Current issues affecting theatre in Australia

Wed, 6 Sept 2006, 01:08 pm

I am a uni student investigating current issues affecting theatre in Australia and would very much appreciate any feedback in regard to this issue. Thank you

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WALTER PLINGEWed, 6 Sept 2006, 01:08 pm

I am a uni student investigating current issues affecting theatre in Australia and would very much appreciate any feedback in regard to this issue. Thank you

NaWed, 6 Sept 2006, 01:56 pm

What kind of current

What kind of current issues? Can you be more specific? The usual gripes are: Not enough money or funding Competing against film/TV/the internet/other activities Lack of complete networks across the country Lack or decrease of long-term paid work Etc. The Prompt Copy Networking emerging theatre professionals www.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com Puppets in Melbourne www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne

neliosamWed, 6 Sept 2006, 04:16 pm

Yeah I’m facing a few of

Yeah I’m facing a few of these current issues myself, like ‘Lack or decrease of long-term paid work. In my opinion theatre is most likely to be viewed as a way of gaining free experience, it is either working as a volunteer under a youth community theatre contributing your talents to the community. Or, on the other hand, you are working on government funding bodies and producing works yourself that may take you towards an outstanding reputation. That’s when you start getting recognised and getting paid gigs. But yeah I don’t know if I have answered your question but it’s about whom you know, what you know and how new and innovating your works can be. (to be empolyeed). There is not much employment out there for theatre, in Sydney or Australia, unless you are educated, have the training or have done your time volunteering in a small nite specific theatre company. Really depends on the specific questions you are after. What helps, is find a topic you like, for example the list above, and research by going to a theatre company near you and interview them or read some theatre books. Plenty out there or essays. Nelio Henriques Sam Actor-sydney

odo5435Wed, 6 Sept 2006, 05:21 pm

RESEARCH IS OBVIOUSLY NOT YOUR STRONG POINT

As a very quick scan of some of the posts on this site would clearly answer your query without getting us to do your homework.

WALTER PLINGEWed, 6 Sept 2006, 08:54 pm

Thanks for your feedback

Be fair and give me a chance!! This is in fact the starting point of my research on a topic quite unfamiliar to me. Not being an arts student and being given this assignment with very little information to go on I think I'm lucky to have found this site, one of very few that contain a forum for such issues. The many Western Australian Arts sites I have visited over the past week unfortunately have not ventured into such area's and only tended to tell the 'success' stories. Hence my venturing outside WA and throwing a line out. Further, I have in fact printed out several posting from this site and have spent the past few hours reading through them. However, regardless of your sarcasm I still appreciate your feedback.

WALTER PLINGEWed, 6 Sept 2006, 09:07 pm

Issues

Thanks for your reply, all of the 'usual' issues you raised are of interest particularly those of funding, competition for audiences and lack/abundance of regular and profitable work for acting as well as non-acting theatre personnel. Any information or personal perspectives you can share on these issues would be much appreciated and would provide me with some insight into the struggles of the theatre industry.

LogosWed, 6 Sept 2006, 09:46 pm

You need to look deeper

I agree that the lack of work for performers in this country is an issue, but it is an overcrowded industry. Remember we are a nation of 19-20 million in a huge land mass. We have the population of greater London in an area that would stretch pretty much from Athens to London. So we have the tyranny of distance which makes many of the staples of theatre in the UK and US and europe impossible here. The small to mid level touring that goes on over there simply does not exist in this country and outside of Sydney and Melbourne there are no centres large enough to support a non subsidised professional theatre. Every town of reasonable size in the UK has a receiving house that takes small scale touring and because these towns are at most an hour apart toruing is viable. It takes two days to get to Perth from Adelaide with nowhere in between that is worth playing in. Two days wages for the cast with no return two days expenses running the truck etc etc. Funding is also poor because we are too small. Not enough tax income to give money to a bunch of actors. Media is poor in this country. Despite the fact that more people go to live performances than to the football, football gets the coverage we all know about. Sponsorship is the same. They'd rather put their sponsorship dollar into something that gets on TV. It's late and I'm running out of awake but if you'd like to talk more to me you can find an e-mail on my website which is below here. I'm in Adelaide by the way. PS This is opinion, I'm not necesarily right. Life's too short to stuff a mushroom www.tonymoore.id.au

NaWed, 6 Sept 2006, 10:44 pm

Now you really do need to do a search...

Many and possibly all of our gripes, thoughts and ideas are somewhere on this site. Best bet - start reading through the blogs. Then search through the popular content, the forums, and the polls. There's just too much to say to write it all over again! ;) The Prompt Copy Networking emerging theatre professionals www.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com Puppets in Melbourne www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne

WALTER PLINGEWed, 6 Sept 2006, 10:50 pm

Thanks

Thanks for your help, I've spent the last few hours reading through hundreds of the blogs and forums and think I have gained some insight and at least a general feel for these issues now - enough to get a decent start in the right direction anyway. Again, many thanks.

NaWed, 6 Sept 2006, 11:01 pm

Hope it helps. There's

Hope it helps. There's really too much to say, and so many variables. The Prompt Copy Networking emerging theatre professionals www.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com Puppets in Melbourne www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne

LabrugThu, 7 Sept 2006, 08:35 am

Marketing

Personally, I have found that there is a general Apathy (or is that resigned acceptance) that this is as good as it gets. There are a select few it would seem that would strive for more, bigger, better and they happen to make a big noise about, they can be quickly cut-down, stifled or booed out of town by the rest taking a long breather in the mud.

It is something I feel is reflected across not just Theatre but all forms of Endeavour commonly called the "Tall Poppy Syndrome". Very few are prepared to stick their head out in-case it gets chopped off.

My thoughts.

Dixi

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
who can also sing ... and occasionaly dance
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

LogosThu, 7 Sept 2006, 09:06 am

Apathy?

Do you mean among the performers and participants or among the wider population. I'm not saying i disagree in fact I probably agree but I think that in the amateur world that apathy translates itself into the "We do what our audience wants" type of group that never takes risks and yes tall poppies in that world soon get cut down or move on. In the pro world safety has also become the way to go at least in small states like SA. The only new work done by our local State Theatre Co for ages was "Honk if you're Jesus" done as part of the Festival in Feb this year. Otherwise we've seen good productions of standards like "Noises Off" and some classics like "Waiting For Godot" and "Uncle Vanya" all good theatre but .... Local groups prefer to stay in their comfort zone. New audiences are never going to be attracted by the old pot boilers. But what will get new audiences in. We're very slowly building an audience for Short theatre with our bi monthly productions in Adelaide but it can be a bit hit and miss due to the fact that we all have other projects and soemtimes they interfere. We've talked about all this before I'll shut up now. Life's too short to stuff a mushroom www.tonymoore.id.au

LabrugThu, 7 Sept 2006, 09:23 am

Pervasive

It's more of an all over thing. I think it is primarily driven by the Companies who would tell you it was driven by the Audience, when it's more likely the Percenption the company has of the "Audiences" expectations.

Actually, most performers are keen and willing to tackle any sort of project. If there is any "apathy" there, they would say it was because that was all that was available. Apathy and Stagnation I believe comes from perception then fact. Companies think that audiences want one thing and therefore provide it. Audiences may not realise that there are alternatives and like the comfort of the familiar ("I don't like a challenge") and performers either resign themselves to doing what is available or moving on.

Very broad strokes there. As always there are the exceptions and these are the "Tall Poppies" who either get cut down (most often) or manage to get away and create change.

Reality is not that black and white I know, but the general idea is there.

Dixi

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
who can also sing ... and occasionaly dance
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

LogosThu, 7 Sept 2006, 11:05 am

I agree

I so often hear "That wouldn't suit our audience" but that is rarely tested and the people who want to test it tend not to get the support of the "Company" and therefore the show is second rate because it lacks the support which then becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Oh never mind. Life's too short to stuff a mushroom www.tonymoore.id.au

LabrugThu, 7 Sept 2006, 11:23 am

Hammer and Nails

You've hit it on the head. It is a vicious cycle of "That's not what we/they want so don't bother." The only way for a self-fulfilling prophecy such as this is down.

Dixi

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
who can also sing ... and occasionaly dance
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

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