History of the Theatre Laycock
Street Theatre (formally Laycock Street Bicentennial Community
Theatre) has enjoyed a very high level of community patronage
and useage since its opening in 1988. Built in response to a
perceived need by stalwarts of the Gosford Musical Society,
the theatre has a history that is founded on community service.
Several applications were made to government for funding under
a Community Employment Program. These applications encountered
problems in relation to the amount of labor involved, but the
NSW Bicentennial Council Commemmorative Program offered GMS
the first real opportunity to make its dream a reality. The
building of the theatre became a joint project between the NSW Government,
the NSW Bicentennial Council, Gosford City Council and
Gosford Musical Society. Rising building estimates did not deter
the committee and a fund raising appeal was commenced by then
Minister for Art, Heritage and Environment, Mr Barry Cohen.
Contributors included Ashton Scholastic, Esanda Finance, Sara
Lee and EJ and WA Booth. GMS supporters Kevin
Booth, Hans Drielsma and Don Craig began enlisting community
groups to keep the ball rolling and a number of groups, particularly
Probus, responded to that call for assistance. Attendance at
GMS shows (previously held at public high schools and other
venues) increased remarkably as most people saw this as a way
of supporting the project. Work on the theatre construction
commenced in July 1987 and then GMS president, Kevin Booth,
remarked "Laycock Street Theatre will be a theatre built
by the people, for the people, and because of this it will succeed".
Succeed it has. Laycock Street Theatre is unique on the Central Coast as it is the largest tiered seating venue available. Because of this, it is a sought after venue for many different activities including schools programs, dance groups, orchestral groups, touring and locally produced plays, rock concerts, comedies and of course, GMS musicals.
