Is this just local or .....?
Tue, 23 Mar 2010, 11:03 amRapunzel15 posts in thread
Is this just local or .....?
Tue, 23 Mar 2010, 11:03 amI have noticed, over the past few months, what might be a local phenomenon. I wonder if it is not just confined to South Australia? I fear for the future...
Our theatre companies are in peril. There seem to be fewer and fewer people willing to do the hard work to actually run them. This isn't new but I'm starting to wonder if it's becoming a plague or pandemic. A recent post by a well established and long running company on our SA website is an example, see the link below.
http://www.theatreguide.com.au/current_site/notices/classifieds.php
Now there will always be people who are very earnest and willing but who shouldn't be let near anything resembling a committee or other organisation because they haven't a clue and wreak unwitting damage. Then there are people who shy away nervously at the thought of joining a committee, it makes them quake with fear. Others flit from company to company "I'm only interested in acting darling". There are others who become excellent apprentices and rapidly become mainstays. There are the tireless workhorses who keep the flipping thing going regardless...and these are the ones who are dying out. Which sometimes means the company will die too. Which means there will be less companies for the "flitters" to perform for, with, whatever...
I'm interested, is this a local disease, a theatrical form of H1N1 striking the hard workers of theatre companies, or is it Australia wide?
Same Old
Tue, 23 Mar 2010, 11:32 amWalter Plinge
Hi Rapunzel,
Years ago I spent many a good year, and time, in the amateur theatre scene. I did my time in that realm as an actor, front of house person, ticket secretary, set builder, committee person, general dog's body and 'person who gets the shitty job of phoning members to pressure/entice them in to helping out'. I still have many friends who tred the amateur boards and take their turn passing out the sherry and sandwiches front of house!
Yes, any hobby or enthusiast group runs on the sweat and man hours of volunteers. In an ideal world, every person who joins an association or club would put in their fair share, take their turn on committee, help out and share the drudge as well as the glory. However, as frustrating as it is, I came to realise that everyone has different reasons for doing amateur theatre, different skills to offer and varying personal lives which may influence their interest or availability to contribute.
You would no sooner force an unwilling person on to a committee than you would force them on to the stage. A great many actors also do several shows a year with differing companies. To expect someone to turn up to 'take their turn' on a set build or FOH for a season 9 months after their show finished for a company they had a 1 season relationship with is, I think, unrealistic now. As the person in charge of recruiting helpers it is very frustrating to get knock backs from previous cast members when you desperately need bodies to help out. But, I believe that we do need to respect a person's decision to just want to be an actor, FOH manager or rehearsal helper, whatever.
Regardless of the group, club or hobby involved there will always be shortfalls in committee members, general helpers and BTS people. Everyone who joins a hobby club has a life, family, work and a personal life demanding their time and emotional energy. As much as we might like others to feel as attached and passionate about the theatre company as we do, the fact is not everyone can/will be. It's just the way it is and any person who's ever been part of a hobby club of ANY sort will most likely have a similar story to tell.
Tulipa.