Digital theatre service streams

Jamie Harding  TBW Newsgroup
REGIONAL DIRECTOR GOES INTERNATIONAL: Mount Gambier Gener8 Theatre artistic director Jamie Harding has filled a gap in the digital streaming market as he gets ready to launch the Theatrix streaming service.

Jamie Harding  TBW Newsgroup
REGIONAL DIRECTOR GOES INTERNATIONAL: Mount Gambier Gener8 Theatre artistic director Jamie Harding has filled a gap in the digital streaming market as he gets ready to launch the Theatrix streaming service.

DEVELOPMENT of a new digital streaming platform dedicated to bringing the world’s best performing arts spectacles to screens and devices across the globe is currently being spearheaded by a respected Mount Gambier theatre identity.

Gener8 Theatre artistic director Jamie Harding has spent six months overseas working with investors and international theatre heavyweights to collate content for the soon-to-be-launched streaming service, Theatrix.

Heavily focused on entertaining its digital subscribers with worldclass ballet, theatre, dance, opera and concert productions, Mr Harding believes the new platform will fill a void in the digital streaming market.

Mr Harding said the project had been years in the making after exploring what would be the next big thing in the arts industry.

“I discovered the arts needed to start to look at alternative models of making money other than relying on government support following a number of funding cuts,” Mr Harding said.

“I knew that was a big gap to fill and we needed to look at new revenue.”

Mr Harding said it was a difficult concept to grapple, with his team investigating the sustainability of theatre in the digital sphere while also researching interest for a performing arts streaming service in a home environment.

“It will have access to some of the world’s best performances from the comfort of people’s own lounge rooms and will be a game changer in the streaming landscape,” he said.

“It fills a gap because how many regional people can afford to go to the city and see the big acts?

“Many find it difficult due to travel, accommodation and ticket prices.”

Mr Harding said a number of entertainment acts had joined the Theatrix stable.

“We are at the point now where we are edging closer to launch and recently have started opening up sign ups so people can come to the website and get ready for it,” he said.

Mr Harding said it had not been easy to get the project off the ground, with the international COVID-19 pandemic impacting the rollout.

“We had slowly started building this company and I was in New York where the virus hit instantly,” he recalled.

“It made me have to think outside the square about investments and fundraising, which was difficult because a lot of people were really struggling, especially in the arts community.”

“I was working in an office in Broadway when the virus struck and overnight everything shut down, Times Square was a ghost town and it was just eerie.”

Safely back in South Australia, Mr Harding said it was now full steam ahead for Theatrix.

“We are in a strong position to really help artists and companies get back on their feet until everyone can go large again,” he said.

“It will work the same as other streaming services, anywhere, anytime with no ads and in high quality, but with a completely new offering.”

Mr Harding said as well as content created in the performing arts hotbeds of London and New York, Australian talent would also feature on the platform.

“It is new and exciting and builds a new audience into the performing arts community,” Mr Harding said.

“We are currently finalising our technology and the platform content is all lined up with a host of exclusive entertainment as well.”

Theatrix is expected to launch in the coming months with signup now active.

Mr Harding is a previous winner of the New Venture Institute Demo Day, spruiking his streaming service and won the 2019 GOLD eNVIe award, tipping out 90 other Australian start-ups for the top prize.

He also secured a federal grant from Austrade to help fund his international business

ventures.