making theatre "mainstream"...
Fri, 26 May 2006, 01:12 pmabbz41 posts in thread
making theatre "mainstream"...
Fri, 26 May 2006, 01:12 pmHey all,
Abbey here, and a newbie to the forum. There's been a question on my mind...based on limited brain-picking from general public, and finding the general belief is theatre is not a "mainstream" source of entertainment the way rock concerts, movies and partying on a weekend at a club/bar/pub are...so....
Why is it that theatre is not "mainstream" the way film is? I believe to a larger extent it has to do with accessibility and conveneince, but there must be other reasons. Things like:
Is it because theatre going is generally seen as a "high-risk" venture? Because the stories are seen to be not as good? People do not want to confront the live actors and the potential breakdown of the fourth wall into personal space...? What is your opinion?
And yet another question: any thoughts on how to make theatre more mainstream?
Doing Theatre
Sun, 28 May 2006, 12:29 pmIn my experience it is possible to create an audience. You can if you have the facilities and a small group of dedicated people who are prepared initially to work their arses off for very little return gradually build an audience who will go and see anything. It has to be good theatre and it has to be regular you have to create habits, and you need a really good creative marketing person. I've been involved three or four times with groups that have done this but it's bloody hard work. I don't know the Melbourne Fringe scene Na but I imagine there are lots of groups like that there. Abby 14% sounds high for english speaking counties. I'm told that the figure is about 45% in Germany and France In England we were told that the percentage is about 10% have gone in the last year maybe 15% have gone once in their entire life. I sort of agree with Neville that maybe we don't want to get too mainstream. I'm not sure that I want to play to an audience that loves Big Brother.