Thursday 8 August 2013

Turn of the Tide: Accentuate the Positives

What are your favourite things about the Canberra "Amateur" Theatre Scene?

They can range from the broad:
"So many great people" or "Such great show quality",
to the particular:
"Ian Maclean is a musical genius" or "Rep's happy hour has the best prices in town".

It's always important to remember that theatre in Canberra is not doomed. There are far more positives than negatives about it.

Let's get some love flowing. Not in a gross way.

Mine is:
1. Access to Worlds of Experience
Within most companies in Canberra, there are people who are exceptionally good at what they do. Whether they specialise on stage or off, they have the knowledge, and they're willing to share it with a younger cohort of theatre people. One production, with the right people, can teach you more than a semester of high-school drama ever could.
More than that, companies like Repertory frequently import directors who have taught for WAAPA and NIDA, worked for Bell, founded theatre companies in Canada, been stars of stage and screen. By bringing these experienced professionals into town, particularly the ones who have taught in Australia's major performance institution, Rep are providing its members with a legitimate learning experience. The quality expected by these directors then leads them to teach their cast to achieve it, which turns any production with them into a condensed WAAPA or NIDA course. This experience is vital to maintaining and encouraging talent.
This is also a benefit of Free Rain's Phantom. The cast and crew are not only getting the chance to work with a professional director, David Harmon,  but also work alongside seasoned and professional actors, Michael Cormick and Julie Goodwin. These two are not only working with the cast, but bonding with them, sharing stories and experiences, thoughts on the show and the rehearsal process; an invaluable experience. (Also, the teaching goes both ways, because Cormick and Goodwin have, according to themselves, never been in an amateur or pro-am production before. Talk about a learning curve!)

2. Work With Charities
Now this obviously won't apply to all companies, but for those to whom it does, credit should be given.
Many companies in Canberra , which are already not-for-profit, often donate to charities around town.
Rep's Calendar Girls, for example, sold actual calendars and raised a fairly decent amount of money for two separate charities.
Every Rep production also has a TPI night (Totally and Permanently Incapacitated), which is almost a preview's preview. Elderly and differently abled people are invited to watch a dress rehearsal of the production two days before opening night, for a reduced price. This provides the actors with an early audience, but also allows people to come to the theatre who might not otherwise be able to.
Philharmonic provided entertainment for the Camp Quality Supper Club last year, in which several actors became characters from Alice in Wonderland and kept the theme of the party going throughout the night. (Including Megs Skillicorn's poor rabbit suit getting her groped by obnoxious drunk ladies all night. What a trooper! That girl must just be waiting for an EverReady sponsorship.)
I'm aware that not every company is in a position to work with charities or donate to them, but when they do, they do it properly and they do it well. Kudos, Canberra.

6 comments:

  1. Mr Ruffalupagous8 August 2013 at 19:01

    I would say I like the people who do theatre in Canberra, but I don't honestly like all of them, and for those I do, I'm pretty sure I'd like them equally if we were in any other field. The fact that we're all theatre people is, for me, a happy coincidence. Some people are just naturally awesome.

    I guess my favourite thing about theatre in Canberra is the fact that when people do a show, they really do their best to make it worth watching. Does it always work? No. Are there shows I wish I could unsee? Yes. But you can't cater for every taste and you can never bowl a perfect game. Credit is due, though, to those who tirelessly work to provide a show that is both artistically innovative and massively popular. It's a fine line to walk, and some people dance along it with the greatest of ease.

    Also, I own that Rep calendar. Though there are some months where I wish I didn't, I think it was a great idea and for a great cause.
    When do we MEN of THEATRE start ours?

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  2. I think I like that Canberra theatre is small enough that it is pretty much mandatory that people will end up criss-crossing in interesting ways - a lot of people seem to bust out of the boxes people might leave them in otherwise - whether it be a Max Gambale and Amy Dunham breaking out of music theatre to astound with AMAX, or an Ali McGregor showing up in a somewhat more mainstream-audience-role than usual in Midsummer Nights Dream.

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  3. The Phantom of the Supermarket12 August 2013 at 08:27

    I for one would welcome a Men of Canberra Theatre calendar. But who would be the coveted Mr June/July centrefold? And would there be bacon in it?

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  4. Who would you wish to approach to be in said calender?

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  5. Mr Ruffalupagous14 August 2013 at 18:10

    I'm totally up for being the comic relief. I feel like we need Will Huang's Buffening(TM) and the Adrian Flor gunshow too...

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    1. Will, Adrian and Ruffy are lovely blokes, but ... really, I want a man with meat on his bones. And maybe a few of the more mature gents of Don Parties On. Pat Gallagher, come on down!

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