Cirrus@Austlit

'The Australian Contemporary Theatre Company (ACTC) was resident at The Church Theatre from 1983 to 1989. The Church was an independent suburban venue, separate from the metropolitan theatres, and housed a season of works throughout the year, curated by the ACTC. Viewed in the context of the larger system of Melbourne theatre, the history of the ACTC demonstrates the value of a balance between large-scale, centralised, mainstream metropolitan arts centres and disparate, mid-sized suburban venues. During the 1980s, the presence of these companies and venues better enabled the kind of grassroots activity that fed the mainstage companies, gave crucial development time to emerging artists and artistic collaborations, and better integrated the performing arts into the wider community, encouraging ongoing engagement with new audiences.' (Publication abstract)