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%]
crgwllmsWed, 30 Apr 2003, 12:47 am
New 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%]
Craig K EdwardsWed, 30 Apr 2003, 10:02 am
Re: New Poll - Ensemble or Mixed Bag?
As an audience member, I usually don't like seeing the same actors performing together too many times in the one year. It might just be me, but if I've seen the same faces in the same combinations too often, I can't help but start watching and analysing their performances as actors ('oh..he's managed to broaden his range...I like her in this one....uhh I 've seen that guy do better before...') rather than being able to just sit back and concentrate on the story.
At the same time, I think audiences do like seeing and recognising performers - the film industry places huge emphasis on WHO is in its films, and actively tries to create public awareness of its performers because it knows that audiences are more likely to see performers they are familiar with. It often seems a bit sad that film and TV actors are so much better known than their professional stage counterparts, that a good TV actor with only mediocre stage experience and ability will often be the selling point of a production ahead of a set of far more experienced stage actors. Maybe theatre is at an inherent disadvantage when it comes to promoting its performers (and reaping the benefits of audience confidence) but I don't quite understand why this should be so. Anyway - to get back to the topic - I do think ensemble useage may make it a lot easier to promote the identity of the performers - which audience members seem to like.
Arguing for the sake of procrastination,
Craig
At the same time, I think audiences do like seeing and recognising performers - the film industry places huge emphasis on WHO is in its films, and actively tries to create public awareness of its performers because it knows that audiences are more likely to see performers they are familiar with. It often seems a bit sad that film and TV actors are so much better known than their professional stage counterparts, that a good TV actor with only mediocre stage experience and ability will often be the selling point of a production ahead of a set of far more experienced stage actors. Maybe theatre is at an inherent disadvantage when it comes to promoting its performers (and reaping the benefits of audience confidence) but I don't quite understand why this should be so. Anyway - to get back to the topic - I do think ensemble useage may make it a lot easier to promote the identity of the performers - which audience members seem to like.
Arguing for the sake of procrastination,
Craig
Walter PlingeWed, 30 Apr 2003, 03:01 pm
Re: New Poll - Ensemble or Mixed Bag?
I personally am a HUGE fan of the ensemble system. For starters, it keeps actors creative and energised, as they are rehearsing and performing a variety of roles. This leads into the second good thing about ensembles, which is that audiences will respond to the skill and vitality of performers (one of the great thrills of live theatre) on a much more heightened level.
If an actor has a chance to be an actor (rather than merely a type), audiences find that appealing. "Last week, he was a refined gentleman of London. This week, he's an American tough guy. Next week, he's playing a gay Czech politician." Or something like that. Audiences enjoy watching talented actors at work. An ensemble doubles that enjoyment, then triples it, and so on. The more types you play, the more diversity you demonstrate, the more an audience gets off on it.
Aside from putting the finishing touches to "The Elephant Man" (which opens on Friday at Rechabites - book now at BOCS: 9484 1133), I and another director are currently putting together precisely what the Alexander Report has suggested Perth needs - an ensemble company.
We have no money, and will be running on the smell of an oily rag, but we are planning to stage a one-off season of "traditional rep" in November of this year... with two plays (a well-known comedy and a well-known tragedy) staged on alternate nights, using the same cast for both. The leads in each play will play the smaller roles in the other.
It's a bold move, but I am determined that the company I have started experiment with this much-neglected form. It's the reason I named it the Naked Emotion _Ensemble_.
peace,
David M.
If an actor has a chance to be an actor (rather than merely a type), audiences find that appealing. "Last week, he was a refined gentleman of London. This week, he's an American tough guy. Next week, he's playing a gay Czech politician." Or something like that. Audiences enjoy watching talented actors at work. An ensemble doubles that enjoyment, then triples it, and so on. The more types you play, the more diversity you demonstrate, the more an audience gets off on it.
Aside from putting the finishing touches to "The Elephant Man" (which opens on Friday at Rechabites - book now at BOCS: 9484 1133), I and another director are currently putting together precisely what the Alexander Report has suggested Perth needs - an ensemble company.
We have no money, and will be running on the smell of an oily rag, but we are planning to stage a one-off season of "traditional rep" in November of this year... with two plays (a well-known comedy and a well-known tragedy) staged on alternate nights, using the same cast for both. The leads in each play will play the smaller roles in the other.
It's a bold move, but I am determined that the company I have started experiment with this much-neglected form. It's the reason I named it the Naked Emotion _Ensemble_.
peace,
David M.
Walter PlingeThu, 1 May 2003, 01:05 pm
Re: New Poll - Ensemble or Mixed Bag?
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
Walter PlingeFri, 2 May 2003, 02:59 pm
Re: New Poll - Ensemble or Mixed Bag?
Bold Plan David.
Good Luck
Jeff
Good Luck
Jeff
Walter PlingeFri, 9 May 2003, 09:09 am
Re: New Poll - Ensemble or Mixed Bag?
As a member of an amateur theatre, I would like to put a different slant onto this topic.
Although audiences enjoy seeing familiar actors in shows, it would become very boring and tedious if the same people were in every show through the year. Although amateur audiences love to see familiar faces, they also enjoy watching new people on the stage, developing and showing their skills. Amateur shows are not normally sold to audiences based on who is in them, rather than the type of show, director, theme/storyline etc.
If the same actors always have the lead parts in most shows put on by an amateur theatre group, it does not give new actors or members the opportunity to play a part which may be just ideal for them.
I think the goals of amateur theatre are so much different from those groups who are trying to "earn a living" out of the productions they stage.
There is definitely a place for both types.
Although audiences enjoy seeing familiar actors in shows, it would become very boring and tedious if the same people were in every show through the year. Although amateur audiences love to see familiar faces, they also enjoy watching new people on the stage, developing and showing their skills. Amateur shows are not normally sold to audiences based on who is in them, rather than the type of show, director, theme/storyline etc.
If the same actors always have the lead parts in most shows put on by an amateur theatre group, it does not give new actors or members the opportunity to play a part which may be just ideal for them.
I think the goals of amateur theatre are so much different from those groups who are trying to "earn a living" out of the productions they stage.
There is definitely a place for both types.
crgwllmsSat, 31 May 2003, 07:22 pm
Re: Poll results - Ensemble or Mixed Bag?
This poll's been up for a month...haven't had a chance to update for a while, sorry.
120 participants:
only 22 (18%) prefer to watch ensembles
43 (35%) said they'd prefer a changed cast each time
55 (45%) don't have a preference.
Topic generated some good discussion, but it seems in general ensembles aren't seen to be preferable.
(Pity for me; both Barking Gecko and Cutsnake Comedy draw a lot on the benefits of ensemble...mind you, in the Perth professional world, almost any show you do seems like an ensemble, usually the same few battlers).
And then again, the poll didn't differentiate between a group that continually trains and creates together and benefits from progressive experience ...and a group that simply uses the same faces all the time. Maybe it's still a rare beast that's not been observed enough to comment on.
The Poll-tergeist
[%sig%]
120 participants:
only 22 (18%) prefer to watch ensembles
43 (35%) said they'd prefer a changed cast each time
55 (45%) don't have a preference.
Topic generated some good discussion, but it seems in general ensembles aren't seen to be preferable.
(Pity for me; both Barking Gecko and Cutsnake Comedy draw a lot on the benefits of ensemble...mind you, in the Perth professional world, almost any show you do seems like an ensemble, usually the same few battlers).
And then again, the poll didn't differentiate between a group that continually trains and creates together and benefits from progressive experience ...and a group that simply uses the same faces all the time. Maybe it's still a rare beast that's not been observed enough to comment on.
The Poll-tergeist
[%sig%]