alex buzo

today i attended the public address by playwright alex buzo on the topic "from one line - the narrowing of theatre and what can be done about it". alex presented a rather cynical view of theatre today which seemed to be backed up by comments from the (small) audience regarding the lack of subsidy for the arts. the consensus seemed to be that companies tend to opt for the "safe" productions guaranteed to get bums on seats as they are afraid that lack of audiences will result in funds being taken away or companies not surviving on the little they can make on the productions. this seems to be an ongoing dilemma for both professional and amateur theatre companies and the decision has to be made whether to put on "challenging" shows and hope to bring in audiences regardless or to continue with the "drawing room" dramas which the public know and come to see. it seems to me that the task is how to get more of the public to go to the theatre - the variety of plays/musicals is out there in profusion - but how to encourage people who may never have been to the theatre to go the first time? i was saddened by the tone of this afternoon's discussion as there seemed not to be that spark of passion so often heard in actors/directors' circles - but maybe it was that the particular group of people who attended are disillusioned. the question is - where were all the other theatre bods?