Student & Uni Drama groups
Fri, 1 May 1998, 12:31 amGrant Malcolm2 posts in thread
Student & Uni Drama groups
Fri, 1 May 1998, 12:31 amDoes the ITA have more of a role to play in raising awareness of amateur theatre in the community at large?...I've got a notion in my head that many students and university drama groups have no idea of the existance of the Independent Theatre Association.Students enrolled in a drama or theatre related course, or members of a campus theatre group, can have enormous enthusiasm for theatre. When they graduate however, work (or dole) pressures may cause them to forgoe future involvement in theatre. An additional factor may be that many of them may have no contact, experience or knowledge of community theatre. I remember that as a student (not so long ago!) I had no idea of the range of opportunities available in community theatre.A poster or flyer campaign targetting performance venues on tertiary and post secondary campuses around the metropolitan area could generate quite a few new memberships. A letter of introduction to teaching staff, perhaps offering to speak to interested students may assist. Referring technologically literate students to the ITA website would be a good way to get things going.Now, I'm aware that many clubs would not consider an influx of acting-obsessed, spotty youngsters scarcely beyond their teens (not my impression - but some people don't treat them much differently) a perfect solution to their declining membership. But attracting graduate students need not mean recent graduates.Most universities have a graduate newsletter posted free of charge to all their alumni. Probably the most effective means of having information about the ITA and community theatre published would be to have an article included about what graduates are doing in the community. Do you have a graduate in your club that might be featured?...CheersGrant