Latest news with #PerthConcertHall
The Courier
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Courier
Fife composer on building businesses to fuel his musical ambitions
Newburgh composer and entrepreneur Matthew Rooke has been in the creative arts for more than 40 years. He has worked on various international and national theatre productions and was an orchestrator for big budget Netflix film Outlaw King. He founded Matthew Rooke Music & Generals Yard in 1997 to promote his music and theatre work. Since then he has founded and contributed to several companies and start-ups to sustain his creative pursuits. He was the first music fellow for Perth Concert Hall in 2010 and has been an honorary professor of music and theatre at St Andrews University since 2017. Matthew answered our questions on his biggest struggles, achievements and more. The arts world is driven by passion but to sustain a career in the creative industries You have to become an entrepreneur and administrator to survive. My early career advice is to work on as many projects as possible, no matter how lowly they might seem. That is how people get to know you. You never really know what is coming next and so much comes down to chance. As a composer and orchestrator my work has been performed by leading orchestras here and in the US. I've worked on major Hollywood films such as Outlaw King and When Fish Begin To Crawl. My parents were truly supportive and encouraged me to do things and go to places that they wouldn't have dreamed of for themselves. There have been a number of inspirational and supportive people who have guided me. Self-help is crucial. I've always run other businesses alongside my musical career to provide financial stability. The very best advice I received was from FSB when I was running a million-pound turnover theatre business. A specialist tax adviser helped me make the case for altering the VAT structure that I had inherited, resulting in reclaiming almost 100% of the VAT that we incurred instead of only 50%. Back in 2000 I set up a company which was going to record guided tours for heritage sites for mobile phones. We were told that the files would be too big to download and so we had to give up. Meanwhile there was a company which was using the same model as we proposed but for video. That company was Netflix. The moral is don't automatically assume someone else knows your business better than you do just because you are starting out. I've built a succession of successful start-up businesses that have enabled me to keep working in the arts and leisure sector for over 40 years and raise a family. You have to shop around for the very best deals possible and drive out unnecessary costs, while keeping a focus on quality. I want to develop high quality holiday provision especially for people and families where there are people with physical disabilities. The offer is still too limited and there is unmet demand from people. The government is making it very difficult for holiday lets and the business which benefit from it. They have singled out this sector for a more onerous tax regime. A level playing field will help spur further investment and growth.
Perth Now
28-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Concert hall upgrade music to the ears
Demolition works have started for a $150 million refurbishment of the Perth Concert Hall. The southern forecourt is being demolished as part of works to 'elevate the experience for artists, audiences and the community for generations to come'. They include improved accessibility, auditorium seating and production features, a new home for the WA Symphony Orchestra, improved backstage facilities and revitalised social and event spaces. Your local paper, whenever you want it. The Perth Concert Hall was the first Australian concert venue built after World War II. The upgrades were intended to preserve the venue's distinctive and internationally renowned acoustic features. Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said the refurbishments would benefit artists, audiences and the community for decades to come. 'The revitalised Perth Concert Hall will offer improved facilities for broader community engagement and will once again provide a home for the WA Symphony Orchestra when it reopens in 2028,' she said. The works are being funded by the State Government ($134.3m), Federal Government ($12m) and City of Perth ($4m).
The Courier
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
EXCLUSIVE: Perth Concert Hall needs £3m overhaul in 20th birthday year
Perth Concert Hall needs almost £3 million of taxpayers' money spent on its upkeep. Perth and Kinross councillors have agreed to fund a £2.895m overhaul of the venue. It comes as preparations are under way to celebrate Perth Concert Hall's 20th anniversary later this year. The council says the funding will pay for 'essential maintenance and upgrades'. There are no details of precisely what's required. But a council spokesperson told The Courier the works are needed 'to improve the general condition and energy performance of the building'. They added: 'The initial phase of works will prioritise the roof, heating and air conditioning systems and building fabric improvements.' The steel and glass venue was completed in 2005 at a cost of £12.3m. The new funding package was approved by Perth and Kinross Council's finance and resources committee. The same meeting also agreed to award £75,000 towards celebrations in September to mark the 20th anniversary of the Concert Hall opening. The 125 Live! street party will also commemorate the 125th anniversary of Perth Theatre. The two venues are run by a charity, Horsecross Arts, on behalf of the council. A spokesperson there referred questions back to the council. The Concert Hall was officially opened by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2005 following a two-year construction project. It has hosted many top acts, as well as political conferences and other large gatherings. And its Gannochy Auditorium is said to be one of the best-sounding halls in Europe. The arrival of the Concert Hall rendered the old Perth City Hall redundant as an events space and it closed. The city centre landmark lay empty for more than a decade and was slated for demolition before it re-opened as Perth Museum after a £27m facelift last March. Councillors were warned in 2021 that Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre needed millions of pounds spent on them in order to upgrade 'fairly elderly' equipment and infrastructure. The cost of keeping both premises ventilated was described as 'prohibitively expensive.' A meeting in December 2021 heard: 'Horsecross had not any history of setting aside funds – probably because there wasn't the funds to set aside – for investment in its own internal equipment and infrastructure.'
The Courier
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Disney's The Muppet Christmas Carol Live coming to Perth
The Muppet Christmas Carol Live is coming to Perth in November. Image: Disney's The Muppet Christmas Carol Live is coming to Perth. The production will visit the Fair City as part of its UK-wide tour featuring a film screening and music performed by a live orchestra. The concert takes place at Perth Concert Hall on November 25. The iconic 1992 film sees The Muppets perform the Charles Dickens classic with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit and Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. The production is coming to Perth Concert Hall. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson The original score was composed by Miles Goodman with songs by Oscar, Emmy and Grammy-winning songwriter Paul Williams. Performances of The Muppet Christmas Carol Live will also take place in Edinburgh and Glasgow, followed by dates in England and Wales. Tickets go on sale to the general public via Disney Tickets at 10am on Friday. A presale for those with priority access will also be held at 10am on Thursday. Tags
