Where are the audiences?

         Over the past six months especially, I have noticed that the attendance figures at the local theatres have been much lower than normal.
       It seems to make very little difference if the show is the best production of the year, whether it has outstanding acting performances or even if the weather is fine.
       A year ago I would turn up, fingers crossed, at the well-established community theatres hoping to get a seat, only to be disappointed when the show was a sell-out. Now they are often only 30-40% full.
       The past month I have seen shows with 20 in the audience. The least I have witnessed was 6 for a superb play.
       The very interesting survey on this site shows ‘musicals’ as the winner. Yet I have heard of a group that wished to put on a musical, but who had to give up through lack of actors. Could it be that this survey was answered mainly by actors or people closely connected to the profession, and that the real shows that bring the bums-on-seats brigade are the TV comedies – Fawlty Towers, Black Books, Dad’s Army – packed every night. Sold out weeks in advance.
       Are the acting groups putting on what they alone want? Are the producers / directors making the wrong choice? Is it the variable and sometimes dodgy venue comfort? Parking – not safe or expensive? Or could it be we don’t really know our audiences’ ages, likes and demands? Would the cost of giving a free sherry be better spent on heating the venue?