LYN Wallis might be new to the Border but, in one sense, it’s a kind of homecoming.
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The new artistic director of HotHouse Theatre is returning to the stage after five years on the bureaucratic side of the arts world.
The Border’s much-loved professional theatre company was one of her charges as the Australia Council for Arts director of theatre — and she had long seen its appeal.
“I know it very well from my previous role, but living it is very different,” she said.
“Companies like this are incredibly rare — HotHouse has enormous respect around Australia but it actually has a very specific role in the community too.”
Ms Wallis, who began her new role this week, sees maintaining that balance as a key role.
She began her theatre career almost 30 years as an actor and singer.
“I realised there were others who did that better than me, so I moved to directing,” she said.
Her first directorship was with Canberra’s Jigsaw Theatre, a “regional setting smaller than HotHouse”, eventually leading to a stint with Belvoir Street Theatre.
There, she developed programs that had a particular focus on helping emerging and independent artists and groups, something she still is passionate about.
“At that time, there were very few opportunities for the little companies and directors and writers to get a break,” she said.
“Once upon a time there was a strong regional scene with regional companies everywhere but that collapsed. There was a rise of independents but nowhere for them to go.
“The programs I ran were important to get the next wave of our industry up and running.
“If we don’t have that next generation, if we aren’t nurturing now, we’re going to have problems down the track.”
There are a lot more opportunities these days for independent acts, with HotHouse well-known as providing one of them, and Ms Wallis plans to continue that.
“I think what Jon Halpin (former artistic director) and the board have done is excellent and part of my role is about keeping HotHouse firmly on the national stage,” she said.
“I want to continue bringing the best national artists but also deepening our community engagement, and always keep the local audience in mind.
“Our shows aren’t the only point of contact with us, so we’ll really be trying to create something the community can engage with in different ways.”
