Join Dane Oates, Venue and Events Manager of the Regent Theatre in Māwhera / Greymouth, and Gerry Keating, Manager of The Globe Theatre in Te Papaioea / Palmerston North, for a candid look at what it really takes to bring the right content to a regional venue, and the surprising similarities (and unexpected differences) between programming in a West Coast town and a city centre.
Dane and Gerry will share the practical realities of programming in their respective venues, from balancing audience demand with what's actually available, to the unique challenges and opportunities of running a theatre outside the main centres. They'll also look at how venues and promoters can work together to make regional stops work.
Whether you're looking to book a regional venue yourself or want to know more about how the regions operate, this session offers grounded, real-world perspective from people on the ground.
Dane Oates is the Venue and Events Manager at the Regent Theatre in Māwhera / Greymouth. His path into the sector started as a drummer for student bands in Ōtepoti / Dunedin, organising shows at tiny pubs and student bars before moving on to self-promoted tours, music video shoots, and two self-produced albums. Dane then went on to work behind the scenes on some of the regions largest events, holding senior roles across site management, production management, and artist liaison on events like the Dunedin Craft Beer & Food Festival, and Otago Orientation Festival. A finalist for NZEA's Emerging Industry Professional of the Year in 2025, Dane is now an NZEA Board Observer focused on regional events, and a vocal champion for routing more touring shows through the regions
Gerry Keating is the Manager of The Globe Theatre in Palmerston North. A previous winner of the EVANZ Team Leader of the Year award, he is a passionate advocate for the venues industry and a graduate of the Venue Management School. Under his leadership, The Globe has grown into a busy and welcoming community venue, hosting over 800 events a year.
FREE for NZEA & EVANZ Members | $25.00+GST for non-members.
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