Born from chaos, Barking Gecko Theatre is 30 years strong

Given the current state of arts funding, Artistic Director Luke Kerridge is taking hope from the turbulent birth of Barking Gecko Theatre in 1989.

Turmoil can galvanise a city’s arts ecology, according to Barking Gecko Theatre’s Artistic Director, Luke Kerridge.

Originally operating as the Western Australian Theatre Company’s youth touring arm and born from the ashes after its parent company folded in 1989, Barking Gecko recently celebrated its 30th anniversary with an afternoon tea at Government House, Perth. The event was attended by Governor Kim Beazley and many of the company’s alumni.

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Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts