ART

Lived there when my wife worked there for a couple of years. She was in the first Bobcat show and had a ball. To be honest, it was an incredible show. By any measure. The second bobcat project was interesting, but a bit 'samey' for me. Still had massive audiences though. 2 key points- local involvement- almost every single person involved in the shows was local, barring one actor from brissy in the first one (who wasn't all that amazing from memory), and again for the second. In these country towns, local involvement is critical. 2- they used mining machinery as 'actors' in the shows. This was relevant to an audience in an isolated mining town, and people came. Opera on the whole is entirely alien to this community. That said, both my wife and I spent many nights watching theatre, music, opera, dance with literally less than ten people (18 is doing really well in the Isa Civic Centre). The only shows I know do well regularly (at the civic centre) are the local musicals (we did Les Mis to about 400-500 per night across 6 nights), the comedy roadshow, and Bobcat Dancing. I think Isa is an example of a theatre/civic centre not really being in touch with their community, and simply buying product that won't sell, and then not even doing the correct marketing to sell it. This is a problem I have seen throughout Australia's regional venues in my extensive touring life... Ironically, the local amateur theatre company plays to sell out audiences throughout the year in their own little shed/theatre. They are much more oriented to their audiences, while still doing some more 'challenging' shows as well. I think it's proof that if you're willing to get involved with the community and listen to them, anything can be successful (in terms of audience). This doesn't nullify the importance of an art form such as opera, but you must be willing to accept that it is unlikely to be an audience grabber in certain communities. Enough from me. Mt Isa was too fascinating a town, well worth looking at if you're an amateur theatre co., and I need to stop! Nev It's the simple things stupid...