So where to now?
Thu, 24 Feb 2005, 01:48 amWalter Plinge23 posts in thread
So where to now?
Thu, 24 Feb 2005, 01:48 amThere has been some discussion on this forum of late that arises out of the current poll. I think that is a highly important subject and one which has to be addressed.
It seems that theatre as a form of entertainment and a means by which people converge together and socialise is slowly dying. It seems that of late theatre has become in the general publics opinion seen as a pretentious artform meant to be experienced only by those that deem they can afford it. It is sad that often the publics general opinion and the truth of the matter are the complete opposites.
There are many reasons for this taking place, a number of which have been discussed in the other thread. I now want to put it to the wider forum community that something has to be done to counter the situation and it won't happen by accident. The question before us is, how? How do we do this? We must all work together ametuers and professionals alike and for awhile, at least, dispose of our ego's to re-inforce the rocky foundations of Australian theatre.
In short:
There's a problem that i deem needs fixing, how do we fix it?
It seems that theatre as a form of entertainment and a means by which people converge together and socialise is slowly dying. It seems that of late theatre has become in the general publics opinion seen as a pretentious artform meant to be experienced only by those that deem they can afford it. It is sad that often the publics general opinion and the truth of the matter are the complete opposites.
There are many reasons for this taking place, a number of which have been discussed in the other thread. I now want to put it to the wider forum community that something has to be done to counter the situation and it won't happen by accident. The question before us is, how? How do we do this? We must all work together ametuers and professionals alike and for awhile, at least, dispose of our ego's to re-inforce the rocky foundations of Australian theatre.
In short:
There's a problem that i deem needs fixing, how do we fix it?
Re: A very simple solution.
Wed, 2 Mar 2005, 01:29 amWalter Plinge
will you pay my rent, milo?
if i work in theatre can i get by in this country?
if i am single and on the dole am i living above the poverty line?
did we invade iraq for the sole purpose of extracting WMDs? or east timor to free the people?
today's lesson is brought to you by the number 42 and the letters N and O...
and i still i fight on, ya mancunian!!!
it won't die, but forget making a living out of it unless we all work a wee bit harder than we are at the moment and start telling stories that are relevant to majorities than minorities, raise the standard of a very scrappy australian theatre standard across the board(directors, actors, imagination, et al), cut the costs of theatre tix, start to entertain again in the best sense of the word...
and if you aren't in it to make a living(not a fortune), then you keep having fun and forget about the demise of oz theatre. it won't affect you.
for as long as people are prepared to work for free, or in the case of co-op, make no attempt to raise some cash to pay for cast and crew or, in many cases, raise the production values(ie set, cossies, etc.)above a chair, heshin and smoke machine to help the audience, or try to nurture sponsorship so that the next cast looking for investment don't get told to @!#$ off because of the last lot, then we are knackered and there's no amount of talk can do anything about it!
we are, as a theatrical nation, a bunch of underwhelmers! a joke, really. and it runs across the board from what we write, to artistic vision and concept to acting to directing. what are you all going to do about it? how will you change it? give me answers! i wrack my brain and my heart and it gets me so frustrated. australian theatre in the 21st century? what is it? what do you stand for, if anything?
let's take this underwhelming international reputation we have, align our skills and fire up the place! let's not turn up in other countries or have them come to our festivals looking for good stuff only to find banal underwhelming plays and performances. one best supporting actress award is not enough to let us off the hook, people! we are ridiculed by all who see our work. and now our own audiences embarassingly flick past the theatre guide sections of the paper. and it's not because we aren't as good, but we do not put enough on to prove that perception wrong. but let's work together and get stuff off the ground, whether it is quality from here or over where.
enough talk - let see ya dance!!!
mick, with faith
if i work in theatre can i get by in this country?
if i am single and on the dole am i living above the poverty line?
did we invade iraq for the sole purpose of extracting WMDs? or east timor to free the people?
today's lesson is brought to you by the number 42 and the letters N and O...
and i still i fight on, ya mancunian!!!
it won't die, but forget making a living out of it unless we all work a wee bit harder than we are at the moment and start telling stories that are relevant to majorities than minorities, raise the standard of a very scrappy australian theatre standard across the board(directors, actors, imagination, et al), cut the costs of theatre tix, start to entertain again in the best sense of the word...
and if you aren't in it to make a living(not a fortune), then you keep having fun and forget about the demise of oz theatre. it won't affect you.
for as long as people are prepared to work for free, or in the case of co-op, make no attempt to raise some cash to pay for cast and crew or, in many cases, raise the production values(ie set, cossies, etc.)above a chair, heshin and smoke machine to help the audience, or try to nurture sponsorship so that the next cast looking for investment don't get told to @!#$ off because of the last lot, then we are knackered and there's no amount of talk can do anything about it!
we are, as a theatrical nation, a bunch of underwhelmers! a joke, really. and it runs across the board from what we write, to artistic vision and concept to acting to directing. what are you all going to do about it? how will you change it? give me answers! i wrack my brain and my heart and it gets me so frustrated. australian theatre in the 21st century? what is it? what do you stand for, if anything?
let's take this underwhelming international reputation we have, align our skills and fire up the place! let's not turn up in other countries or have them come to our festivals looking for good stuff only to find banal underwhelming plays and performances. one best supporting actress award is not enough to let us off the hook, people! we are ridiculed by all who see our work. and now our own audiences embarassingly flick past the theatre guide sections of the paper. and it's not because we aren't as good, but we do not put enough on to prove that perception wrong. but let's work together and get stuff off the ground, whether it is quality from here or over where.
enough talk - let see ya dance!!!
mick, with faith
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