WA Repeats
Sat, 16 Feb 2008, 01:30 pmdead28 posts in thread
WA Repeats
Sat, 16 Feb 2008, 01:30 pmJust 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
Riskier or Different Plays ?
Sun, 17 Feb 2008, 11:03 pmOK so when you do different plays your audience dwindles, that because they are your safe play audience. If you want to do different plays, then advertise well for a different audience, advise your safe audience to sit this one out and come to the next one as they will enjoy that one.
I used to look forward to doing the lighting for Norma as her plays were the challenging different ones and the safe audience knew not to come to the first play of the year, but the different audience did.
Have a look at the web sites of the clubs doing different plays in their seasons, their advertising and synopsis are up to date. Tell people what you are doing, reach out further for your different audience to get the numbers you need for a commercial success and be comfortable knowing the committee are having safe plays for the clubs financial success and because a lot of people like them.
We have seen Earnest so many times and my wife will still want to go again, whats wrong with that. We also saw Minefields and Miniskrts at the Playhouse, different but great production.
Because you are amateur theatre, a lot of you are only doing one or two plays a year as that is all you can fit in. Choose what you want to do or go to committee meetings to see if one different play can fit into the years schedule.