After a devastating fire destroyed their 'library of things,' artists reclaim their history through a poignant revival.
In the wake of a catastrophic fire that leveled its storage warehouse, Sydney’s Belvoir St Theatre is finding its way back through the very art it nearly lost. The blaze destroyed a literal 'library of things'—a vast collection of props, costumes, and memorabilia that served as the physical memory of the company’s decades-long history. For former artistic director Neil Armfield, the loss was personal; upon hearing the news, his first thought was of a simple washing basket, a domestic relic recently borrowed by current artistic director Eamon Flack for a production.
Rather than retreating, the company is using this moment of loss to fuel a poignant remount of Armfield’s acclaimed 2010 production, 'The Book of Everything.' The decision to bring this specific work back to the stage serves as both a defiant act of creative resilience and a tribute to the ephemeral nature of theatre. Without their original inventory of props to lean on, the creative team is tasked with reimagining the physical world of the play, turning a logistical tragedy into a catalyst for fresh artistic exploration.
The collaboration between Flack and Armfield highlights a deep intergenerational bond within the studio. By revisiting a landmark production at a time when their physical archives have been reduced to ash, the artists are proving that the true substance of a theatre company lies not in its stored objects, but in the shared memory and vision of its makers. As they rebuild their collection from scratch, the remount stands as a testament to the underdog spirit of regional theatre—showing that even when the props are gone, the story remains.
This story illustrates how creative constraints and physical loss can lead to a profound renewal of craft. It serves as a powerful reminder that a theatre's identity is held in its people and their resilience rather than their material assets.
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