Theatre Australia

your portal for australian theatre

WA Repeats

Sat, 16 Feb 2008, 01:30 pm
dead28 posts in thread
Just a thought about WA Theatre and the lack of inspiration to try something different - every year is like a repeat. Consider the following: 1) 2007 Limelight Theatre - Cabaret // 2008 Kwinana Theatre Workshop - Cabaret Tough act to follow - winner of Best Musical 2007 Finley’s (so why?) 2) 2007 GRADS - Importance of being Earnest // 2008 Limelight - Importance of being Earnest This show is done almost every year - lets make a joint promise to give it a break for 5 years! 3) 2008 Marloo - Pirates of Penzance // 2008 G&S Society (city) - Pirates of Penzance I know which production I would rather see!! 4) 2006 Playlovers - Seussical // 2008 Mandurah - Seussical Again another tough match - give it a few years to settle And there are lots more - this does not help create a fresh theatrical market. Two points: 1) let's mix it up a bit and ensure we are not repeating ourselves (5 year gaps) 2) Take risks - too many theatres just play it safe - take a chance; there is so much more theatre work out there which has yet to be touched. Just thoughts ......... DW

WA Repeats

Sun, 17 Feb 2008, 10:20 am

While I agree with Sue, it really is a very fine balancing act. Melville have just ended a season of an Albee play, Three Tall Women, for which the audiences were not that good- number wise that is. As a (more or less) silent participant in the play I could observe and hear the excellence of the play and the fine acting. It was an extremely challenging play and I'm sure personally satisfying one for the director and actors but certainly not financially good. That's fine to do occasionally but unfortunately 'bums on seats' has to be the name of the game on most occasions or we all go broke! That said, Playlovers seeems to be being fairly successful at breaking the mould recently!

The answer has to be a mixture surely?? however there are lots and lots of never- done -in WA- before plays  which will surely attract audiences. The above mentioned club seems to be doing a good mix of the tried and true and the more "adventurous" ones this year.

Not trying for a "solution" - merely musing after a late night.

Thread (28 posts)

WA Repeatsdead16 Feb 2008
← Back to Billboard Bulletins