Theatre's in trouble

>> Re theatres "in trouble"> 1) If we don't get bums on seats we don't get to put on another> production so it's necessary to be very practical about this. Perhaps> the solution is three bums on seats shows and one 'for ourselves'> per year?> 2)We did an audience survey last year at Melville and the basic> answer was that our audiences like comedy, comedy, Agatha Christie,> comedy, 'thrillers', comedy, musicals and comedy - preferably well> known ones!> Two years ago we put on "The One Day of the Year",> saturated everyone we could think of with advertising and audiences> were mediocre, Later we did David Williamson's "Travelling North"> , results ditto. We have just finished "Murder at the Vicarage",> not one of Agatha Christie's best and we had practically a sell out> - I've just about given up. Against that when Stirling put on "The> Crucible", everyone thought that it would only attract modest> audiences and it was virtually a sell out. Musicals are almost guaranteed> to be a success but are horrendously expensive in money and effort> and exhaustion sets in from cast and crew.> 3) Remember we are (mostly) in this for fun and when it stops> being enjoyable a lot get out!! Add a few egos thowing spanners in> the works and life gets hard.> 4) most clubs are kept going by a small number of stalwarts and> even they get weary eventually.> 5) Contentious this point but the younger folk don't appear to> have much of a commitment to a club, they just go where the parts> are and many of them don't ;give' much> I await with interest the rebuttals!> Norma Davis. (Secretary of ITA)>I couldn't agree more - of course they are there to enjoy, even those without sole who just take the money, I have only bumpt into a few of these - who have forgotten the audiance.But, isn't this what we do and from the heart, most pro's I know are in it even if they don't get paid. From that respect we are the worst bussiness people in the world and graduate as the most likely to be explioted.I'm not having a go at anyone (rebuttalls) the question was asked so I put my one cents worth - which obviously wasn't worth that much!Unfortunetly, it has always been the 80/20% bit, if it's work the 20% stalwarts turn out. To day only 5% - life style is possibly the main reason?However, when I have been a punter, usually on a comp or paper night, even on the nights I make the contract and buy a ticket, there is an expectation. It's sole destroying when you see the keeness of doing effected by the presentation, that is within their grasp and the nettle droped because of a lack of applying the basics of stagecraft. These are not costly, too hard or outside the enjoyment zone even for those who have first aspired to "lets put on a show". This helps build your B.O.S's base and following. There again it is prossibly easier to say "but we only..." type excuse, this an atempt at justifying self enjoyment by inviting others to pay for something that is less than they can deliver.When it comes to those little things they aviod like poor masking,light focus,EQ-ing audio ect.,this is not those creative accidents or fluffs that make theatre the medium it is and it's character.Arn't we all guilty of neglecting the backstage aspect and offering it as an alturnative if you don't get the part, then start to panic about sets or lights a week before dress rehearsal. They are in the minority who produce a show with everying thing planned or in train prior to the auditions.But, "thats another story" and not what this was first about - sorry!!!Toi Toi ChookasGAAFA