Theatre Australia

your portal for australian theatre

Are there too many of us?

Tue, 29 Aug 2000, 04:38 pm
Walter Plinge21 posts in thread
Hi Thespians,

I have been pondering this quite alot lately. Could some of the problems which are plaguing some amateur/community theatre groups (eg: inadequate venues, low audience attendance, financial struggles) be occuring because there are too many of us?

Two or three groups could merge into one which would:
1. Increase the membership.
2. Increase the pool of skills, ideas, abilities etc.
3. Increase the audiences.
4. Allow the clubs to pool finances and resources towards upgrading or establishing a venue.

These new groups could be re-named to save any arguments and managed initially by a committee consisting of members of each group's current committee. Since many Community Theatre people are not necessarily involved with the club closest to them, I can't see location being a problem. People will travel almost anywhere to be involved in a show that interests them.

Why should three groups keep struggling when as one group they may thrive?
Does anyone agree?

Cheers,
Gill

RE: Are there too many of us?

Tue, 5 Sept 2000, 12:14 pm
Yes, I've always thought that there are too many of us. It won't change because everyone wants to go their own way and do things they can't get at the currently established clubs.
I can think of at least a dozen groups who have formed over the last few years, put on maybe three or four shows and then disappeared without trace - notable exception is Blak Yak.
I don't think there is an answer.

Thread (21 posts)

Are there too many of us?Walter Plinge29 Aug 2000
← Back to Green Room Gossip