Irony at The West

Is anyone else struck by the irony of the @ccess section in The West's generous coverage of the ITA website when the Arts section apparently has a policy of not reviewing "amateur" theatre?Taken at its literal meaning, there is not much other than "amateur" theatre in Perth.Three questions then. Firstly, how does The West distinguish between one "amateur" production and another? Secondly, why bother? Thirdly, what, if anything, might the ITA be doing to improve things?Finally, whilst this is by no means a yardstick for measuring the quality of a company, have you tried looking for information on the web about any of Perth's "professional" companies?Or, perhaps you'd like to start with "Perth's best computer ticket office for live theatre" BOCS? That is if you are still interested in what happened in September last year....CheersGrant

Don't be a cynic Grant - and thats from one who is.Yes I was struck by the irony, but I just thought , well why not try and see if they will take heed of us somewhere or another.As Ron Banks has an E-mail address I am going to see if E-mailing him with items will have any effect. I am just about to send him the details of Melville's upcoming production!!!!!!!!So far I have written twice to Ron Banks on the subject of coverage for 'amateur theatre and there has been absolutely NO reply.Suggestions for next approach/attack will be most welcome. Last year we sent him loads of 'stuff' about the SDF. We might have saved the 45cents.Norma Davis.PS The announced Publicity Workshop scheduled for Saturday May 23 has been CANCELLED due to complete lack of interest, One person registered! So i shall not expect any requests on 'how do we get our productions ' publicised in future. i shall assume you all know it all.ND.> Is anyone else struck by the irony of the @ccess section in The> West's generous coverage of the ITA website when the Arts section> apparently has a policy of not reviewing "amateur" theatre?>> Taken at its literal meaning, there is not much other than "amateur"> theatre in Perth.> Three questions then. Firstly, how does The West distinguish> between one "amateur" production and another? Secondly,> why bother? Thirdly, what, if anything, might the ITA be doing to> improve things?> Finally, whilst this is by no means a yardstick for measuring> the quality of a company, have you tried looking for information on> the web about any of Perth's "professional" companies?> Or, perhaps you'd like to start with "Perth's best computer> ticket office for live theatre" BOCS ? That is if you are still> interested in what happened in September last year....> Cheers> Grant

> Judging from the recent commercial success of LOW LEVEL PANIC and HAMLET and the publicity coverage they have received ( Damn GOOD ). Perhaps the answer is call ourselves professional.Basically these were both ameteur shows. I say these not as a reflection of the performance standard, both are / were excellent ( as is much ameteur theatre ) but as a measure of who was in them.The credits for the actors in both shows was good indication of the ITA theatres frequently using younger actors and a list of the better school drama departments ( hense a lot of Playlovers and Blak Yak actors, schools such as Perth College ).These actors are not professionals in terms of what most drama festivals term professional, the directors are struggling or new professional directors. Someone might make a bit of cash.....maybe......IF the publicity works.AAAGH !!!Shame about the publicity workshop. Had just managed to find a babysitter and was looking forward to it. Was going to email Norma now.