Lismore Theatre Company’s home - Rochdale Theatre in Goonellabah - was tagged with graffiti last week. But thanks to the newly installed security cameras on the building, the tagger was caught red handed and identified by police.

Company member Jenny Dowell said the building had just been freshly renovated and painted and she was “gutted” when she saw it.

“We were there for a rehearsal on Saturday at lunchtime and the graffiti was not clearly visible from the street,” Jenny told The Lismore App. 

“We’d been there two hours before we opened the side doors and saw it and were gutted. 

“It takes a lot to look after a community facility with volunteers - and having it being freshly painted was distressing.”

Lismore Theatre Company president Sharon Brodie said the young person who was identified by the camera footage has been interviewed by the police and rectification action is happening.

“It’s a good outcome because the cameras did their job,” Sharon said.  

“We were initially vandalised late last year and so we fundraised to install an alarm system and cameras. This time we got pictures of the young person and the police were able to identify them quickly.

“Now the young person is taking responsibility for their actions and will be back at theatre painting it over. We have a painter who has offered to support him to do it.

“He was apologetic and realised he was acting silly.  

Sharon Brodie at the theatre.

“It was thanks to the community support we got last year in our fundraising campaign for cameras that we had a good outcome. It meant the situation was dealt with quickly and it really made a difference.”

Sharon said the young person is making restitution and wants to meet with the committee and apologise and listen to what they have to say. 

“So, it’s good news, even though it’s disappointing – he will learn a lesson and it’s a good thing,” she said.

Sharon said before the theatre was painted last year, it hadn’t been painted for decades and needed a facelift.

“So, we got a cultural grant to fix it up and it was looking great until this young kid thought ‘ah well, blank canvas’ and targeted it.

“The cameras were there because someone was setting fires at the theatre. 

“We had three arson assaults on the building and they were getting worse. The volunteers ended up sleeping at theatre to make sure nothing happened before we had cameras installed.”

Lismore Theatre Company requested The Lismore App not to post a picture of the graffiti, as the young person involved is making restitution.