New Poll - Ensemble or Mixed Bag?
Wed, 30 Apr 2003, 12:47 amcrgwllms7 posts in thread
New Poll - Ensemble or Mixed Bag?
Wed, 30 Apr 2003, 12:47 amNew Poll topic - Ensemble casts.
One of the recommendations to Government of the WA Alexander Report is that funding is made available to allow a company (new or existing) to operate as an ensemble company in Perth.
An ensemble company employs a team of artists (not just actors - ensembles can include designers, choreographers, musos, directors...any artist really) for a long term contract that spans over a full season of productions.
Obviously it's pretty good to be employed in an ensemble, and have a long period of guaranteed work. Similarly, it's not good to be left out and have reduced opportunities to join the team until next year's auditions. But I guess that depends a bit on whether the team functions well or not.
Artistically, there are benefits to having a team work together and develop a style and process over many projects rather than have to start from scratch each time with new blood. But there's less freshness and variety; and perhaps the best choice for a single particular role is overlooked in favour of a Jack of all trades who can fill several roles in a year.
Traditionally, most local amateur groups tend to have ensembles, where the same pool of people are used over and over again each production. Opportunities for individuals to grow within a group are pretty high...again, important to get the right group.
Professional companies with high degrees of specialisation (Bizircus, Spare Parts, Barking Gecko) often operate from an ensemble basis or something close to it, supplementing their casts with the odd newcomer as required. And individual directors will often have preferences for working with certain groupings of people. True professional ensembles have continual contracts though, rather than employing casts one show at a time...this can be expensive up front, but it kind of forces them to be continuously developing product.
Poll question is: As an AUDIENCE MEMBER ...what do you prefer?
Do you enjoy seeing a regular group develop new plays together and come up with something different each time? Or are you sick of the same old tired faces and want to see someone else have a go?
Cheers
The Poll-tergeist
[%sig%]
One of the recommendations to Government of the WA Alexander Report is that funding is made available to allow a company (new or existing) to operate as an ensemble company in Perth.
An ensemble company employs a team of artists (not just actors - ensembles can include designers, choreographers, musos, directors...any artist really) for a long term contract that spans over a full season of productions.
Obviously it's pretty good to be employed in an ensemble, and have a long period of guaranteed work. Similarly, it's not good to be left out and have reduced opportunities to join the team until next year's auditions. But I guess that depends a bit on whether the team functions well or not.
Artistically, there are benefits to having a team work together and develop a style and process over many projects rather than have to start from scratch each time with new blood. But there's less freshness and variety; and perhaps the best choice for a single particular role is overlooked in favour of a Jack of all trades who can fill several roles in a year.
Traditionally, most local amateur groups tend to have ensembles, where the same pool of people are used over and over again each production. Opportunities for individuals to grow within a group are pretty high...again, important to get the right group.
Professional companies with high degrees of specialisation (Bizircus, Spare Parts, Barking Gecko) often operate from an ensemble basis or something close to it, supplementing their casts with the odd newcomer as required. And individual directors will often have preferences for working with certain groupings of people. True professional ensembles have continual contracts though, rather than employing casts one show at a time...this can be expensive up front, but it kind of forces them to be continuously developing product.
Poll question is: As an AUDIENCE MEMBER ...what do you prefer?
Do you enjoy seeing a regular group develop new plays together and come up with something different each time? Or are you sick of the same old tired faces and want to see someone else have a go?
Cheers
The Poll-tergeist
[%sig%]
Re: New Poll - Ensemble or Mixed Bag?
Thu, 1 May 2003, 01:05 pmWalter Plinge
Hmmm, I myself would kill to be part of a professional theatre company ensemble. But i dunno about Perth, just because the acting pool is quite small anyways (comparitively) and most people would find it difficult to committ to a company exclusively. But I think it's a great idea that should be toyed with (Go David!).
But, last night I saw the latest offering from the Hayman Theatre Company- A Midsummer Night's Dream. This is a company that largely draws from the same group of actors who are studying at Curtin. I really enjoyed seeing them work together again, particularly those that had just been working together in Cosi. But I think this is mostly because as a former company member, I know most of them anyway. Which I feel makes a lot of difference. But often actor familiarity is a huge drawcard. Just look at the Blue Room. The only thing that really held that show together was the audience's relationship with the actors, not characters, helped emensely by the fact that there was an existing relationship with the two well known actors through prior work.
Companies that always draw on the same people can become frustrating, but mostly I think it is exciting for the audience particularly because of the reasons David said. I'd also like to suggest that audiences like to see actors grow as well. But I think it would be interesting to hear from people who aren't theatre practitioners, who are purely audience members.
Steve
But, last night I saw the latest offering from the Hayman Theatre Company- A Midsummer Night's Dream. This is a company that largely draws from the same group of actors who are studying at Curtin. I really enjoyed seeing them work together again, particularly those that had just been working together in Cosi. But I think this is mostly because as a former company member, I know most of them anyway. Which I feel makes a lot of difference. But often actor familiarity is a huge drawcard. Just look at the Blue Room. The only thing that really held that show together was the audience's relationship with the actors, not characters, helped emensely by the fact that there was an existing relationship with the two well known actors through prior work.
Companies that always draw on the same people can become frustrating, but mostly I think it is exciting for the audience particularly because of the reasons David said. I'd also like to suggest that audiences like to see actors grow as well. But I think it would be interesting to hear from people who aren't theatre practitioners, who are purely audience members.
Steve