oportunities in WA

I am moving to WA, & aiming to get into the arts on various levels. I am highly trained, experienced actor with excellent skills for dramatics. I am working in London at the moment, so I naturally want to continue my work in Aus.

After looking through various websites, I have not found a lot in the way of auditions/employment. I would love to initiate any opportunities with relevent people.

Who can suggest a few leads? Or even chat about your experiences...

Any info would be appreciated.

Regards,
Mike

Hi Mike

Michael Hodgen wrote:
-------------------------------
> I am moving to WA, & aiming to get into the arts on
> various levels. I am highly trained, experienced actor
> with excellent skills for dramatics. I am working in
> London at the moment, so I naturally want to continue
> my work in Aus.

If you are serious about a career in the performing arts, i don't believe i could recommend Perth. Yes, some people here manage to eke out a living in their chosen profession. I don't think its unfair to categorise them as either passionate self starters creating their own employment or a very few better known performers managing three or four short seasons per year out of the meagre dozen locally produced professional shows. The more successful probably fall into both categories. Almost all of them rely on other employment as a primary source of income.

Many, indeed most, people find the opportunities too limiting and choose to pursue a career in the eastern states - chiefly Sydney and Melbourne. At least there you usually have a choice of agent.

That said, Perth for its size has perhaps one of the most active and passionate theatre communities of any Australian city - except maybe Melbourne.

> After looking through various websites, I have not found
> a lot in the way of auditions/employment. I would love to
> initiate any opportunities with relevent people.
> Who can suggest a few leads? Or even chat about your
> experiences...

Professional auditions are rarely advertised here in any conventional media - let alone on the web. Very much like anywhere else in the world, i imagine, your agent and network of professional contacts are your lifeline to employment opportunities.

In a crazy kind of way, parochialism and reverse parochialism seem to work at the same time here. Actors with credits from out of town or overseas are often snapped up for roles - "they must be good if they've worked in...". On the other hand, there's a thinly veiled, but healthy cynicism about the quality of imported artists.

The usual prerequistes apply; energy, passion, persistence and total committment. Ability, training and talent occasionally run a poor second.

Speak to equity in the UK about membership of our related union the Media, Entertainment Arts Alliance - there's a link for them on the links page.

Anyone else with other ideas?

Cheers
Grant

There's always small theatre companies like patch theatre or the falcon brothers or some others for professional work. Patch's actually been around for more than 60 years, they had money trouble before and right now, although they're trying to start putting on adult plays and evening performances, their main source of income is actually children's theatre (plays like "Goldilocks and the three bears" etc) and school-based programs.
Falcon brothers been around for about a year, and they deal mainly with street performances, but they're trying to "get up to the next level" which is school programs. Those companies almost demand full-time commitment and you'll still have to get a second or third job because it's virtually impossible to live out of just acting in perth. You will want to be a member of the Media, Entertainment Arts Alliance if you want to go any further -it's difficult to work in sydney, etc if you're not a member. and of course you'll need an Australian Business Number, although I don't know if that's only for australian citizents. I hope this helps. If there's anything I can do, let me know.

From what I've heard over the years, I wouldn't be recommending Patch Theatre as an employment opportunity for an experienced performer. Please correct me if things have changed in recent times, but many actors have told me of heavy time committments coupled with EXTREMELY low wages. Other companies that work on a co-op basis such as Class Act Theatre and Arena Arts and Entertainment pay actors around $60.00 to $80.00 per show. Depending on booking numbers, of course - this can be a good earner for performers who enjoy Theatre In Education work. These companies also put on "adult" theatre now and again. Class Act will be holding auditions in the near future for its 2001 season.

class act's having an audition? You've got me interested now. When? Where? Can you give me the details?

Don't worry - I'll do a proper posting on the Audition page when I get my act together (I'm suddenly very busy this year!). I think it will probably be late January or else mid February.