I read Tony Trozzo’s article about a parent’s concerns about budget shortcuts making the new Vic High track potentially unsafe, and was interested to note that the School District contends that “Vic High’s redevelopment focused on amenities… including a turf field, outdoor volleyball courts, a new theatre, a multi-purpose room, and a neighbourhood learning centre.”
I toured the renovated Vic High yesterday and learned that instead of a new theatre, the renovations left the existing theatre arguably worse. While the theatre did get new lights, they lost their fly system – the pulleys that allow scenery to be “flown” up and down onto the stage – as well as one of their three lighting bars over the top of the stage. Additionally, their stage is now significantly smaller with the odd choice to create the new wheelchair ramp by removing the front part of the stage itself. Also, the promised padding for the ancient seats was a victim of cost-cutting due to overruns.
Admittedly, there are some very useful changes like the new multi-purpose room, but there is no new theatre at Vic High.
John Gray
Victoria
