making theatre "mainstream"...

Maybe Theatre is slowly shrinking to its Economically Realistic base. Once there was only Theatre, the along came Movies, Silent at first but they still grabbed a section of the entertainment penny. When movies went to talkies they took with them more of the market. Even the Old Valve radios had an impact on people attending Theatre. Television took a bigger chunk, now with DVDs and Home Theatre, the punters have a plethora of cheap ways to be entertained. Because that what's all about for the majority of people. Entertainment. I may prefer Live Theatre for my kicks, but there are many who prefer a remote in their hand and their own loungeroom. Comunity Theatre is still surviving because as others have mentioned they have a local support base and are relativly cheap. I can go to three shows at Rep Clubs, and enjoy a Glass of Red, or a cup of Coffee for less than 1 Professional show. If you look at the soaring costs of attending proffesional Musicals they are getting out of the reach of many average wage earners. I think profesional Theatre needs to be more innovative not only in the way it advertises but in what they are presenting. It doesn't matter if you are selling Potatos or Theatre Seats, the public want value for money and Fresh product. Not something past its use by date. The tax payer does not owe us a living because we choose to be Actors. The Theatre has to be relevant to the public and above all the general punter wants to be entertained, not preached at. While I may consider what we do as an Art. John and Jane Doe consider it entertainment and there are cheaper thrills to be had elsewhere. I believe ther should be a subsidy available for the Theatre, it is an important part of any Cultural History and has a place, but we have to do our bit and get the Public on side,the Arts in General are seen as Elitist and full of Egotistical, air kissing Luvvies.. whether we like it or not that is the current perception of a lot of people, so there is no pressure on the holders of the Public Purse to give us a cent. Sport has always marketed itself as "of the People" and nationaly important to the psyche of the masses. So there is pressure for Politicians to be Seen there and to be supportive. Unless we get Ministers of the Arts that are dinky di lovers of the Arts we will never get the same traction as the Sports minister in Cabinet. We have a Cricket loving Prime minister, a card carrying member of Essendon as the Tresuruer...That is why we suffer as the poor relations. There are aproximatly 300,000 members spread between 16 AFL Clubs let alone two codes of Rugby and then Cricket. Approximatly 400,000 People attend AFL matches each week during winter. That is what people see as mainstream and Sport is Entertaining, It is real live Theatre in its own right. Every week a new script with different plot twists and the intrigue. This week Chris Judds Groin and the Dockers Dilema or Dean laidlys verbal stoush will get more air time and print space than ALL the arts put together. Cheers