Amateur versus Community
Sun, 29 Oct 2006, 12:03 pmLogos25 posts in thread
Amateur versus Community
Sun, 29 Oct 2006, 12:03 pmWhen 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.
Pro-Patronise
Tue, 31 Oct 2006, 08:25 am"..very few of the genuine Joe Public actually totally understands.." is very true and once they are in the door, rarely can they tell the difference. In my experience the difficulty has been getting them in the door.
"Professional artists on the other hand can be incredibly patronising about amateur theatre.." which is were the problem may rest. Many potential audience members (and here I am referring to New Potential not existing) would consider "Professional" theatre to "know better" and therefor take the same attitude as professional artists, and yes that attitude is rather patronising.
I was once advised that if I was to pursue a career in Professional Theatre, then I was to completely abandon Amateur as I would not be as highly regarded. I think that is particularly sad and at the time said so, to which I was told, that is simply the way it is. "If you want to be professional, you must be nothing but to be successful."
Why throw away the wonderful training ground and experimental environment that is Amateur Theatre just because a few encrusted old hams think so? In fact, it was almost enough to put me off going into Professional Theatre all together.
Personally, Amateur is the right description for what we do, for the love of it, but the sad truth is that by the very word, getting people involved in it can be a challenge. So we butter it up, put it in a new package and re-sell it just like any other service provider or production line, and once we have them in the door, tasting the wares, then they can learn the truth.
Of (nearly) every Amateur actor I have ever worked with, none is adverse to calling themselves Amateur and most do so with pride, but that is after you learn the truth behind the word. After all, it is all just theatre.
Absit invidia
Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
who can also sing and dance
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director
UPstageWA Rep