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LINDA KIRKMAN GIVES AN END-OF-TERM REPORT BY the time the 2000/2001 theatre season ends in the middle of August, my colleagues and I will have reviewed 102 amateur shows in the Echo circulation area – which is roughly bordered by Swanage to the West, Fordingbridge to the North and Burley to the East. There are approximately 50 different companies – even more if you count the small church groups who do not ask for publicity or reviews – and the standards vary considerably. However, two difficulties that they each seem to share are a shortage of members, especially men, and, at times, pitifully small audiences. This can impact greatly on the choice of production, and several times this season there have been late changes of show, or even cancellations, when something proved impossible to cast. And, in an effort to draw in those elusive bums on seats, desperation occasionally seems to have crept in and there have been several so-called comedies that should never have seen the light of day. I think the people who choose the plays sometimes forget that tastes change, and what was funny thirty years ago no longer appeals to today’s more sophisticated audiences. The problems of membership are difficult to address. I believe that one of the reasons why few young people now join amateur societies is the current proliferation of local drama schools – Big Little Theatre School, Swish of the Curtain, Stagecoach, Bournemouth Youth Theatre and MAD to name but a few. When I was a stage-struck teenager there were none of these, so the inevitable first step into performing was to join one of the amateur societies at sixteen. Now the stage schools take them from the age of five or so, and by the time these youngsters are old enough to join an adult society they’ve either lost interest or they’re planning a career in professional theatre. Either way, the am-dram world loses out. There is also the problem of changes to the working day, with the 9 to 5 routine almost a thing of the past, and people’s free time consequently restricted. And, finally, there are just too many societies vying for the attentions of what is inevitably a fairly small number of people. There have been one or two recent mergers and closures, and that, I think, will have to happen more and more if amateur theatre is to survive locally. The last paragraph also applies when it comes to thinking about audiences, although there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why attendances vary as much as they do. There have been some outstandingly good productions this season that have been seen by less than 20 or 30 people, and some very mediocre ones that have been full to capacity, so quality is not necessarily a factor. Ticket prices must be a consideration, plus the often perceived feeling that it is dangerous to go out at night. And for anyone who doesn’t have access to a car, attendance at an amateur show is almost impossible unless it is a) in the town centre or b) on the doorstep. Amazingly though, one of the reasons I hear over and over again when people tell me they didn’t go to a particular show is “I didn’t know it was on”. They obviously don’t read the Echo !!! Seriously though, I just don’t know what the answer is to that one. If you’ve publicised a show as much as you can to the media, with posters, mail shots and word of mouth, what else can you do? Hold on – what about reeling them in on the end of a fishing rod, locking the doors and… No, my mind’s wandering. I need a holiday. Here’s hoping next season is a stunner – and if you’re a would-be thespian or theatregoer who’s reading this, why not give your support to one of the local groups before, like Brigadoon, they disappear into the mists of time? LINDA KIRKMAN Linda has certainly given the groups food for thought. I've always been of the opinion that groups based on locations where there vast numbers of staff have an advantage. Four such locations spring to mind, and they are Barclays Bank and the Civic Centre at Poole and Chase Manhatten and the Town Hall at Bournemouth, I fancy there lots of others. Of course the groups need to appoint someone whose sole task is to put bums on seats, for some reason lots of them are reluctant to do this. RS |
