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?
The media
Mon, 29 May 2006, 11:06 amLike I said - don't get me started on the media.
I've given up on buying some advertising. I've found that the best way to get attention is to be really really unique. Like the 'D-cuppetry' girls (think puppetry of the penis but with breasts).
But basically, it's up to the editor to write about what they think is interesting, and often that's not exactly helpful to the thousands of small fringe companies out there.
And unfortunately, those running the publications must create advertising space, which is often too expensive for a local group to afford, leaving it taken up by companies like STC and MTC, et al who really don't need to publicise themselves to get tickets sold.
Even the musical flops sell more tickets than most fringe companies.
As I said, I think the fringe sector is much different in Melbourne than anywhere else.
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