Are there too many of us?
Tue, 29 Aug 2000, 04:38 pmWalter Plinge21 posts in thread
Are there too many of us?
Tue, 29 Aug 2000, 04:38 pmHi 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
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?
Fri, 1 Sept 2000, 08:42 pmI was having this discussion with someone the other day.
What would happen if we joined up a few clubs? Put some shows on in a comfortable theatre... all the rest.
So far everyone seems to be saying less productions less roles.
This doesn't have to be the case.
Curtin University has been running lunch time shows for a while now.. years in fact.
The way this works is every week of University Semesters there is a production. Different students putting on a great variety of productions.
Because some theatre companies join doesn't mean they can't still put on more productions. Think about it. Most companies put on four or five shows a year, right?
With more facilities, better fundrasiing organising - more people working for the same cause - audiences from both or all companies coming to see.. is it not possible twice the number of shows could be put on, just with better facilities and backing... more centred support from both community and company.
I think this is a very viable option.
As for putting on "alternative shows" Well there is another thing. To be honest.. the age range of audiences I have seen at a lot of community theatre tends to be toward Fifties and higher. Not saying they wouldn't be for new things.. I think they may be a little more edged toward the traditional play.. so doing a mass exodus to Alternative theatre could have the very opposite effect and scare our audiences away, could it not?
Believe me.. I'm all for alternative theatre... roll on the nudity and the funny way out Star Wars references and let us enjoy it.. Just don't try shoving it down the regular theatre patron's throat other wise they won't be the ones choking, but your company's bank accounts might be.
What would be good is using the work of local writers such as Nick Miller, Luke Milton and every other budding author. Then we could showcase real West Australian talent some more.
Just my thoughts,
Anthony
What would happen if we joined up a few clubs? Put some shows on in a comfortable theatre... all the rest.
So far everyone seems to be saying less productions less roles.
This doesn't have to be the case.
Curtin University has been running lunch time shows for a while now.. years in fact.
The way this works is every week of University Semesters there is a production. Different students putting on a great variety of productions.
Because some theatre companies join doesn't mean they can't still put on more productions. Think about it. Most companies put on four or five shows a year, right?
With more facilities, better fundrasiing organising - more people working for the same cause - audiences from both or all companies coming to see.. is it not possible twice the number of shows could be put on, just with better facilities and backing... more centred support from both community and company.
I think this is a very viable option.
As for putting on "alternative shows" Well there is another thing. To be honest.. the age range of audiences I have seen at a lot of community theatre tends to be toward Fifties and higher. Not saying they wouldn't be for new things.. I think they may be a little more edged toward the traditional play.. so doing a mass exodus to Alternative theatre could have the very opposite effect and scare our audiences away, could it not?
Believe me.. I'm all for alternative theatre... roll on the nudity and the funny way out Star Wars references and let us enjoy it.. Just don't try shoving it down the regular theatre patron's throat other wise they won't be the ones choking, but your company's bank accounts might be.
What would be good is using the work of local writers such as Nick Miller, Luke Milton and every other budding author. Then we could showcase real West Australian talent some more.
Just my thoughts,
Anthony
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