Amateur versus Community

Sun, 29 Oct 2006, 12:03 pm

Logos25 posts in thread

When did we start using Community rather than Amateur and why? I can still remember a time when the word amateur was proudly worn by a number of theatre companys. After all the word means basically " for the love of" and means far more than unpaid. The top skilled amateurs are not far from professional in ability and the best companies manage very high production values indeed. I have to say that the Scouts are getting quite frightening from that point of view.

Community Theatre at least in the seventies menat something else entirely and related to professional company's working in and with the general community companys like Junction and Troupe here in Adelaide. Exploring local issues and producing performance pieces addressing those issues. They caot a fortune to run of course and as funding became harder and harder in the eighties and ninties they vanished.

So back to the first question. Are we no longer proud of amateur status, is it something we try to avoid as a label. Do we feel that the term community theatre has a better image. Any thoughts.

Presentation

Sun, 29 Oct 2006, 01:44 pm

Labrug

I too have noticed this shift in terminology. As to why, I can only speculate. I think many in the "business" have become sick and tired of the misrepresentation that the term Amateur has had within the general community itself. Whilst many if not most of those that I have worked with understand the true meaning behind the term, they also express their concerns about how others (non-thespians) see it. I generally agree that for the sake of representation, saying Community Theatre as opposed to Amateur does evoke a more suitable response from potential audience members.

As a post from some years back states (http://www.theatre.asn.au/node/10101) "Amateur is not a dirty word. We all know that. The problem is that far more do not.

I see it as getting them in the door then hit 'em with the truth, and in the end, whatever gets more tickets bought, more bums on seats, more drinks from the bar, then the more future there will be for Amateur Theatre in this country.

Absit invidia

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
who can also sing and dance
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director
UPstageWA Rep

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Thread (25 posts)

Threaded Flat

Amateur versus Community— Logos29 Oct 2006

Presentation— Labrug29 Oct 2006
I personally prefer the— Na29 Oct 2006
Not to wax anti-semantic...— Bass Guy29 Oct 2006
My local— Na30 Oct 2006
- So waddya suggest???— Bass Guy30 Oct 2006
It's a bit ironic that I— Logos31 Oct 2006
- Pro-Patronise— Labrug31 Oct 2006
  - As for choosing only to do— Na31 Oct 2006
Soup Cans!— Tari-Xalyr31 Oct 2006
- Learning from each other— Labrug31 Oct 2006
I've just seen an advert— Logos31 Oct 2006
Well, for what it is worth,— Robert Whyte31 Oct 2006
its a matter of overlapping but not equivalent definitions folks— Craig K Edwards31 Oct 2006
What's in a name— Alex Nicol31 Oct 2006
We've had this discussion— Na31 Oct 2006
- Let's all just call— Daniel Kershaw31 Oct 2006
  - Sole Figure— Labrug31 Oct 2006
A thought— Na31 Oct 2006
There's a lady here in— Logos1 Nov 2006
I agree...— Na1 Nov 2006
- Investigate— Labrug2 Nov 2006
I think that theatre is— grantwatson5 Nov 2006
- Thank god you're here— Labrug5 Nov 2006
we're not alone— Craig K Edwards6 Nov 2006

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