A community of makers rebuilds a storied prop collection to bring a classic production back to life.
For 17 years, Neil Armfield helmed Sydney’s Belvoir St Theatre, building a physical history of the company’s creative output through a vast collection of props and sets. When a devastating fire recently tore through the theatre’s storage warehouse, that history—a curated 'library of things'—was reduced to ashes. The loss was deeply personal for the creative team; Armfield recalled his first thought was of a simple washing basket he had recently lent to current artistic director Eamon Flack for a production. This loss of physical memory has cast a poignant shadow over the company's latest endeavor.
Despite the destruction of their archives, the theatre is finding a way to rise from the ashes. The company is currently focused on a remount of Armfield’s acclaimed 2010 production, 'The Book of Everything.' The process of recreating a show when the original physical elements have been lost to fire has turned the production into a symbol of resilience for the Sydney arts community. It is no longer just a revival of a successful play; it is a testament to the endurance of the theatrical spirit and the ability of a creative team to rebuild their world from scratch.
The fire took more than just wood and fabric; it took the tangible links to past performances that informed the company’s identity. However, the act of staging 'The Book of Everything' now serves as a defiant reclamation of that identity. By returning to a work that defines their history, the artists at Belvoir are proving that while a warehouse can burn, the craft, the vision, and the collective memory of the performers and directors remain intact. The production stands as a beacon for regional and independent theatres facing the fragility of their own resources, showing that the 'library' of a theatre truly lives within its people.
This story highlights the extreme vulnerability of independent theatre infrastructure and the emotional weight of physical archives. It serves as an inspiring example of how creative teams can transform a catastrophic loss into a catalyst for community resilience and artistic renewal.
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