ABC News - Blokes in the spotlight
Fri, 3 Sept 2010, 03:12 pmLabrug6 posts in thread
ABC News - Blokes in the spotlight
Fri, 3 Sept 2010, 03:12 pmBlokes in the spotlight
It's a rare sight in the world of community theatre - a room full of blokes.
Thirteen, mostly middle aged men, are playing a basic drama game that involves protecting an empty chair from an actor who wants to sit down.
The men are talking to each other, guiding each other through what to do. There are smiles and sudden bursts of laughter as one man darts across the room to sit in a forgotten seat.
Tonight is the first night of The Men's Project - an attempt to lure men back into the world of amateur theatre.
"The situation is dire," says organiser Kerri Hilton.
"This year, we've had three or four plays cancelled because during auditions they just can't get the men for all of the roles. It's got to the stage now where people who are set painters or set designers will be dragged onto the stage."
The world of community theatre is traditionally flooded with women, all competing for a coveted role.
But men, especially those aged between 25 and 55, are a rare commodity.
"They may have done drama in high school, they may have even done it at university but they've gone off, they've had children, they've had families, they've gone off to establish their careers etcetera. And all of that sort of time for me or time for what they enjoy has been put aside," Ms Hilton says.
The dearth of male talent in Perth led to the creation of The Men's Project. The six-week course is aimed at men with little to no theatre experience and aims to give them a taste of all facets of theatre - both on and off the stage.
Blokes in the spotlight
It's a rare sight in the world of community theatre - a room full of blokes.
Thirteen, mostly middle aged men, are playing a basic drama game that involves protecting an empty chair from an actor who wants to sit down.
The men are talking to each other, guiding each other through what to do. There are smiles and sudden bursts of laughter as one man darts across the room to sit in a forgotten seat.
Tonight is the first night of The Men's Project - an attempt to lure men back into the world of amateur theatre.
"The situation is dire," says organiser Kerri Hilton.
"This year, we've had three or four plays cancelled because during auditions they just can't get the men for all of the roles. It's got to the stage now where people who are set painters or set designers will be dragged onto the stage."
The world of community theatre is traditionally flooded with women, all competing for a coveted role.
But men, especially those aged between 25 and 55, are a rare commodity.
"They may have done drama in high school, they may have even done it at university but they've gone off, they've had children, they've had families, they've gone off to establish their careers etcetera. And all of that sort of time for me or time for what they enjoy has been put aside," Ms Hilton says.
The dearth of male talent in Perth led to the creation of The Men's Project. The six-week course is aimed at men with little to no theatre experience and aims to give them a taste of all facets of theatre - both on and off the stage.
Great Idea
Was it an ABC radio or
It was neither. Claire saw
Good to see someone doing
muchas grazias