Something New?!

Theatre today needs something new, its all good going to a show, drinking your complimentary sherry, sitting down for a few hours to watch what may be a stunning piece of theatre then going home; but what about outside the auditorium? Or even inside it, the show doesn't have to start at curtain up and end at curtain down does it? Suggestions/Comments?

If you have a suitable area such as a grassy side to your theatre with trees etc to light up for atmosphere and access to a kitchen, have a meal before the show and drinks after the show.

Decorate your foyer with the theme of the show so people have something to stop and look at.

Include the show at the theatre as part of a progressive dinner or a river cruise.

Have a dress up theme to match the show, may not work for every night of a season so nominate one or two nights and tell them to book their party groups in early for a special discount of 10% or pay for 9 and get one free to encourage group organisers.

Run a trilogy in conjunction with two other theatres.

Along my many travels over the world wide web I have come across a few scripts which are a play within a play.
In one particular one (which I have the file on my PC if anyone wants it) has some foreplay (if you'll excuse the term) that is acted out prior to the show to explain what certain people are doing. I think it also has audience involvment, and, sure, it may not be much but it gets the audience, well, involved.
Another suggestion is where you can spend the evening after the show with the players, but I guess that happens at many theatres such as Roleystone where we all come out and talk to people virtually straight after the show.

A lot of the time it isn't about providing it, the audience has to want it to get it.

Alan

I am not too certain that theatre really needs anything new in the way of the actual performance. There are plenty of ways to keep the entertainment going as others have suggested, both prior and after the main show. I have seen shows where the actors, in character, showed the audience to their seats, served drinks, etc.

Now this is just my opinion. These "extracurricular" activities are only useful when appropriately apllied the the main show itself.

I mean don't most people simply go to a show to simply see a show? They don't usually expect any extras. My experience sees most treat theatre like the cinemas. "I came, I saw, I went home." The only people who tend to hang around or get there early are other thespians, friends of thespians, or friends of the theatre itself. Most other show goers are simply that, goers then leavers.

If Theatre needs anything new, it would have to be better promotional activities. Far too many people are not aware of their local theatrical groups and productions. The Stirling Players are just around the corner from where I live but I didn't know they were there until I walked into a newsagent and saw a poster for their next production. Even the local community paper has nothing about what these guys are doing.

How are people ment to learn about local theatre if there is not promotional support of some kind?

I'll get of the soap box now.... ;-)

CYA! Jeff.