleen wanted to bring the wonder and entertainment of theatre-based performances to rural NSW. Her vision was to create a regional theatre that emulated the Sydney Opera House; making theatre both accessible and valued in her town and the surrounding community. Stella’s idea and passion was shared by a wealthy landowner in the area who donated $2.3 million to support the purchase of a venue and the ongoing operation of the theatre. $1.3 million of this was invested in a trust which has been added to over the years that Tiny Opera Company has generated a profit.
Colleen Starr bought an old town hall that had been built in the early 1900s. The hall is listed on the State Heritage Register in NSW. Basic interior renovations were carried out to the stage, three dressing rooms, kitchen, break room, meeting room, food counter and ticketing booth including:
● painting internal walls
● installing wall-mounted radiators throughout the theatres, dressing rooms and break room
● installing a dishwasher and oven in the kitchen
● installing a wood heater in the meeting room.
Tiny Opera Company has staged regular performances in the theatre from the 1970s onwards.
Ten years ago, the Tiny Opera Company built a small office building to serve the growing number full time staff.
Tiny Opera Company today
The staff at Tiny Opera Company currently include:
● Stage Manager (part-time)
● Director of Programming
● Resident Designer (funded by a grant for three years)
● Business Manager
● Marketing Communications Manager (part-time)
● Project Officers x 3 (part-time)
● Customer Service Representatives x 2 (part-time).
This year, the Tiny Opera Company has added a position for a new environment officer. You have been hired as the new environment officer at Tiny Opera Company after responding to the following job advertisement.