Is this just local or .....?

I 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?

We have a rule at committee meetings. "Because it's always been done that way" is not a valid reason for anything, and invites scorn upon the speaker. Actually, not a rule, more of a guideline. Down at Melville, half the committee is on the 'right' side of fifty (3 on the right side of forty - one not even 30). This has a tendency to shout down the "we've always done it like that" comments. We are not that different to other theatres, where a few do the bulk of the work. I was recently very pleased at a set building day when we had about 10-15 people turn out. Some of them cast of the current show who have never been to MTC before. There is hope, but I agree with Skye. Break the noobs in gently. www.meltheco.org.au

We have a rule at committee

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