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?

What are the shows that had big numbers and what are the ones that had small numbers? Looking at what type of shows they are, that would help to answer your question.

Okay Gordon, would never argue that successful TV comedies will always gather an audience. For that matter, any play that has been worked as a book/TV/Film will gather an audience on rep alone. Popcorn sells out because the Ben Elton fans come. Streetcar Named Desire sold out - Brando fans perhaps? (Perhaps thats doing Danni a disservice - she has her own fan club :)) And yes, Trainspotting sold out - first Blak Yak play to do so for some time and a One Act as well. I'd like to think it was the quality of the production but the fact is it was title alone that drew people from the straw poll I ran. Pop Culture is a currency that the man in the street has embraced in the last decade or so and that has affected even theatre audiences. The rude interpretation is that audiences want more of what they've already seen. The reality is probably that audiences want to see theatre but are not prepared to spend hard-earned dosh on something they are not familiar with. You have pointed out in the last day or so that Renegade have produced another quality production. i have no doubt of this - Joe Lui and team do quality work. For that matter I've enjoyed Jeffrey Jay Fowler's plays (missed History of Drinking dammit) but that was because I simply turned up and gave it a go. Jeffrey himself will no doubt recognise that while he may do quality theatre, he shouldn't expect rave reviews in the West et al. Community theatre turns to well worn TV comedies in theatre simply because of the Bums on Seats syndrome. Without TV comedies as a fall back, I can think of one community theatre group that may be in trouble financially. And that same group has produced Finley Award winners last two years!!!! For plays that no-one (well, virtually no one) went to see!!!!!!!! Choice of proudction, sadly, will be dicated by expected audience going forward as clubs grapple with rising rents, insurance, etc, etc, etc. I have no doubt that quality theatre is going unseen Gordon. Perhaps those of us who consider ourselves 'involved'in Community Theatre should venture out more? Thanks for bringing to the fore something I've ruminated on myself. Oh, and as regards musicals - I can't think of a Playlovers musical that has struggled for either auditionees or audience in recent years. It is interesting that you mention a play that has had difficulty being cast.

in SA I produce only new work locally written and I struggle for audiences. The most common comments I get are "Whats that? I've never heard of it." and "If it's local it can't be much good." I also get tired of being asked if it's a comedy. I haven't won any awards but then we don't really have a system like you do. My shows get largely good reviews, I don't just put on a play because it's new it does get vetted and examined and worked on before being produced. Local performers don't come. Ever. Or rarely and only because they know someone. It's the family and friends syndrome. Some of the plays I put on have gone on to be performed all over the world but getting them on in Adelaide is a struggle. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

Murray and Logos,have pretty much covered the bases. The fact of life is, the average community theate goer is indeed more comfortable with the well known TV comedy's, (there is worse - The Importance of redoing Ernest doth spring to mind), and as much as I'm loathe to admit it, original material is a hard sell here in Perth, and for that matter is probably a hard sell throughtout our land. There are some brave theatres who push the original banner, Phoenix Theatre considered going with mainly new, or rarely seen material ,at your perill said I.Sadly, money keeps us all afloat, and you can hardly attach a sail to a five cent piece.... cheers Johnny Grim

The blue room seems to be doing alright attendance wise and they produce mostly original works...

Which is largely what this discussion board is about. Pocket theatre sell out, locally written one acts in a bowling club. Maybe we should be asking them for promotional tips?

I have just posted a review in the reviews page for my most recent production Folly Bridge. I did not write the review. Please note, this is produced by me but written and directed by others. I have a financial vested interest in it making money. My point is I guess that we are playing to average audiences of about 15 - 20. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

Is theatre really just a ‘family’ business? How often do you hear people say ‘I am only here to see my friend who is in the play’, or ‘Haven’t been for years, but my daughter is in it!’
How many of the audience actually go to a show because they have heard that the play is very good, or have read about it in the paper and decided to have night out – not knowing anyone connected with the production? Look at the audiences you have at present and ask if there is new blood there, or is it the same aging population?
Are Foxtel, Computer Games and apathy winning? The biggest run in Perth this year has been 101 things to do with your boobs – a full house for weeks. The Perth audiences are better than this surely.
I wonder if the ITA Committee might consider making a brief questionnaire with possibly half a dozen questions such as those below. If every member, of every theatre group in the area, ask a cross section of only ten members of the general public at random in the street
(not relatives), then the results of this sample may be a beneficial surprise to us all. It should only take a total of about twenty minutes.
I would be happy to act as a coordinator for the results if required.

 

Do you mind if I ask you a few quick questions about the theatre?
How often do you go to the cinema?
1 week             1 month           6 months          1 year              longer than 1 year

 

When did you last go to one of the main theatres in Perth? Which theatre was it?
1 week             1 month           6 months          1 year       longer than 1 year    
His Maj             Playhouse        Regal               Subiaco           Burswood        Other  ………..

 

When did you last go to one of the local community / amateur theatres?
1 week             1 month           6 months          1 year              longer than 1 year

 

Which theatre was it?              ………………………                  

 

Would you go back?                          Yes                   No

 

If not why not?                       
Don’t go out at night              Poor parking               Expensive         Nothing worth seeing

 

Which is your nearest theatre? ………………………     Have you heard of   ???? theatre

 

How much do you think a ticket to the local Community Theatre costs?
$10                   $15                   $20                   $25                   $30                   $35                   $40

 

Do you prefer to see?
Thriller / drama                                    Musical                        Comedy          Something new / unusual

 

Postcode       ………………..                             Guess at person’s age ……………

Is theatre really just a ‘family’ business? How often do you hear people say ‘I am only here to see my friend who is in the play’, or ‘Haven’t been for years, but my daughter is in it!’
How many of the audience actually go to a show because they have heard that the play is very good, or have read about it in the paper and decided to have night out – not knowing anyone connected with the production? Look at the audiences you have at present and ask if there is new blood there, or is it the same aging population?
Are Foxtel, Computer Games and apathy winning? The biggest run in Perth this year has been 101 things to do with your boobs – a full house for weeks. The Perth audiences are better than this surely.
I wonder if the ITA Committee might consider making a brief questionnaire with possibly half a dozen questions such as those below. If every member, of every theatre group in the area, ask a cross section of only ten members of the general public at random in the street
(not relatives), then the results of this sample may be a beneficial surprise to us all. It should only take a total of about twenty minutes.
I would be happy to act as a coordinator for the results if required.

 

Do you mind if I ask you a few quick questions about the theatre?
How often do you go to the cinema?
1 week             1 month           6 months          1 year              longer than 1 year

 

When did you last go to one of the main theatres in Perth? Which theatre was it?
1 week             1 month           6 months          1 year       longer than 1 year    
His Maj             Playhouse        Regal               Subiaco           Burswood        Other  ………..

 

When did you last go to one of the local community / amateur theatres?
1 week             1 month           6 months          1 year              longer than 1 year

 

Which theatre was it?              ………………………                  

 

Would you go back?                          Yes                   No

 

If not why not?                       
Don’t go out at night              Poor parking               Expensive         Nothing worth seeing

 

Which is your nearest theatre? ………………………     Have you heard of   ???? theatre

 

How much do you think a ticket to the local Community Theatre costs?
$10                   $15                   $20                   $25                   $30                   $35                   $40

 

Do you prefer to see?
Thriller / drama                                    Musical                        Comedy          Something new / unusual

 

Postcode       ………………..                             Guess at person’s age ……………

... and the fact that Gordon has drawn up some sample questions is fantastic. I think the "If not why not?" & the last question could both do with a space for an "other" answer. I would ask my random 10 people! :-) L

There's also been an economic downturn in the past 12 months, so people are more choosy about what they're going to see. They're less likely to see an unknown quantity; they want to know know there's a reasonable chance they might enjoy the show before they fork out they're hard-earned dosh.

Oddly enough, a very similar idea was raised at the last committee meeting...beginning as a discussion of Harbour Theatre's economic contribution to the City of Fremantle, and growing until it was suggested we survey all theatres to gather such information. Not just in relation to attendance, but also "Did you eat dinner at a nearby establishment before the show?" etc.

Hi Gordon Yes we suffered from dire lack of audiences for "A Day in the Death of Joe Egg" in June - in spite of rave reviews from nearly all that saw the show and one of the best reviews I've ever seen in the West Australian. This wasn't even a new work and it was supposedly on the school syllabus (although no school groups came at all!) We were planning to re-mount in Feb/March - but being a co-op, the cast didn't feel confident that we could get many more bums on seats than we did last time. And, yeah, Importance of Being Earnest did so much better audience-wise...c'est la vie Angelique Malcolm