Of All The Stupid Ideas!!!
Mon, 26 Apr 2004, 04:57 pmAHarwood8 posts in thread
Of All The Stupid Ideas!!!
Mon, 26 Apr 2004, 04:57 pmLadies and Gentlemen - and the rest of you (you know who you are).
Over the last few months I have received paperwork from a certain group disucssing plans for a new theatre sturcture in Perth. There have also been discussions about whether to place an already established company or develop a new company to take up residence in this theatre. I may not be fully informed on the current situation or the details but I have my soap box and its about time it got some airing.
I believe in a vote held at a meeting the majority of the attendents believed we should migrate an already established company into the new building. I am here to say "I TELL YOU NO!"
I have just finished working on what might be my 64th or something near that production. Some of you may have seen it - no one really wrote a review on it - and some of you might not. But those that did would have seen the talent in this company.
They were - in my opinion - absolutely brilliant.
I am well aware that every show in Perth, even the world, requires dedication, commitment and effort. And I know it has been there in almost every show I have been involved in. But never so much as in this group of fine people.
They put their hearts, time and lives into this show as so many people around Perth do.
But the thing that stood out in this show was the lack of back biting, bitchiness, competition, hate and malice. There was none of this usually obligatory rubbish going on behind the scenes. They got together and worked, became friends and it rocked my world. And I think it goes without saying - but I will - that it has been one of the most gratifying experiences in my theatrical life. I will genuinely miss th cast, the show and the experience.
And the funny thing.. despite all the shows I've done and seen, I had never met over half the cast before. And yet they have so many talents and strengths.
Why should a group of actors who have already established a company and most of the professional companies in perth have a venue already - be moved into a new venue when there are so many damned talented actors, singers and dancers out there with only the odd community theatre show to get involved in?
I am sick and tired of all the shows coming from the east or over seas and thinking we could do a hell of a lot better than that. (with exception of Maggie Smith and Margaret Tyzack). So why not give the people out there who are not permanent members of a company a go and have a company in the venue that is open to auditions to the whole public much like community theatre is and advertised on a wide scale as that. There is a hell of a lot of untapped talent in this state and its about time it got seen.
I am only going to be in Perth for a few more months but I am only leaving because there are too few opportunities here. But I WILL BE BACK TO HELP MAKE PERTH BETTER FOR THE THEATRE PEOPLE! Its just getting stupid now so I will stop. But I wish everyone in perth luck with theatre cos we're better than that imported crap we've been getting of late. Maybe we SHOULD start touring over there and show we are better than them. But that will have to wait till we have the money and the balls to do it:)
Take care everyone!!
Anthony
[%sig%]
Over the last few months I have received paperwork from a certain group disucssing plans for a new theatre sturcture in Perth. There have also been discussions about whether to place an already established company or develop a new company to take up residence in this theatre. I may not be fully informed on the current situation or the details but I have my soap box and its about time it got some airing.
I believe in a vote held at a meeting the majority of the attendents believed we should migrate an already established company into the new building. I am here to say "I TELL YOU NO!"
I have just finished working on what might be my 64th or something near that production. Some of you may have seen it - no one really wrote a review on it - and some of you might not. But those that did would have seen the talent in this company.
They were - in my opinion - absolutely brilliant.
I am well aware that every show in Perth, even the world, requires dedication, commitment and effort. And I know it has been there in almost every show I have been involved in. But never so much as in this group of fine people.
They put their hearts, time and lives into this show as so many people around Perth do.
But the thing that stood out in this show was the lack of back biting, bitchiness, competition, hate and malice. There was none of this usually obligatory rubbish going on behind the scenes. They got together and worked, became friends and it rocked my world. And I think it goes without saying - but I will - that it has been one of the most gratifying experiences in my theatrical life. I will genuinely miss th cast, the show and the experience.
And the funny thing.. despite all the shows I've done and seen, I had never met over half the cast before. And yet they have so many talents and strengths.
Why should a group of actors who have already established a company and most of the professional companies in perth have a venue already - be moved into a new venue when there are so many damned talented actors, singers and dancers out there with only the odd community theatre show to get involved in?
I am sick and tired of all the shows coming from the east or over seas and thinking we could do a hell of a lot better than that. (with exception of Maggie Smith and Margaret Tyzack). So why not give the people out there who are not permanent members of a company a go and have a company in the venue that is open to auditions to the whole public much like community theatre is and advertised on a wide scale as that. There is a hell of a lot of untapped talent in this state and its about time it got seen.
I am only going to be in Perth for a few more months but I am only leaving because there are too few opportunities here. But I WILL BE BACK TO HELP MAKE PERTH BETTER FOR THE THEATRE PEOPLE! Its just getting stupid now so I will stop. But I wish everyone in perth luck with theatre cos we're better than that imported crap we've been getting of late. Maybe we SHOULD start touring over there and show we are better than them. But that will have to wait till we have the money and the balls to do it:)
Take care everyone!!
Anthony
[%sig%]
Re: Mis-sing the point
Sun, 2 May 2004, 01:21 amContinuing to add points to previous points, albeit a bit randomly:
>But I think its rude that people involved in theatre in Perth are not made aware of these facts.
No, I think it's a degree of how MUCH you involve yourself in theatre. Asking questions as you have, results in some of your questions being answered. Others have sought these answers before you, and have been informed for a lot longer.
Those who are really involved ARE the ones making these decisions. They try to inform other interested people, but how can we if we don't know who you are?
As you have demonstrated, if you want to find out, ASK.
>But in losing these two venues and replacing it with one – this hardly offers much choice to the theatre industry in Perth now does it?
>if it is so damn hard booking the Playhouse for a week or two weeks – imagine what it will be like when there are fewer major venues in perth.)
>I donÂ’t think having an established company board move into the new theatre will change anything except make it harder to find a venue.
Nobody in the industry wants less venues. But currently there are NO companies that actually manage their own venue. So the ideal situation we would like to see in a new venue is a resident company (whether this means a new company or an existing one is immaterial, it'll be better than what exists now).
Having a theatre company committed to keeping the venue LIVE not DARK will mean they will be able to programme the year so there is always something happening. If this is not a production by the resident company, it'll be another company or indeed an amateur company. It's better to keep audiences regularly attending the venue, rather than not have anything happen. Do you realise that that is exactly what was happening with the Playhouse and the Subiaco Theatre Centre? They were dark (ie NOTHING was happening in the building) for at least a third of the year and in one particular year, even more than that. We're not going to be worse off, even if we are a venue less than when we started, if the new venue is managed so as to stay open and with continuous productions, so that audiences attend frequently, like they would to a moviehouse. There are companies in NSW and Brisbane that I can think of that are rolemodel examples, I'm sure there are others. THAT is what we are aiming to achieve with the new venue.
>Professional or no. Community theatre seems to be having the need to use these PROFESSIONAL venues these days because places like the Rachabites and the Blue Room donÂ’t cut it for many productions.
Funny, yet the professional companies actually seem to be using the Rechabites and Blue Room MORE.
I've worked and watched in all the spaces you've mentioned, and I don't consider the venue to be a huge indicator of the quality of entertainment I'm going to get.
>They will already have a devised ensemble company to work from as they do now. How would this be any different to how things are run now?
As Dave has said, there are NO ensembles companies in Perth at present. Your perception of the way shows are cast really comes down to market forces. It's always been like that, and I'd be surprised if you could show me an amateur company that didn't have its 'favorites' as well. Given time, actors move on, new ones move in.
>>Case in point...the same actor advertised in two plays soon to be showing.
>Another example on the tv screen. John Howard the actor from Seachange, Grass Is Greener...You canÂ’t tell me there wouldnÂ’t be other actors in Australia who could do the role rather than giving it to the same person?
>I feel that there are other actors in Perth who could do as good a job if given the chance. .. many PROFESSIONAL companies in perth use the same actors over and over.
And why not bring up films as well? Why does Samuel L Jackson keep getting cast in films, apart from the fact he's obviously an excellent choice? Why do we keep going to see...well, virtually any film really, with a recognised talent? it's just the same actors over and over...
No, sorry, I don't think this tired argument really holds water. Directors are ALWAYS looking for new talent that will be new and exciting and impress audiences. But they also have a huge back-history of actors they've already worked with well, who they've established a working relationship with, who they don't have to train on the job, who audiences recognise and enjoy seeing in a new role,
I guess I'm one of those actors you could use as an example...I tend to be in about every third Barking Gecko show. I put it down to the fact that I have spent about 18 years actively honing my skills in theatre for young people, I offer the company more than just acting skills, and like Dave's example, I have actively created my own work and presented it to the company to be used in their programme in association with my company. I know that for some particular shows, Barking Gecko have actively searched for someone else...ANYONE else...to cast instead of me (!) but I ended up getting the gig because they couldn't find anyone who could do what I do. So THERE's a challenge to any 35 yr olds who want to take me on!
That's the reality...there are thousands of people who might fit a ROLE, so companies look for OTHER criteria...how well you work with others, musical/singing ability, physical/gymnastic/dance ability, touring ability, compatibility with other actors, improvising ability, devising ability, ability to take direction, ability to lead/initiate artistic tasks, speech/diction/vocal range, ability to represent the company in an interview/publicity situation, technical/mechanical skill, ability to work with (and be liked by) children, puppetry skills, circus skills, having a truck license/ability to reverse a trailer, sense of humour, sense of professionalism, reliability, inventiveness, consistency in performance, ability to sustain long repetitive seasons, generally excellent health and stamina, oh yes and some acting skills.
I realise I've kind of been listing my job description because that's what I know, but I guarantee if you look at any of those actors you see consistently onstage and find out the qualities they bring to a production behind the scenes, their employability is always totally justified.
>They hold isolated auditions not widely advertised and very few and far between.
>Open auditions take time but it gives a better idea what talent is out there.
You ought to get on the phone and hassle your agent, if you think you're not getting sent to enough. All the auditions I've been to are well attended by a lot of actors, both faces I recognise and new ones I've yet to. The companies seem to be getting a hell of a lot of talent crossing their doors each audition, why should they advertise for more when it's hard enough getting through what they do?
Again, INVOLVE YOURSELF, don't expect the companies to do it for you.
>I think the control by a theatre company would be better as long as it had the community theatre in mind when running it.
The Pro companies recognise the influence of community theatre, but really there is only so much that can be offered. The government is investing this money with a view to re-establishing the professional theatre industry and linking it with tourism, in a world class quality venue. Previous arts policies and venue-management decisions have not helped the industry in the least, and need to be rectified along the line of these plans.
Amateur theatre, by definition, does the best with what it can, and is currently not in any danger of disappearing.
>Again – why don’t the professional companies do bigger shows like the good ole musicals using more talent in perth than the two or three man shows they do? They will make the money.
I suggest you get hold of the ArtsWA budget criteria to find out exactly what it does cost. No, in general they WON'T make the money. That's why Theatre is invariable subsidised, and most professional companies are not-for-profit organisations. A show like The Lion King is just covering its production costs, and it's playing in the population and tourism capitol of Australia, at $100 a ticket. Sorry, if you're going to insist the pro companies do musicals like that to make money, I'm afraid I'll be seeing very little of it on my salary...and they won't be affording to do any other theatre so I'll either have to put on low budget productions myself and compete with the amateur plays, or go back to teaching scubadiving....
Cheers,
Craig
weekend in Penrith
[%sig%]
>But I think its rude that people involved in theatre in Perth are not made aware of these facts.
No, I think it's a degree of how MUCH you involve yourself in theatre. Asking questions as you have, results in some of your questions being answered. Others have sought these answers before you, and have been informed for a lot longer.
Those who are really involved ARE the ones making these decisions. They try to inform other interested people, but how can we if we don't know who you are?
As you have demonstrated, if you want to find out, ASK.
>But in losing these two venues and replacing it with one – this hardly offers much choice to the theatre industry in Perth now does it?
>if it is so damn hard booking the Playhouse for a week or two weeks – imagine what it will be like when there are fewer major venues in perth.)
>I donÂ’t think having an established company board move into the new theatre will change anything except make it harder to find a venue.
Nobody in the industry wants less venues. But currently there are NO companies that actually manage their own venue. So the ideal situation we would like to see in a new venue is a resident company (whether this means a new company or an existing one is immaterial, it'll be better than what exists now).
Having a theatre company committed to keeping the venue LIVE not DARK will mean they will be able to programme the year so there is always something happening. If this is not a production by the resident company, it'll be another company or indeed an amateur company. It's better to keep audiences regularly attending the venue, rather than not have anything happen. Do you realise that that is exactly what was happening with the Playhouse and the Subiaco Theatre Centre? They were dark (ie NOTHING was happening in the building) for at least a third of the year and in one particular year, even more than that. We're not going to be worse off, even if we are a venue less than when we started, if the new venue is managed so as to stay open and with continuous productions, so that audiences attend frequently, like they would to a moviehouse. There are companies in NSW and Brisbane that I can think of that are rolemodel examples, I'm sure there are others. THAT is what we are aiming to achieve with the new venue.
>Professional or no. Community theatre seems to be having the need to use these PROFESSIONAL venues these days because places like the Rachabites and the Blue Room donÂ’t cut it for many productions.
Funny, yet the professional companies actually seem to be using the Rechabites and Blue Room MORE.
I've worked and watched in all the spaces you've mentioned, and I don't consider the venue to be a huge indicator of the quality of entertainment I'm going to get.
>They will already have a devised ensemble company to work from as they do now. How would this be any different to how things are run now?
As Dave has said, there are NO ensembles companies in Perth at present. Your perception of the way shows are cast really comes down to market forces. It's always been like that, and I'd be surprised if you could show me an amateur company that didn't have its 'favorites' as well. Given time, actors move on, new ones move in.
>>Case in point...the same actor advertised in two plays soon to be showing.
>Another example on the tv screen. John Howard the actor from Seachange, Grass Is Greener...You canÂ’t tell me there wouldnÂ’t be other actors in Australia who could do the role rather than giving it to the same person?
>I feel that there are other actors in Perth who could do as good a job if given the chance. .. many PROFESSIONAL companies in perth use the same actors over and over.
And why not bring up films as well? Why does Samuel L Jackson keep getting cast in films, apart from the fact he's obviously an excellent choice? Why do we keep going to see...well, virtually any film really, with a recognised talent? it's just the same actors over and over...
No, sorry, I don't think this tired argument really holds water. Directors are ALWAYS looking for new talent that will be new and exciting and impress audiences. But they also have a huge back-history of actors they've already worked with well, who they've established a working relationship with, who they don't have to train on the job, who audiences recognise and enjoy seeing in a new role,
I guess I'm one of those actors you could use as an example...I tend to be in about every third Barking Gecko show. I put it down to the fact that I have spent about 18 years actively honing my skills in theatre for young people, I offer the company more than just acting skills, and like Dave's example, I have actively created my own work and presented it to the company to be used in their programme in association with my company. I know that for some particular shows, Barking Gecko have actively searched for someone else...ANYONE else...to cast instead of me (!) but I ended up getting the gig because they couldn't find anyone who could do what I do. So THERE's a challenge to any 35 yr olds who want to take me on!
That's the reality...there are thousands of people who might fit a ROLE, so companies look for OTHER criteria...how well you work with others, musical/singing ability, physical/gymnastic/dance ability, touring ability, compatibility with other actors, improvising ability, devising ability, ability to take direction, ability to lead/initiate artistic tasks, speech/diction/vocal range, ability to represent the company in an interview/publicity situation, technical/mechanical skill, ability to work with (and be liked by) children, puppetry skills, circus skills, having a truck license/ability to reverse a trailer, sense of humour, sense of professionalism, reliability, inventiveness, consistency in performance, ability to sustain long repetitive seasons, generally excellent health and stamina, oh yes and some acting skills.
I realise I've kind of been listing my job description because that's what I know, but I guarantee if you look at any of those actors you see consistently onstage and find out the qualities they bring to a production behind the scenes, their employability is always totally justified.
>They hold isolated auditions not widely advertised and very few and far between.
>Open auditions take time but it gives a better idea what talent is out there.
You ought to get on the phone and hassle your agent, if you think you're not getting sent to enough. All the auditions I've been to are well attended by a lot of actors, both faces I recognise and new ones I've yet to. The companies seem to be getting a hell of a lot of talent crossing their doors each audition, why should they advertise for more when it's hard enough getting through what they do?
Again, INVOLVE YOURSELF, don't expect the companies to do it for you.
>I think the control by a theatre company would be better as long as it had the community theatre in mind when running it.
The Pro companies recognise the influence of community theatre, but really there is only so much that can be offered. The government is investing this money with a view to re-establishing the professional theatre industry and linking it with tourism, in a world class quality venue. Previous arts policies and venue-management decisions have not helped the industry in the least, and need to be rectified along the line of these plans.
Amateur theatre, by definition, does the best with what it can, and is currently not in any danger of disappearing.
>Again – why don’t the professional companies do bigger shows like the good ole musicals using more talent in perth than the two or three man shows they do? They will make the money.
I suggest you get hold of the ArtsWA budget criteria to find out exactly what it does cost. No, in general they WON'T make the money. That's why Theatre is invariable subsidised, and most professional companies are not-for-profit organisations. A show like The Lion King is just covering its production costs, and it's playing in the population and tourism capitol of Australia, at $100 a ticket. Sorry, if you're going to insist the pro companies do musicals like that to make money, I'm afraid I'll be seeing very little of it on my salary...and they won't be affording to do any other theatre so I'll either have to put on low budget productions myself and compete with the amateur plays, or go back to teaching scubadiving....
Cheers,
Craig
weekend in Penrith
[%sig%]
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