Theatre's in trouble

> It is true that whatever the size of your membership, crew members are near impossible to find.You either get your old faithfuls but even now and then they need a rest. I must admit that I quite like weilding the power backstage. Give me a headset and look out! the power goes to my head. Still - maybe people are afraid of failing, or looking like a drongo if they miscue a sound or lighting effect, being responsible for props that have a habit of going missing. Walking around on the stage in the dark with armfulls of props is not exactly a picnic. One incident that comes to mind was during the production of "I'll be back before midnight" performed at Acorn. I had to replace a rifle onto a rack on the wall. Being in the semi-dark I managed to hook myself onto a rocking chair and pretending to be an incospicuous(excuse my spelling)part of the scene change became a real challenge.Sharon.> However too many people still think that being stage crew is> somehow not as good a job or as important as being "an actor"> and that just turning up on the night is OK. I think that too many> of us in community theatre don't think of 'backstage' as being a craft> which has to be learnt and practised and perfected. Too often as others> have said before me the crew is recruited, ?press-ganged, into service> at the last minute and it usually shows! (no pun intended) when the> ITA organises a workshop on the technical aspects the response is> very much less than the perceived 'glamour aspects' . Sad but true.>> Talking of workshops the next one is in the shape of a forum> on "Publicity", to be held on Saturday May 23rd at 2pm at> Stirling Street. Forms in the May Link or phone office or Elizabeth> ((220-0620/ 9341-5788) Cost as usual $10 members ITA, $15 non-members,> incl tea & sympathy. Panel Rene Cappetta, Jo Sterkenburg and One> Other TBA!> Norma Davis (ITA Sec.)